If you donated to Mickey Rourke's GoFundMe, he doesn't want your money. In fact, he's actively trying to return it to you.
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More than $100,000 was raised online to help the Academy Award-nominated actor get back on his feet. He went on Instagram yesterday to tell fans his attorney is trying to give everyone their money back. We have the details below.
Why Was A GoFundMe Created for Mickey Rourke?
Several weeks ago, we reported that Rourke was facing eviction from the Los Angeles rental home he leased last March due to nearly $60,000 in unpaid rent. His rent was raised from $5,200 monthly to $7,000. Rourke began renting the home before taking legal action against the reality show Celebrity Big Brother UK over a pay dispute.
In mid-December, Rourke received a three-day notice to pay or leave the rental, according to court documents. He "ended up failing to comply." The landlord is seeking back rent, attorney fees, and the forfeiture of the rental agreement.
Then, earlier this month, members of Rourke's management team set up a GoFundMe to support their client. Several days later, after $60,000 had already been raised, Rourke told fans not to contribute, saying he didn't know what GoFundMe was.
"That's not me," he said. "If I needed money I wouldn't ask for no f***ing money. I'd rather stick a gun up my a** and pull the trigger!"
Are People Getting Their Money Back?
In a post yesterday, Rourke said he is "sooo upset & enbarassed" about the "SCAM" GoFundMe. The page has since been removed.
"MY ATTOURNEY IS DOING EVERYTHING IN HIS POWER TO MAKE SURE ANYONE WHO GAVE THERE HARD EARNED MONEY$$$ IS QUICKLY RETURNED," he wrote (and yes, it's in all caps). "TRUTHFULLY THERE IS STILL OVER 90 THOUSAND DOLLARS THAT STILL NEEDS TO BE REFUNDED TO CONCERNED PARTYS THAT SENT THERE MONEY. PLEASE PEOPLE GET YER MONEY THE PERSON WHO PULLED THIS CRAP SHOULDNT GET ONE FUCEN DOLLAR."
The GoFundMe page was set up by Liya-Joelle Jones, an assistant to Rourke's manager, Kimberly Hines. According to PEOPLE, she said the fundraiser was "created with Mickey's full permission."
According to TMZ, Rourke has since moved into a new apartment in Los Angeles. He has received plenty of job offers, but isn't interested.
