Mickey Rourke has denied launching a verbal attack on Sean Penn - after a website alleged the The Wrestler star had called his fellow actor "homophobic".

Celebrity site The Daily Beast claims that Rourke sent a text message to a top Hollywood executive in which he slams Penn's portrayal of gay politician Harvey Milk, in new Hollywood biopic Milk.

According to the website Rourke wrote, "Look. Sean's an old friend of mine and I didn't buy his performance at all - thought he did an average pretend acting like he was gay besides he's one of the most homophobic people I kno (sic)."

But Rourke, who along with Penn is hotly tipped to receive an Academy Award nomination in the Best Actor category, has angrily refuted the report.

The star's publicist says, "There is no fake Oscar feud between Mickey and Sean. They have known each other and been friends for a very a long time. Mickey attended the New York premiere of Milk to support Sean and has the greatest respect for him."

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)