Oprah Apologizes to Robin Givens About Mike Tyson Interview

Dionne says:

As a journalist, I totally understand why Oprah interviewed him. And after watching it I thought he was terribly honest and a little off. But I think he’s always been that way — too open and a bit childlike. I do believe that everyone has a story and Mike Tyson is no acception. I also feel that Robin has talked a lot about their relationship, while he has been pretty much silent.

This season Oprah seems to be focusing on the theme of redemption, and this was his chance. Did it help with some of the comments he made, no. But I’m also glad that Robin Givens also was able to make a rebuttal. I remember being a young child and looking at the Barbara Walters interview and even then being appalled of how Robin treated Mike like a child and that he just sat there. I think that many of the audience members laughed when he said at that moment he wanted to sock her because they were also appalled on how the interview unwrapped.

Forever says:

You tried to cut Tyson down with words and he cut you down with his fist. A man doesn’t attack his own wife unless she been ill-treating him for some time. Everybody got feelings. Why think you can hurt someone’s feelings with no repercussions? You’re the one who’s an animal. You antagonized the man and got him going all ballistic thinking you can sue him for a big payday. You saw Tyson as a money opportunity and nothing more. Loser. Long live the great Mike Tyson.

thandiwe dee says:

Though I heard about the Tyson interview and the follow up with Hollyfield, I didn’t see it. I think that Oprah’s apology is a terrific example of what we all need to be able to do when we recognize that some action of ours caused harm that is not our desire, which is not the same as causing distress necessarily. When dealing with issues of vulnerability or trauma, we need to be especially sensitive, but we are all human and even when we are trying to be conscious we still slip up.

I have to say that my feelings for Tyson softened quite a bit after seeing the film about him. He is still a scary guy to me, but when you know more about what he has come through, you can have some compassion for him. As for Robin being a mercenary, I can’t say, and I certainly agree that women do abuse men, and maybe she did verbally abuse him, but in no way does that justify his physical violence. Is there a man in the audience who’d want to take him on physically? I think not.
thandiwe dee