• Mickey Rourke’s manager, Kimberly Hines, confirmed in a statement shared with PEOPLE that he plans to pursue legal action against Celebrity Big Brother UK over an alleged pay dispute
• News of his pursuit comes after Rourke departed the reality series for making controversial comments about his fellow housemate JoJo Siwa
• In the aftermath of the controversy, the Wrestler actor’s manager said the show “now refusing to pay Mickey his full agreed-upon fee”

Mickey Rourke is getting lawyers involved.

After his controversial exit from Celebrity Big Brother UK, the actor, 72, is pursuing legal action against the reality show over an alleged pay dispute.

In a statement shared with PEOPLE, Rourke’s manager, Kimberly Hines, addressed his early departure and claimed that the series had disrespected the star by “publicly embarrassing him” and refusing to pay him his dues.

“There’s no question that when Big Brother booked Mickey Rourke, they were fully aware of both his public persona and how it aligned with his Hollywood rebel image,” Hines wrote, adding that the show knew his presence would be “explosive, controversial and attention-grabbing — and that’s exactly what they got, and more.”

She claimed that the show had “promoted his provocative personality,” something Rourke is known for and has been well documented in the press, especially since the show has aired.

“In our discussions, Big Brother was made fully aware of Mickey Rourke’s background and lifestyle,” the statement continued. “Yet rather than handle it professionally, they took it too far — publicly embarrassing him and using his removal as a marketing tool. That’s not just unprofessional; it’s deeply disrespectful and damaging.”

“To add insult to injury, Big Brother is now refusing to pay Mickey his full agreed-upon fee. His legal team is currently pursuing the matter,” Hines revealed.

She concluded her statement by claiming that Big Brother‘s use of his “name and image” is “an insult to a true cinematic icon” after a “long and accomplished career.”

“It disregards his legacy and crosses the line of basic respect — both within the industry and on a personal level,” Hines said.

On Saturday, April 12, a spokesperson for Celebrity Big Brother told PEOPLE that Rourke had agreed to leave the show following a discussion about his “use of inappropriate language and instances of unacceptable behavior.” Though no physical altercation took place, the representative claimed that Rourke used language that was considered “threatening and aggressive.”

His exit came shortly after The Wrestler star received a warning for his inappropriate comments towards housemate JoJo Siwa about her sexuality.

After Siwa, 21, revealed she liked girls and her partner was non-binary on the April 9 episode, Rourke claimed, “If I stay longer than four days, you won’t be gay anymore,” which prompted her to reply, “I can guarantee I’ll still be gay and I’ll still be in a very happy relationship.”

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Rourke went on to say that he would “tie” up Siwa before fellow housemates Hughes, 32, and Ella Rae redirected the conversation. Later, while talking about Big Brother‘s voting process, Rourke claimed, “I’m going to vote the lesbian out real quick.”

In another instance, the actor declared, “I need a f–,” referring to the British slang use of the word as “cigarette,” but then gestured toward Siwa and said, “I’m not talking about you.”

Serena Williams shut down claims that her 2025 Super Bowl cameo was a dig at ex-boyfriend Drake.

“Absolutely not,” Williams told Time in a profile published Wednesday when asked about the rumors.

“I would never do that,” she continued. “And that was sad, that anyone would ever think that.”

The tennis icon, 43, admitted that she understands how people could jump to that conclusion.

“I respect how they could. Obviously, I can see how someone would think that,” she said. “But, absolutely not.”

As for where she stands with the “Passionfruit” rapper, Williams said she has “never had negative feelings towards him.”

“We’ve known him for so many years,” Williams, who reportedly dated Drake on and off from 2011 to 2015, said.

The athlete did the crip walk on the field during Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX halftime performance of his Drake diss track, “Not Like Us.” (Williams famously pulled out the same choreography after winning the “Golden Slam” title in 2012.)

The Grand Slam champion admitted to the outlet that she wasn’t sure if she regretted participating in the performance after facing an onslaught of backlash.

