Oscar-nominated actor Mickey Rourke has strongly condemned a GoFundMe appeal set up allegedly to raise funds for him, branding it a “cruel” and “embarrassing” scam. The appeal, which was believed to have been initiated by Rourke’s management, sought to collect $60,000 to help the star cover overdue rent and avoid eviction from his Los Angeles home.
Rourke, known for his roles in 1980s action and romance films before earning an Oscar nomination for his 2008 comeback in The Wrestler, has made it clear he wants nothing to do with the crowdfunding effort. “I wouldn’t take a nickel of charity,” he said shortly after the launch of the appeal, which managed to raise over $100,000 before being frozen a week later.
In a series of Instagram posts last week, the 69-year-old actor expressed his outrage at the apparent scam, describing it as “vicious cruel goddamn lies to hustle money using my fucking name so motherfuckin embarrassing.” He warned that there would be “severe repercussions to individuals who did this very bad thing” to him and that “payback will be goddamn severe.”
Rourke revealed that close friends had reached out to offer him accommodation and financial assistance, for which he was “soooo upset & embarrassed.” He insisted his lawyer was attempting to reimburse those who had donated, but had so far only managed to return 10% of the funds.
The actor’s strong reaction highlights the potential pitfalls of unauthorized crowdfunding campaigns, which can cause significant distress and reputational damage to their intended beneficiaries. As Rourke’s case demonstrates, such schemes can quickly spiral out of control, leaving donors, the subject of the appeal, and the crowdfunding platform itself in a difficult and potentially legal situation.