US actor Mickey Rourke has made his first statements following reports of his financial situation and admitted to mismanaging his career, revealing he underwent more than 20 years of therapy.
Mickey Rourke, 73, admitted in a video message published on Instagram that he has not managed his career well over the years, adding that he needed more than 20 years of therapy to overcome the trauma of the past. His statement comes in the context of a GoFundMe campaign apparently launched in his name, without his permission, to prevent his eviction from his Los Angeles home.
“I did a really bad job of managing my career. I wasn’t very diplomatic”the actor said in the video. He also emphasized that he would never ask for financial aid in this way: “I don’t need anybody’s money. I wouldn’t do it like that. I’ve got too much pride, man. That’s not my style.”
The GoFundMe campaign was created on January 4, 2026 by a member of his management team, after the actor was allegedly ordered to pay $59,100 in back rent or leave the home.
However, Rourke made it clear in his clip that he was not involved with the initiative, which had already raised $102,058 by January 6, 2026, but was later closed to donations.
In describing the campaign, Liya-Joelle Jones, who identified herself as an assistant to Rourke’s manager Kimberly Hines, claimed the page was created with the actor’s consent to cover immediate housing expenses and prevent his eviction. However, Rourke insists he was not fully aware of the initiative: “I have a roof over my head and food to eat… everything is fine, just get your money back.”
Rourke emphasized in the video that he worked hard to overcome the past: “I had to do over 20 years of therapy to get over the damage that was done to me years ago and I worked really hard for it.” He added that despite the changes he made“you pay the price for your past.”
The actor also mentioned that directors such as Robert Rodriguez, Francis Ford Coppola and Darren Aronofsky can confirm the change in his professional behavior.
Source: Instagram / MICKEY ROURKE
His manager, Kimberly Hines, confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that her team created the campaign with the intention of helping him, but admitted that Rourke didn’t fully understand the situation: “I said, ‘Mickey, there are people who want to help you.’ He said, “Okay, great.” I don’t think he understood, and now everything has become a media frenzy, and he reacted.”
Mickey Rourke stood out in 1983 with the role in the drama “Rumble Fish”directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The actor was recently associated with a new independent thriller, “Mascots”written and directed by Kerry Mondragon. However, the project is in doubt following the November 2025 death of actor Udo Kier, who was set to star alongside Rourke, so it is unclear how production will continue.
