The ‘Wrestler’ star Mickey Rourke wore a necklace containing a picture of his beloved Chihuahua Loki – who died last week - to the Academy Awards on Sunday, prompting a craze for pet-themed jewellery.
Mickey – who is famed for his offbeat style and was one of the only male attendees not to wear a tie to this year’s ceremony – was sent the pendant by part-time jeweller Betina Wassermann, who sympathised with him having recently lost a pet herself.
Betina, who has since been inundated with requests for her silver-backed glass-covered pendants, said: “I lost my dog, Igor, four months ago, and I’m still crying myself to sleep. I need to see a psychiatrist.
“So when my colleague told me Loki died, I knew I had to make one for him. I knew how much he loved his dog and it was so horrible to lose her right before the Oscars.”
The New York jewellery designer revealed Mickey was so touched by the gift he personally called her to say thank you.
Betina said: “He says, ‘Hi, I’m Mickey Rourke,’ and I thought I was going to throw up. Then he said that was such a kind gesture and then he says, ‘I got it on and I ain’t takin’ it off.’
“When I saw it at the Oscars, I thought I was going to have a heart attack. That necklace got more press than frickin’ Fred Leighton million-dollar diamonds!”
Mickey has previously spoken of his love for his dogs – he even thanked them in his acceptance speech after picking up the Best Actor award at this year’s Golden Globes – claiming they saved him when he sank into depression after splitting from ex-wife Carre Otis.
He said: "I sort of self-destructed and everything came out about fourteen years ago or so. The wife had left, the career was over, the money was not an ounce. The dogs were there when no one else was there."
Bang! Showbiz