Mickey Rourke: Sean Penn A "Homophobe" And "Average" Actor

Daily Beast:

In a private text message obtained by The Daily Beast, Mickey Rourke bashes Sean Penn--his chief rival in the Oscar race--as a "homophobe" and an "average" actor.

Whistleblower has learned from several entertainment industry sources, that Mickey Rourke--whose extraordinary comeback performance in The Wrestler is garnering him early praise as a shoo-in for a best actor Oscar nomination--is trash talking his likely toughest competitor, Sean Penn, whose acting in Milk has earned rave reviews.

After his December 23 appearance on David Letterman, Rourke told someone backstage that he was surprised that so many people seemed to think that Penn was his Oscar competition since "I'm not even sure he'll get a nomination."

Read the whole story: Daily Beast

Comments

[MajorKong]

I'm not normally a fan of Mickey Rourke but I really enjoyed him in Sin City.

[Jezdukowski]

He was pretty good in "The Wrestler" too. Although my favorite role he played was Charles Bukowski in "Barfly" - but man, does he ever look like he11.

[PhDiva]

This report is unethical, unreliable, and unverifiable:

1. How do we know that the text message was even from Rourke's phone? If it was, how do we know that HE sent it, it could have been somebody who grabbed his phone for ten minutes. It could have been the person who showed people the message.

2. Is this even legal to share private text messages with the public? It's certainly not ethical.

3. Someobdy is trying to destroy Rourke's Oscar chances or to expose Penn's homophobia. It's either the author of the original article or the person who CLAIMS that this text is from Rourke.

4. The article's description is a total lie. He did not call Penn an "average" actor, he said he gave an "average" performance. He was critiquing Penn's homophobia and the homophobia of critics who think that any straight man who plays a gay man is doing gay people a favor and deserves to be called a genius.

So the HuffPost is joining the Daily Beast in ruining Rourke's Oscar chances by using what is either a)completley private text message or b) a hoax.

Shame on all of you. It's called research and fact-checking! Learn how to do it!!

[justsaynotofascism]

"He was critiquing Penn's homophobia..."

Take your own advice.

[mamala4]

Just saw "Milk" last night with previews of the Rourke movie....Penn was great in "Milk" and you couldn't pay me to see Rourke's movie....Mickey Rourke needs to eat his sour grapes elsewhere.

[TrooAmerican]

HAH!!! Mickey is soooo right about Penn. LOL
But the funniest part of that is Mickey is only saying that because he's jealous that Penn is still better than his sorry as s is.
lol

[expatstudent]

I don't buy this. I buy the "he might not get nominated" comment because there are a number of reasons why someone would be declined a nomination. But Sean directed Mickey before and it clearly says in this report that Mickey "has no knowledge" of the text. So if he's such a straight shooter, he's not exactly owning up to it.

Whatever.

[rektruax]

It could all be a big inside joke. I seem to remember John Entwistle and John Deacon always slamming each others bass playing and assorted physical attributes in the press, but would later be seen out and about with their wives on vacation together or something. Same thing with Rickles and Newhart.

[sdskelton03]

I don't know whether or not Sean Penn is a homophobe, but he is an overated actor. Penn is still good, yet overated.

[buckinfuzzard]

You mean Mickey finally sobered up enough to string together a complete sentence?

[hemnebob]

he is entitled to his opinions.
but i couldn't go watch this movie...all the surgeries and maybe some
drug usage? has made him too repugnant to look at or even watch.

[wedgie]

I find it appalling that this has been attributed to a "private text message."

Pretty sleazy reporting.

**

[Truby]

Ugh.

[BreakfastatTiffanys1]

I love this kind of stuff.

Does Mickey still a*buse meth?

[missjabez]

Is meth why Mickey looks so rough? I'm telling you 20 years ago, he was pretty hot.

[jojojo]

A bad face lift, plus getting hit in the face too much when he fancied himself a boxer.

[Shieldmaiden]

How do we even know this is true? Personally neither performance totally blew me away but Sean Penn did a very good job as Harvey and I seriously hope Mickey Rourke doesn't win the Oscar for The Wrestler. He was average at best in that horrendous film.

[ailbhe]

There is no proof he said this, it is just hearsay. Gossips are always trying to create dramas through made up stories to stir up trouble between people.

If he says this on television, people can debate it but come on - everybody is beating up on a guy because somebody claims, without evidence, that he sent an insulting text that may not even exist.

The internet is great but anybody can spread lies and before people have a chance to defend themselves those lies are recited hundred's of times as truth. Take it with a pinch of salt.

I like watching both actors.

[mespace]

What, they can't find a gay actor to play a gay part in Hollywood? Or is it that it's easier for America to watch a straight guy "play" gay, than a gay guy playing a gay character? Of you want acclaim in Hollywood, and you lack talent, you play either someone gay, a serial killer or someone "mentally challenged." Sean did it, Tom Hanks did it. Since the gay for pay actors in Brokeback Mountain didn't win Best Picture, maybe the gay for pay actor in Milk will. http://mespace.wordpress.com/

[LiberalDemIda]

I guess it's because most gay actors are just too beautiful for most gritty roles. They're usually used as the handsome hero and leading men in romantic movies, like Montgomery Clift and Rock Hudson. On the other hand, Ian McKellen, an openly gay British actor, played a very gritty role in "Gods and Monsters". Excellent acting.

[missjabez]

I'm not sure about that theory. There may be some macho actors who are in the closet. They could be afraid of losing roles if they reveal their sexuality. On the other hand, not everyone feels the need to trumpet their personal lives.

[Eyewideopen]

Kevin Spacey can play anything. I love Ian McKellen's work.

[bubbuh]

"They" are not looking for gay actors. "They" are looking for actors who can carry a film and make it an artistic and economic success. How many "straight" movie stars are actually gay? Why should it matter? They are acting. If you start demanding some kind of affirmative action based on sexuality in the film industry, there will be many more heterosexual folks working than there are now.

sheesh.