In a shocking turn of events, former child actor Bella Thorne has publicly criticized Hollywood veteran Mickey Rourke for alleged misconduct that occurred while filming. This revelation follows recent backlash concerning Rourke’s remarks, which many have labeled as homophobic. Thorne, now 27, took to social media platform X on Friday to share her harrowing experience with Rourke, stating that working alongside him was "one of the all-time worst experiences" in her acting career.
Thorne detailed a particularly disturbing scene in which she claimed Rourke was meant to use a metal grinder on her knee cap but instead directed it toward her genitals, through her jeans. She recounted, “He’s supposed to take a metal grinder to my knee cap and instead he used it on my genitals thru my jeans. Hitting them over and over again.” The actress reported sustaining bruises on her pelvic bone from this incident, which she described in a message that accompanied a screenshot of an article discussing fellow former child star JoJo Siwa's remarks about Rourke's comments on Celebrity Big Brother.
In her posts, Thorne claimed that she endured multiple distressing experiences with Rourke during the filming of the 2020 thriller Girl, directed by Chad Faust. She alleged that Rourke attempted to humiliate her by covering her in dirt while revving a car engine. Furthermore, Thorne recalled a troubling encounter where she had to enter Rourke's trailer to persuade him to fulfill his filming obligations, describing his erratic demands directed at producers.
Bella Thorne first gained fame for her role on the Disney Channel series Shake It Up, where she starred alongside Zendaya. Following her breakout role, she appeared in popular films such as The DUFF and The Babysitter. In addition to her acting career, Thorne has also ventured into the adult industry, gaining significant attention on the platform OnlyFans. Throughout her career, she has been candid about the challenges she faced in Hollywood from a young age.
In a 2022 podcast appearance, Thorne recounted an incident where a director refused to advance her in a casting process when she was only 10 years old, citing discomfort over her perceived flirtation. On the other hand, Mickey Rourke, who has received accolades including a Golden Globe and BAFTA nomination, has openly discussed his tumultuous upbringing, which included experiences of violence and abuse. He acknowledged that these early life experiences contributed to his challenging behavior in adulthood and has been in therapy for over two decades.
As this controversy unfolds, USA TODAY has reached out to Rourke's representatives for a comment regarding Thorne's serious allegations. The Hollywood community is watching closely as more details emerge.
