Mickey Rourke queues to buy Vladimir Putin T-shirt and wears it like a proud girlfriend

The actor joined a huge crowd in Russia as he invested in weird garment

In a strange choice of recreational activity, Mickey Rourke today (11 August) joined a hefty crowd and queued up to buy a Vladimir Putin T-shirt (scroll down to watch the film).

He proudly put on the item straight away, parading around Moscow Central department store in Red Square where the inexplicably popular garment was launched for the second time.

The T-shirt (which you’ll be pleased to know comes in an array of colours, although Rourke went for versatile grey) features Putin staring pensively into the distance, wearing a sailor’s hat and surrounded by flowers, possibly to enhance the Russian President’s softer side.

It’s not even one of those situations in which someone wears a band T-shirt despite the fact they have no knowledge of the music; Rourke knows exactly who Putin is and what he’s about, but he likes him anyway.

“If I didn't like him, I wouldn't buy the T-shirt believe me,” he told press outside the store.

“I met him a couple of times and he was a real gentleman, a very cool regular guy, looked me right in the eye. I think he is a good guy. If I didn't, believe I wouldn't wear the T-shirt.”

But truly, the actor’s love of Russia and its leader has nothing to do with political allegiance.

“I have a Russian girlfriend, that’s all I care about,” he said. “Her father is a good person, her mother’s great, her babushka’s wonderful. To me it’s all about family. I don’t give a f**k about the politics. That’s not my department.”

Rourke, who chose a grey Putin T-shirt, spoke fondly about the Russian President.

"If I didn't like him, I wouldn't buy the T-shirt believe me. I met him a couple of times and he was a real gentleman, a very cool regular guy, looked me right in the eye. I think he is a good guy. If I didn't, believe I wouldn't wear the T-shirt," he said.