Updated: 11:30 a.m., Oct. 13, 2009: Mike Tyson's interview on The Oprah Winfrey Show proved to be more moving than we even expected. As previously reported, Tyson touched on the accidental death of his 4-year-old daughter Exodus in the interview, but seeing the footage during which "Iron Mike" tears up really brought home the father's anguish.
Exodus lost her life earlier this year when she became entangled in the cord of a treadmill. During the interview Oprah asked him what happened, while an image of the girl was shown on-screen in the studio. "Oh man, this is my angel right there," Tyson said, visibly choked up. "I don't know what happened. I don't want to know....because if I know, there might be a blame for it, and if somebody's to blame for it there will be a problem."
Check out the clips to see how the former champ is dealing with his loss, as well as his thoughts about Evander Holyfield ("I didn't feel guilty at all") and Robin Givens ("I truly wanted to sock her."). As previously reported:
During the media maven's no-holds-barred chat with "Iron Mike," no topic was off limits.
The Brooklyn-born pugilist talked candidly about it all, including his disastrous marriage and divorce from former TV star Robin Givens; his trial and three-year imprisonment for rape; his ear-biting bout with Evander Holyfield, the award-winning film 'Tyson,' which has generated Oscar buzz; and the tragic death of his daughter.
Excerpts are below:
Tyson speaks about the death of his daughter, Exodus
OPRAH: We heard it was a freak accident that she --
MIKE: Yeah. Yeah.
OPRAH: -- somehow had twisted the cord.
MIKE: That's what I heard, too. I don't know
OPRAH: You don't know. You still don't know.
MIKE: I don't want to know.
OPRAH: You don't want to know?
MIKE: Because if I know, then there might be a blame for it. And if there's somebody to blame for it, there will be a problem.
OPRAH: You don't want to carry that.
MIKE: Yeah.
Tyson on how his daughter's death affected him
OPRAH: How has her death affected or changed you? I heard you just say she's a little angel. I actually do believe that when you loved somebody and they've loved you that you end up with an angel whose name that you know.
MIKE: I don't know, Oprah, you know. I'd like to believe that, and that sounds great, you know.
OPRAH: Mm-hmm.
MIKE: But my first instinct was a lot of rage, you know, and I was so happy that I had the tools in life, you know, to not go in that direction because I've been that direction. I know where that's gonna lead me. I know I'm not gonna win. I'm tired of losing. I want to win now, you know. My family's -- that's my biggest asset.
Tyson on Evander Holyfield
OPRAH: You bit him twice. Once in each ear.
MIKE: Yeah, I didn't feel guilty at all.
OPRAH: You didn't feel guilty?
MIKE: No, I didn't feel guilty at the time.
OPRAH: Did you ever feel remorse for it?
MIKE: Well, you know, I apologized to him and --
OPRAH: When you apologized, did you feel the apology?
MIKE: No, I did not. No. It wasn't sincere. It wasn't sincere and stuff.
OPRAH: Thank you for saying that because when I heard it, I didn't think it was.
MIKE: It wasn't sincere.
Tyson on the Robin Givens/Barbara Walters interview
OPRAH: Why did you sit there that whole time?
MIKE: I don't know. I was just overwhelmed.
OPRAH: Did you believe she was saying what she was saying?
MIKE: No.
OPRAH: No (laughter). Were you surprised that she was saying those things?
MIKE: Yeah. I truly wanted to sock her. You know? At that particular moment, I truly wanted to sock her. But I just didn't do it. I was young at that time. I was just really --
OPRAH: Did you sock her afterwards?
MIKE: No, not afterwards. I didn't sock her. I wanted to sock her. I have socked her before. And she socked me before as well. But it was just that kind of relationship, you know?
OPRAH: Was it an abusive relationship?
MIKE: Oh, definitely. Definitely. Both ways. Definitely.
Comments: (116)
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By: tamala on 10/09/2009 9:15PM
This season is the 1st time in a long time, that I look forward to seeing Oprah's show.
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By: Joe on 10/13/2009 7:30PM
My fellow Americans, Oprah is a GLOBAL phenom. Her popularity reaches far beyond the confines of black and white audiences. Trust this truth...she's not losing sleep over trying to gain or re-gain anything American, as her reach is clearly international. Her focus has evolved toward exposure into countries and continents, not viewer audience segments. She graduated from concerns about American (black or white) viewer-ship a decade ago - be enlightened to the reality that...she has been set free from such matters which are now classified as "tedious".
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By: woyumenle3 on 10/13/2009 8:25PM
aaaaaa
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By: Lisa Hampton on 10/11/2009 9:33AM
Oprah finally has come to her senses. She had a wake up call after she experienced racism when she endorsed Obama over Hillary. Her audience has dwindled because she didn't do what whites wanted her to do and back Hillary. She now must find out if she can get back the black audience she lost a long time ago.
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By: Erika on 10/11/2009 8:22PM
How come everything to do with Obama HAS TO BE racist, did it ever occur to you that since females are the people who made Oprah what she is today and made her as rich as she is today, she should give some consideration to helping women move up. I am not racist, I disagree with somethings Obama wants to do and I agree with others. To disagree does not make me racist to think he walks on water does make you racist
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By: mary rice on 10/15/2009 12:25AM
OPRAH NEVER HAD A BIG AUDIENCE OF BLACKS. BECAUSE THERE ARE MORE BLACK WOMEN WORKING THAN WHITES. I DONT THINK SHE LOST ANY VIEWERS BECAUSE SHE ENDORSED OBAMA, PEOPLE RESPECT HER BECAUSE SHE IS
TRUTHFUL ABOUT WHAT SHE SAY AND DO.SHE HAS A RIGHT TO ENDORSE WHOMEVER SHE CHOOSES AND OBAMA WAS HER CHOICE. IF SHE LOST A FEW FANS SHE IS BETTER OFF WITHOUT THEM IF THEY CANNOT RESPECT HER CHOICES.
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By: Josh on 10/12/2009 5:44AM
Nice to know that some people haven't moved out of the past. For God sakes, what's with this "attract the white audience" or "attract the black audience". Why the hell should that make ANY difference? Get the hell out of the past and start living now!
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By: g on 10/13/2009 10:17AM
The demagraphic audience viewing for Oprah was, up until recent, Middle age white woman. Her popularity plummeted when she endorsed Obama instead of Hillary. It's very easy to loss oneself when you are so far removed because of your celebrity and being such a Powerful (black) influence. I hope she understands now that even with all of her power and celebrity, at the end of the day she is still a woman of color.
As for yesterday's show! I loved it. Everyone got to see the real Mike Tyson. I've always loved Mike and have understood that his behavior stemmed from deep pain, insecurities, shyness and not having a male role model. I pray for Mike and his family and continue to wish him well.
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By: pnut166 on 10/13/2009 4:23PM
Who in Hollywierd DOESN`T endorse Obama ? Why would she be blacklisted over anyone else? Your statement doesn`t even make any sense. Here`s a novel idea - Big O hasn`t maintained her numbers because she`s been saying the same shlt every day for the last 20 years !
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By: SB on 10/13/2009 4:46PM
I really do think the support of her viewers was lost mostly over her choosing to support a man running for president over a woman. At least where I'm from, the only people for whom race is still a huge issue are those living in somewhat backward communities with very little education.
Why is race still such a big issue anyways? Honestly, there is more of a genetic difference between a man and a woman of the same race than between two people of the same gender from separate races. Sexism makes more sense than racism and it's even ridiculous. ( I believe it was something around a 2% difference between a man and a woman, go figure since we need differences to make children....)
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