Mickey Rourke Is Pursuing Legal Action Against Celebrity Big Brother UK After Controversial Exit: ‘Deeply Disrespectful’

• Mickey Rourke’s manager, Kimberly Hines, confirmed in a statement shared with PEOPLE that he plans to pursue legal action against Celebrity Big Brother UK over an alleged pay dispute
• News of his pursuit comes after Rourke departed the reality series for making controversial comments about his fellow housemate JoJo Siwa
• In the aftermath of the controversy, the Wrestler actor’s manager said the show “now refusing to pay Mickey his full agreed-upon fee”

Mickey Rourke is getting lawyers involved.

After his controversial exit from Celebrity Big Brother UK, the actor, 72, is pursuing legal action against the reality show over an alleged pay dispute.

In a statement shared with PEOPLE, Rourke’s manager, Kimberly Hines, addressed his early departure and claimed that the series had disrespected the star by “publicly embarrassing him” and refusing to pay him his dues.

“There’s no question that when Big Brother booked Mickey Rourke, they were fully aware of both his public persona and how it aligned with his Hollywood rebel image,” Hines wrote, adding that the show knew his presence would be “explosive, controversial and attention-grabbing — and that’s exactly what they got, and more.”

She claimed that the show had “promoted his provocative personality,” something Rourke is known for and has been well documented in the press, especially since the show has aired.

“In our discussions, Big Brother was made fully aware of Mickey Rourke’s background and lifestyle,” the statement continued. “Yet rather than handle it professionally, they took it too far — publicly embarrassing him and using his removal as a marketing tool. That’s not just unprofessional; it’s deeply disrespectful and damaging.”

“To add insult to injury, Big Brother is now refusing to pay Mickey his full agreed-upon fee. His legal team is currently pursuing the matter,” Hines revealed.

She concluded her statement by claiming that Big Brother‘s use of his “name and image” is “an insult to a true cinematic icon” after a “long and accomplished career.”

“It disregards his legacy and crosses the line of basic respect — both within the industry and on a personal level,” Hines said.

On Saturday, April 12, a spokesperson for Celebrity Big Brother told PEOPLE that Rourke had agreed to leave the show following a discussion about his “use of inappropriate language and instances of unacceptable behavior.” Though no physical altercation took place, the representative claimed that Rourke used language that was considered “threatening and aggressive.”

His exit came shortly after The Wrestler star received a warning for his inappropriate comments towards housemate JoJo Siwa about her sexuality.

After Siwa, 21, revealed she liked girls and her partner was non-binary on the April 9 episode, Rourke claimed, “If I stay longer than four days, you won’t be gay anymore,” which prompted her to reply, “I can guarantee I’ll still be gay and I’ll still be in a very happy relationship.”

Rourke went on to say that he would “tie” up Siwa before fellow housemates Hughes, 32, and Ella Rae redirected the conversation. Later, while talking about Big Brother‘s voting process, Rourke claimed, “I’m going to vote the lesbian out real quick.”