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I lived in the Big Brother house with Andrew Tate – here’s my advice to Mickey Rourke’s housemates
Lateysha reveals how she and her co-stars dealt with Tate's 'derogatory' comments
WHEN Lateysha Grace starred in Big Brother in 2016 she had no idea a housemate would become one of the most controversial figures on the planet.
In fact, no one did. Nine years ago, Andrew Tate, 38, was unknown outside of the martial arts world where he had tasted success as a kickboxer.
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But his short week-long stint in the Big Brother house gave viewers a glimpse of what was to come.
He was pulled from the show after it emerged he was part of an active rape investigation, which subsequently ended without charge in 2019.
Prior to his exit, racist and homophobic tweets had been discovered on his Twitter account and a concerning video was circulating that showed him striking a woman with a belt.
These days he has a huge online following and was the third most Googled person in the world in 2023.
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He has described himself as a misogynist, calling women "intrinsically lazy" and "barely sentient", and is regarded as having a toxic influence on boys and young men.
Parallels are now being drawn between Tate and current CBB housemate Mickey Rourke, after the A-list actor was given a formal warning for using a homophonic slur against female co-star JoJo Siwa.
His entrance into the house also sparked complaints to broadcasting regulator Ofcom for leering at host AJ Odudu, and he had to be dragged through the doors.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun on behalf of Heart Bingo, Lateysha, 32, reveals what it was like living with Tate and how current stars can learn from her series and address Rourke's troubling behaviour.
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She says: "None of my friends are like that. To live with someone that has them kind of values was just strange. But like I said, we would always just bring him up on the derogatory comments he made or the weird little things he used to say. But it's a weird feeling.
"I actually can't believe that I lived with Andrew Tate after seeing the person he is. Because he obviously did say things in the Big Brother house, but he kept it quite tame.
Lateysha Grace suffers wardrobe malfunction as she twerks with Rylan Clark-Neal
"The Andrew Tate that I see now on social media and going viral or whatever, it's not the person that I lived with. I don't know whether he puts it on for show. I don't know whether he's turned into someone new. But yeah, he was just a bit odd in the Big Brother house when I lived with him."
Tate and his brother Tristan are currently facing a number of legal cases including accusations they formed an organised crime group and carried out human trafficking. They deny any wrongdoing.
They are also set to be extradited to the UK to face claims relating to sexual aggression once their case with the Romanian authorities is settled.
The mum-of-two said Tate, who repeatedly boasted of being a master manipulator, was racked with paranoia in the house.
She continues: "He thought everyone was out to attack him and everyone was playing a game. He was a weird character.
"It's actually crazy. My fiancé was like, ‘oh, you was in the house with Andrew Tate’. I said, ‘was I?’ I was so gobsmacked because he was two different people to what you see now on social media compared to living with him."
Pointing out the differences between the two controversial alpha males' career trajectories, Lateysha says: "It's crazy because Mickey was this big superstar and he's taken a nosedive.
"But Andrew Tate was literally nobody in Big Brother when we were there. And now he's just everywhere. He's like a viral sensation, but for the wrong reasons."
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She doesn't expect Rourke to make it through the show without quitting or being given the boot, and thinks his co-stars are strong enough to take him to task when necessary.
"Even though he is super famous as they make it out, I think that they won't really take his bullsh*t and they will actually pull him up on it," says Lateysha.
"At the end of the day, he might be famous, but they're all one in there and I don't think that they will stand for his sh*t really."
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The 2016 civilian series of the show was won by Jason Burrill with Lateysha finishing 11th.
Her most famous Big Brother moment came after she was evicted and spoke to Rylan Clark on spin off, Bit On The Side.
She attempted to twerk in a denim mini dress that zipped up the back and as she did so, it popped open to reveal her pink G-string as she shrieked in shock.
Lateysha has taken a step away from reality TV in recent years to raise her two young children but would like a comeback 12 years on from finding fame on MTV's The Valleys.
She says: "I am starting to feel like I'm missing out because I dived into the TV world when I was 18.
"And I feel like it's all I know and what I'm really good at. So I think this year I am going to dip my toe back in. I'm not sure what or when, but I definitely feel like I'm ready to get back in TV now because I love it and I miss it."
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She laughs: "I wouldn't be getting my vagina out on TV, like The Valleys. I think obviously I've changed as a person, most definitely, like parenting changes you, but also age changes you.
"I'm 32 now. So I think I'm still myself, obviously, but I'm a mum now too but I'm still me."
Mickey Rourke's Career Timeline
1970s: Early career
Mickey Rourke began his acting journey in 1971 after studying at the prestigious Actors Studio in New York, under the tutelage of Lee Strasberg. He appeared in minor roles in television shows and films to gain experience.
1978: Made his film debut with a small role in the Steven Spielberg-directed comedy-drama 1941.
1980s: Breakthrough and stardom
1981: Achieved recognition with his role as the arsonist Teddy Lewis in Body Heat, a neo-noir thriller starring William Hurt and Kathleen Turner.
1982: Delivered a critically acclaimed performance in Barry Levinson's Diner, showcasing his talent and earning attention as a rising star.
1983: Played a memorable role in Rumble Fish, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, alongside Matt Dillon, Diane Lane, and Dennis Hopper.
1986: Starred in 9½ Weeks, a provocative romantic drama opposite Kim Basinger. The film became a cult classic, cementing his status as a Hollywood leading man.
1987: Gave a standout performance in Angel Heart, a psychological thriller directed by Alan Parker, co-starring Robert De Niro and Lisa Bonet.
1990s: Career decline and transition to boxing
1991: Mickey shifted focus from acting to professional boxing, citing dissatisfaction with Hollywood and the roles he was being offered.
He competed in several matches and sustained injuries during his career in the ring leading which led to an addiction to plastic surgery.
Throughout the 1990s, Rourke's film appearances were sporadic and mostly in lesser-known or poorly received productions.
2000s: Career comeback
2000: Returned to the screen in supporting roles, including in The Pledge, directed by Sean Penn, and Get Carter alongside Sylvester Stallone.
2005: Achieved a major career revival with his performance as Marv in Sin City, a visually striking neo-noir film directed by Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller.
2008: Delivered an award-winning performance in The Wrestler, directed by Darren Aronofsky. Rourke played Randy "The Ram" Robinson, a washed-up professional wrestler seeking redemption. The role earned him a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
2010s: Continued success
2010: Portrayed the villain Ivan Vanko/Whiplash in Iron Man 2, starring alongside Robert Downey Jr.
2011: Appeared in Immortals, a fantasy-action film directed by Tarsem Singh.
Throughout the decade, Rourke continued acting in smaller films and projects, maintaining a presence in Hollywood while occasionally taking on eccentric or offbeat roles.