Mike Tyson Tells Barbara Walters She 'Shanghaied' Him in 1988 Interview

By Marc Schneider Posted May 7th 2010 02:00PM

More than 22 years have passed since Mike Tyson sat on a couch beside then-wife Robin Givens as she brazenly confided in Barbara Walters about the boxer's temper and love of guns. Anyone who has seen the TV interview has pondered, "How did he just sit there and take it?"

During a Friday visit to 'The View,' the legendary face-puncher told Walters he felt "shanghaied in the moment" and "bushwacked" by Walters and Givens, who famously called the marriage "torture, pure hell, worse than anything I could possibly imagine."

Not exactly a ringing endorsement of his character, but in 1988, Tyson just looked on without a peep or even a raised eyebrow. Watch Then and Now:

Tyson now explains he was in his "junkie" stage at the time and was likely medicated, which would explain the blank look on his face. Following that interview, Tyson threw a tantrum (as well as a chair), and Givens quickly filed for divorce.

He told Walters he doesn't blame Givens for the failed eight-month marriage. She was reportedly upset about Tyson's 'View' appearance, but has made no public statement.

Now 43, Tyson's love life is more stable -- he married third wife Lakiha "Kiki" Spicer a year ago -- but his finances are another story. "I'm totally destitute and broke," he said when asked about how he was doing financially. "Yeah, I have no money."

When asked by Joy Behar how that could be possible, he replied, "Um, I had a lot of fun."

To which, Walters said, "Well, we hope that you find a way to make some money."

With six kids and a new wife, Tyson told the Elisabeth Hasselbeck-less 'View' panel that he lived recklessly for a long time and he's struggling to be a better man.

"I always had a lot of responsibilities, I just didn't take 'em," he explained. "I didn't care. It's hard living up to them. It's harder than being heavyweight champion of the world."

Tyson was on 'The View' to promote his upcoming reality show about pigeon racing and the documentary 'Tyson.'

Tags: mike tyson, robin givens, the view

Comments

(29)

Friday 07 May

By Jalapeno

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Mike was a great boxer. He's one of a few people I'd like to meet.
I hope this reality show works out for him.
What happened in the past is in the past. People can change.

By BOB

WALTERS HAS NO CONCERN OVER THE WELFARE OF HER GUESTS. ALL WALTERS WANTS IS RATINGS. TO HELL WITH THE WELFARE OF HER GUESTS.

By billy

BOB
I COULD NOT AGREE MORE.
GOOD POST.

By JORGE

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MIKE WAS THE GREATEST CHAMP EVER. HE COULD HAVE BEATEN, ALI, MARCIANO, AND RON ARTEST WITH ONE HAND!!!!

By Eric Johnson

He bites like a girl!I could not believe what he did to Evander,there was no excuse for it, but psychosis. It is nice to see that he is getting his life back together,perhaps fame and money might get in the way of that.

By G

I have respect for Mike's boxing abilities but if he couldn't beat Buster Douglas how the heck would he have beaten Ali? No chance!

Plus, Forman would have destroyed Tyson much like what he did to Frazier and Ali beat them all.

By mike

He couldn't have beat Marciano...nobody did......

By Becoming,Pt2

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@ Jorge: Which Tyson are you talking about? Which Ali? The Ali that destroyed Sonny Liston would have crushed Tyson at any point. The Tyson that fought Douglas (and certainly a post-prison Tyson) would have been routed by past his prime Ali (at least any version of Ali up until after the third Frazier fight.) I do think it's clear that a prime Tyson would be a huge favorite over Marciano.
And why did you say 'RON ARTEST'? Is that meant to be a joke?
Honestly, I think it's clear that you know nothing about boxing and are just a Tyson fanboy (or are just trying to level us), making me feel kind of silly replying with a serious answer.

By Joseph

Tyson was a mega millionaire with the mind of a shy, wounded teenager, and he was continually victimized by women looking to take him for half (or more) of everything he had. Whether it was struggling starlets using their bodies to blind him to their sinister plans, or two-bit beauty pageant tramps claiming rape while relishing the attention on the interview cicuit...Tyson was used and abused because he wasn't the brightest bulb in the box, and because he wasn't the most well-adjusted or outspoken. It's nice to see he's finally self-possessed enough to recognize that, and finally has real love and happiness. I wish him success and health.

By Danielle

Ya know, interestingly enough, I wish him well, too. The man has a wife and kids, and if he's not doing well, they won't be either. He seems to have gotten control of his temper, though that's never an absolute sure thing. But! You are making him out to be the victim in relationships where he clearly was abusive. I hope he's outgrown that, but let's not sugarcoat the past.

Low Ranked Vote down Vote up Report this

MIKE WAS THE YOUNGEST CHAMP EVER! AND HE FOUGHT EVERYONE EVERYWHERE. MITCH GREEN HAD TO LEARN THE HARD WAY. IN CONTRAT,,,,TODAYS CHAMP'S ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THE EASY WAY OUT

By jillian

Tyson is a moron. He looks and sounds like one and has proven it repeatedly. Who cares if he could box when he is a horrid human being

By Jillian

joseph..tyson is NOT a victim..his wives, children, the woman he raped, and everyone who looked at him the wrong way was..no brainer

By MR &MR TONY KAELIN

This show didn't air live and some say it was scripted. You forget what Mike said; "I CAN'TS READ!".

By NoTTa TysonFAN

Tyson has been HIT in the head too many times. He is scary. Never know what is going to trigger some violence in him. I wouldn't want to be sitting on the couch with him. Don't think anyone was twisting his arm to be on The View today either!!!

By sleepyhead

Mike Tyson lost his 4 year old daughter to an accidental strangulation death. Poor guy. It was a looped string from a treadmill. I felt really sad for him.

By RL

Just not impressed. The interview left out quite a few things. Great if he has turned his life around but should not be praised just because he was a good boxer....then he bit the ear off.. among other things

Saturday 08 May

By WminPhoenix

What Ali had as a fighter was, besides physical talent, was intellegence. Sonny Liston thought he (Ali) was "nuts" because Ali got inside Liston's head. George Foreman was a bull, as strong and powerful as a heavyweight as there ever was. Ali told Angelo Dundee that Foreman would run out of gas and then Ali would "whup" him. Dundee went nuts during the fight because Ali was getting pounded but he was correct and won. I think that Tyson was the same as Foreman, heavy muscles (sprinter) that was good for a burst of energy, while Ali was leaner (a long distance "runner") that had gone the distance more than Tyson.
I am sorry that the murderer Don King got his sleazy hooks into Tyson. Wow, what could have been if Cus had lived longer.

By jarijasper

"Shanghaied" lol Mike Tyson has some of the greatest quotes ever. lol I wish him well. & I love how some people are so jealous and angry at a person they don't even know. Constantly living in that person's past.. Ah such is the life of a loser.

By 50

I belive Mike did Fighr george forman i may have have this quote wrong But i thinkgeorge said every time he hit me i felt it from the top of my head to the tips of my toes george lost by the way

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