One critic, Stephen A. Smith, went so far as to suggest that Williams’ husband Alexis Ohanian should divorce her over the cameo.

“If I’m married and my wife is going to join trolling her ex, go back to his ass,” the ESPN commentator said at the time, adding, “’Cause, clearly, you don’t belong with me. What you worried about him for and you’re with me? Bye. Bye.”

But Williams wasn’t bothered by his hot take.

“I thought it was hilarious,” Williams told the mag. “He’s allowed to have his personal opinion. But did you see my husband’s remark? It was so eloquent.”

The Reddit co-founder, who shares two kids with Williams, responded by taking to X, simply writing, “This is bigger than the music.” 

Williams insisted that she has more important things to worry about than getting back at Drake.

“And I’m like, dude, like, we literally are investing in the world, both of us,” she said. “We’re investing in women and in sports. This is literally the last thing on our minds. Come on.”

• Khloé Kardashian has revealed what her sister Kourtney Kardashian Barker regularly edits out of the family’s reality series, The Kardashians
• Khloé and Kourtney, along with their other sisters and mom Kris Jenner, are all executive producers on the show
• The show premiered on Hulu in 2022, a year after the Kardashian-Jenner clan wrapped up 20 seasons of their E! reality series, Keeping Up With the Kardashians

As executive producers on their family reality series, the Kardashian-Jenner clan have a say in cutting and keeping footage — and now Khloé Kardashian has shared an insight into what one of her sisters regularly edits out of the finished product.

“Yes, but it’s more vanity things that we would cut,” Khloé, 40, explained of editing their current reality show, The Kardashians, during the April 16 episode of the Call Her Daddy podcast.

Khloé shared that her eldest sister Kourtney Kardashian Barker is the pickiest when it comes to show edits, but added, “It’s more because she’ll say, ‘I say ‘like’ too many times, so remove this word.’ It’s more that regard. It’s not really storylines because they’re following us, but it’s not about a story concept. It’s more verbiage.”

As for Kourtney’s language changes, Khloé joked, “She still says ‘like’ 500 times.” 

Khloé and Kourtney, 45, star on the Hulu show with their mom Kris Jenner and sisters Kim Kardashian, Kendall Jenner and Kylie Jenner, while the likes of Kourtney’s ex Scott Disick and Khloé’s ex Tristan Thompson also regularly make appearances.

The famous family first appeared on Keeping Up With the Kardashians in 2007 and later relocated to Hulu for their new show The Kardashians in 2022. But Khloé, whose personal life, including a marriage, divorce, babies, cheating scandals and splits have all been featured on the family’s shows, says her approach to filming has remained the same. 

“I don’t want to overthink or else I think it really changes how the show is perceived. And so with that — not that I want all of these things to be played out on the show — but I’ve really made a conscious effort to not edit,” she said. “And if I feel like it’s fair game, if something’s in the press that’s true and that’s happening, it’s my sort of, it’s my obligation to have that on TV because that’s what in fact is happening.” 

Khloé added that she felt sharing her story helped others, saying, “I can’t be the only one going through certain things. And if it makes somebody else feel seen or if it helps somebody get through something or it doesn’t have to be the exact same thing. But if it’s something that they can relate to at all, I really hope that I make someone feel more seen and safe and that they’re not alone on this island that feels so incredibly isolating.”

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While brother Rob Kardashian only features in the family’s Hulu show on the odd phone call after opting to stay out of the spotlight in recent years, other family members have been selective with what part of their lives they have shared on camera.

Kendall, 29, and Kylie, 27, both refrain from discussing their romantic lives, while Kourtney has been vocal about her frustrations with the show highlighting her ex Disick’s response to her engagement to now-husband Travis Barker.

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Kourtney has also previously fought with Kim, 44, and Khloé about wanting to limit how much she shares on the show compared to them. During the 2021 Keeping Up With the Kardashians reunion with Andy Cohen, Khloé discussed the friction, saying of herself and Kim, “We give so much and maybe others aren’t holding up their end of the deal too. If other people are going through things and are choosing not to share, that’s when it’s unfair.”