Mickey Rourke is demanding answers and refunds after a GoFundMe campaign that raised over $100,000 in his name left $90,000 unaccounted for, igniting a public feud with his own management team.
At a Glance
- $90,000 still needs to be returned to donors after a GoFundMe campaign created to prevent Rourke’s eviction.
- The actor calls the fundraiser a “scam” and says he never authorized it.
- Manager Kimberly Hines claims the campaign had Rourke’s “full permission” and insists refunds are now approved.
- Rourke’s attorney is working to return the remaining funds.
Why it matters: Fans who donated to help the Oscar-nominated star stay housed are caught in the middle of a bitter dispute over consent, control, and cash.
The Instagram Outburst
On January 15, Rourke, 73, took to Instagram with a blistering attack on the crowdfunding effort. “Truthfully there is still over [$90,000] that still needs to be refunded to concerned [parties] that sent [their] money,” he wrote, adding that he was “sooo upset” and labeling the page a “scam.”
In a second post, the Wrestler star vented:
> “Vicious cruel godamm lie to hustle money using my [f—ing] name so [motherf—ing embarassing].”
He warned there would be “severe repercussions” for the “individual who did this very bad thing to me.”
The Campaign That Started It All
The GoFundMe was launched in late 2024 after Rourke received a three-day eviction notice demanding $59,100 in back rent for his Los Angeles property. Organizer Liya-Joelle Jones, identifying herself as assistant to Rourke’s manager Kimberly Hines, wrote that the page was “created with Mickey’s full permission” to cover “immediate housing-related expenses.”
According to the campaign, more than $100,000 rolled in from “concerned strangers and others.”
Rourke Denies Approval
In a January 5 Instagram video, Rourke denied any knowledge of the fundraiser.
> “That’s not me, okay? I’d rather, if I needed money, I wouldn’t ask for no f—ing charity. I’d rather stick a gun up my ass and pull the trigger.”
He added:
> “I wouldn’t know what a GoFundMe foundation is in a million years.”
Manager Pushes Back
Kimberly Hines told News Of Los Angeles via email on January 16 that her team had “given the green light and proper documentation to facilitate all money being returned to donors.” She maintained that Rourke had agreed to the campaign, even if he didn’t grasp the details.
In a January 6 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Hines recalled informing the actor: “Mickey, there’s some people that want to help you out.” She admitted: “He’s like, ‘Okay, great.’ I don’t think he understood, and now it’s taken on this media frenzy, and he flipped out.”
Hines stressed that no one was trying to “grift Mickey,” noting she has personally paid his cable bills, financed his move to a West Hollywood hotel, and continues to bring him film offers-projects he “passes on while he relentlessly holds out for A level opportunities.”
Timeline of Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| December 2024 | Eviction notice served for $59,100 in back rent. |
| Late December | GoFundMe launches, raising $100,000+. |
| January 5, 2026 | Rourke posts video denying knowledge. |
| January 6 | Hines tells THR the campaign had Rourke’s consent. |
| January 15 | Rourke demands remaining $90,000 be refunded. |
| January 16 | Hines emails News Of Los Angeles saying refunds are approved. |
What Happens Next
Rourke’s attorney is “doing everything in his power” to return the outstanding $90,000, according to the actor. Hines says documentation has been provided to GoFundMe to authorize the refunds, but neither side has confirmed when the money will actually reach donors.
Key Takeaways
- Over $100,000 was donated; $90,000 is still unrefunded.
- Rourke insists he never approved the fundraiser; his manager claims he did.
- The eviction case that triggered the campaign remains unresolved.
- Fans who contributed are left waiting for clarity-and their money back.
