Mickey Rourke says he’s doing fine, thanks: “If I needed money, I wouldn’t ask for no f**king charity”

With closely-cropped hair and casually dressed down in an oversized striped sweater, rosary chain, jogging pants and barefoot, Mickey Rourke was practically unrecognizable as he was captured at his front door picking up groceries by celebrity news agency, Backgrid at the start of the New Year.

Mickey Rourke’s rent disagreement

The photographs were accompanied by reports that the 73-year-old actor has fallen behind with monthly payments on the three-bedroom Los Angeles home he has been renting since the end of March. Rourke allegedly owes just under $60,000 in rent for the $5,200-per-month pad on Drexel Avenue, which curiously, was once home to crime novelist Raymond Chandler.

Just a stone’s throw from the fashionable Studio City Farmers’ Market, where Hollywood A-listers are occasionally on their weekly grocery run, Rourke was captured opening his front door to collect deliveries from Taco Bell and Pavillions grocery.

Last month it was reported that the award-winning actor could be evicted from his Beverley Grove abode if he fails to pay up his back rent. The Daily Mail reports that Rourke was served a three-day notice on December 18 but was not at home when the non-payment letter was posted through his mailbox.

Mickey’s situation has surprised and concerned fans - many of whom hope his Hollywood pals will lend him a helping hand, while others have taken the matter into their own hands - which the actor isn’t too happy happy about.

GoFundMe hits six figures

Liya-Joelle Jones has set up a GoFundMe campaign which aims to raise $100,000 - an amount which would settle Rourke’s rent arrears and tide him over until his next paycheck arrives.

Jones’ “Help Mickey Rourke Stay in His Home” campaign aims to “give Mickey stability and peace of mind during an extremely stressful time—so he can stay in his home and have the space to get back on his feet".

As of Tuesday, the fund had reached almost $101,000 with over 2,600 strangers making donations.

On Tuesday, the ‘Angel Heart’ actor went public to make it clear that he has not asked for charity - especially not from strangers or fans and added that if he needs funds, he will earn it himself by working as he always has and by continuing to lead a simple life.

Rourke: “Get your money back!”

Wearing a bright fucsia pink t-shirt, stetson hat and wig and clutching his pet pooch ‘Lucky’, Rourke recorded a video for Instagram to set a few things straight.

“Something’s come up that I’m really frustrated, confused and I don’t understand,” he began. “Somebody set up some kind of foundation or fund for me, to donate money, like charity. And that’s not me, okay? If I needed money, I wouldn’t ask for no fucking charity. I’d rather stick a gun up my ass an’ pull the trigger...

He continued: “So whoever did this, I don’t know why they did it. I don’t understand it. I wouldn’t know what a GoFundMe foundation is in a million years. My life is very simple, I don’t go to outside sources like that. Yeah, it is embarrassing, I’m sure I’ll get over it like everything else”.

Pandemic and WritersGuild of America strike

Mickey went on to explain that “Covid and the writers’ strike” hit him financially but insists he doesn’t want or need help from people he doesn’t know.

“I’m not that wild man that I was 20-something years ago but you pay a price for your past. But this thing is very embarrassing - don’t give any money, and if you gave money, get it back - whether you gave cash or check or whatever or whoever you sent it to. It’s humiliating. I would never ask strangers or fans or anybody for a nickel - that’s not my style. Ask anybody that knows me. I want you to get your money back. It’s confusing but we’ll get to the bottom of it,” he ended.

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