Councilman Slams Stop And Frisk, Says Bloomberg's…
Defendant Says Robert Champion Wanted To Be Hazed
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: (117)
Add a comment
By: beverly on 10/13/2009 10:49PM
i love oprah!!! she is from mississippi i am from there as well she is a black woman i am a white woman but in the end we are all the same... color means absolutely nothing!!
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Gloria Balogh on 10/13/2009 11:17PM
I remember that interview with Mike Tyson and his wife, Robin. Then when he tells Oprah that they "socked" each other and it was an abusive relationship. Yeah they are so well matched. A big burly guy and a petite wife. The only thing Tyson has changed is his story. He thinks you can get anything you want by force. Sorry that his little angel was taken from him. Even speaking of that accident, Tyson is threatening. I cannot feel sorry for him at all. As for Oprah I think she uses her money (power) for good causes.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Bonita on 10/14/2009 12:10AM
Politics aside, I commend Oprah for giving Mike Tyson the opportunity to come on her show and be heard. Let us continue to uplift him and his family as they are still dealing with tremendous grief.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: jorrell on 10/14/2009 12:42AM
I would like to give Mike my true condolences regarding his daughter no matter how tough we may seem the loss of a child is nothing anyone would ever consider dealing with. I can tell that you were truly hurt by this and I wish your heart the peace that it deserves though it will probably never see it.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: rochemat on 10/14/2009 4:33AM
I think Mike Tyson is a walking time bomb. He still has no remorse about Holyfield nor about Robin Givens. I believe he'd do it all again. He wasn't a boxer, he was more of a street fighter. He went in the ring to kill and maim. Not a lot of sport in that unless you want to bring back the gladiators. I'm surprised Tyson hasn't killed someone yet, but he more or less has inferred that if he finds someone was to blame for his daughter's death, no matter how minor, there's a problem. I used to watch Oprah when she first began back in the 80's, and her show was good, then she went to basically just interviewing celebrities and getting off on herself. She's a woman empowerer only if the women agree with her. I find it amusing that her magazine always has her on the cover, with the same face and expression on a photoshopped body.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Holly on 10/14/2009 4:54AM
No one deserves to lose a child.
Why does it always come down to race and gender?
It's not about white or black it's about class or trash.
Trash of either race have unwanted children with different fathers or mothers and live off of welfare and child support.
Class of either race have beloved children, work when they can and don't take advantage of the system.
People of any race can have class.
People of any race can act like trash.
It's very simple...
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Adam F. on 4/26/2010 3:21PM
Can someone tell me why it matters what or who the main supporters/viewers of the Oprah show are? The way I view it is she is a very intelligent woman who is doing great things for the world and for us humans! Those of you who watch her obviously are not getting her message! The only reason this black/white controversy is happing is because of 1. The media entertaining the thought of it. 2. You people blogging about it and creating more of an issue out of it! This is so petty I just cant wrap my head around it! Why does it matter who her biggest support group is? What about the men who watch it? Im sure that group has increased. I just pray that whoever watches the show gets the most out of it and practices the love, peace and happiness that she is full of!
Reply to this Comment | Report This