‘Payback will be severe’: Mickey Rourke vows revenge on those behind crowdfunder ‘scam’ in his name

The actor Mickey Rourke has again spoken out against the GoFundMe appeal set up in his name, purportedly to raise funds for the star, who is currently in financial hardship.Earlier this month, the actor – who made his name in 1980s action and romance films before being Oscar nominated for his 2008 comeback, The Wrestler – declared he had nothing to do with the crowdfunder.The appeal was set up on 4 January to try and raise $60,000 to help Rourke cover overdue rent and avoid eviction from his Los Angeles home. It was believed Rourke’s management had been behind the initiative, which raised more than $100,000 before being frozen a week after launch.“I wouldn’t take a nickel of charity,” said Rourke shortly after the launch, adding that he would “rather stick a gun up my ass and pull the trigger” than accept the money.Writing on Instagram last week, Rourke amped up his displeasure at the apparent charity in a series of posts.“Vicious cruel godamm lie to hustle money using my fuckin name so motherfuckin enbarassing,” he wrote. “There will b severe repercussions to individual who did this very bad thing to me and anyone who knows me knows payback k will be goddamm severe!!!!!!”Rourke reported that longtime friends had been in touch with him to offer him accommodation and financial aid, about which he was “sooo upset & enbarassed”.He called the crowdfunder a “SCAM … WHICH WAS AS IVE STATED A CRUEL ENBARRASMENT”. The actor said his lawyer was attempting to reimburse those who had donated money, but had only so far succeeded in returning 10% of the funds.