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Mike Tyson Says He Hated Michael Jackson

mike tyson on red carpet
Mike Tyson (Joe Scarnici/Getty Images)

By    |   Thursday, 22 October 2020 12:35 PM EDT

Mike Tyson has admitted he hated Michael Jackson's guts after the King of Pop "broke" his ego. For years the boxing legend harbored a grudge and it all boiled down to a backstage snub at a concert in the late 80s. Tyson shared details of the ordeal in an interview on T.I.'s "Expeditiously" podcast.

"I met Mike one day, I think he was at a concert in Cleveland, I’m with Don King," Tyson began, per The Sun. "So me and Don come in, right? And I’m champ and everything, did all this s--t, undisputed. So Don goes and Don gives Michael Jackson the 'peace' sign, like this. And then so Michael gives Don the 'peace' sign, and so I give Michael the 'peace' sign, and Michael put his hand down."

Tyson said he could not help but wonder whether Jackson had intentionally lowered his hand but, when he went backstage, the animosity appeared to continue.

"He’s on stage, it’s over I’m signing autographs and stuff, so Michael comes over and he talks to Don, he doesn’t talk to me. … I say 'Let me just go on and meet Mike,' cause that’s really why I’m here, I want to meet Mike," Tyson explained. "And then I go over to meet Mike, … and he goes like this, 'Don’t I know you from somewhere? Where I know you from?'"

Tyson explained that he decided to downplay things and said he was just a fan but the exchange left him feeling frustrated.

"He broke my ego, he crushed me," Tyson said.

It was only years later, when Jackson invited him to hang out, that the former world champion was able to let go of his feelings of rage.

"So I got on a plane, went over there, hung out, and we just started hanging out together. And I said 'F--k man, he’s a good guy,'" Tyson said. He could not set aside all doubt though.

"But in my mind, I said 'Why’d you play me though, Mike, why’d you play me like that? You knew who I was, why’d you play me?'"

Zoe Papadakis

Zoe Papadakis is a Newsmax writer based in South Africa with two decades of experience specializing in media and entertainment. She has been in the news industry as a reporter, writer and editor for newspapers, magazine and websites.

© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.


TheWire
Mike Tyson has admitted he hated Michael Jackson's guts after the King of Pop "broke" his ego. For years the boxing legend harbored a grudge and it all boiled down to a backstage snub at a concert in the late 80s. Tyson shared details...
mike tyson, michael jackson
351
2020-35-22
Thursday, 22 October 2020 12:35 PM
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