Actor Mickey Rourke has backed away from a GoFundMe page that initially looked like it had his blessing. The fundraiser pulled in just under its goal of $100,000 ($97,989), but also turned his private housing mess into a full-blown public spectacle.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the 73-year-old actor posted an Instagram video calling the whole thing “humiliating” and “embarrassing,” telling fans to get their money back and insisting he didn’t authorize anyone to raise cash for him. The Instagram video is below.
Back on Sunday, January 4, that tone was nowhere in sight and the GoFundMe went live with wording that made it appear the page had Rourke’s support. It even stated that it was made with his “full permission,” while aiming to cover $59,100 in alleged back rent and stop an eviction.
The IG video
Holding a Chihuahua named Lucky in his lap, Rourke was clearly stunned by how quickly it all escalated. He made it clear that he’d “never ask” strangers or fans for money, and he urged people to get refunds, and pushed away sympathy.
Deadline has reported that this whole situation is tangled in conflicting accounts. Rourke is distancing himself from it, while the people around him frame the fundraiser as an attempted lifeline during a housing crunch. See more on what his management is saying below.
What’s amazing is that Rourke uses this video to own some of his past, saying he did a “terrible job” managing his career and pointing to years of therapy as part of changing who he is now. That’s quite a heavy story to drop into a clip that started as “please stop donating.”
The housing fight
The court filings show that this is not just online drama, it’s tied to a genuine eviction case and a specific dollar figure. The L.A. Times reported the eviction paperwork it reviewed was filed December 29 and cited $59,100 in unpaid rent for 2025. It was also reported that there was a three-day notice to pay or face eviction.
Rourke says the home itself was falling apart, describing issues like rotten floors, rodents, and water problems. His manager has alleged severe conditions too, including black mold, adding that the place was effectively unlivable as they rushed to move him and his dogs out.
What happens to the money
The moment Rourke’s IG video hit, outlets were covering, and questions over the money followed.
The fact is that the money will be returned. Reports from People magazine and The Guardian state his team have confirmed this.
What makes this story more compelling is that, Rourke’s manager of nine years, Kimberly Hines is in damage control.
It was reported by many outlets, including People Magazine that she and her assistant set up the GoFundMe, and that they genuinely didn’t expect it to explode like it did.
As The Cut put it, Hines says that Rourke didn’t fully grasp what the page would become, and once the attention hit, he “flipped out.”
That story lines up with Access Hollywood’s YouTube report. In that report she frames his reaction as confusion more than deception. She also defends the intent behind the fundraiser.
Regardless, Rourke sounded blindsided in his Instagram clip. He rejected charity towards himself, using graphic language to underline his pride.
I grew up on Rourke’s 1980s run, and even enjoyed his comebacks in Sin City and The Wrestler. He’s always been a rare kind of celebrity, rough around the edges and still able to pull you in. So, seeing an Oscar-nominated actor reduced to a viral fundraiser, followed by a public denial, is a startling reminder of how fast life can change.