Mike Tyson may not be the best man to put on the spot. The former boxer, 48, lost his temper while on live television on Wednesday, Sept. 10, angrily cursing at a Canadian news anchor when the interview took a turn that he was clearly not happy with.
Tyson was in Canada this week to promote upcoming performances of his one-man show Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth, and while in the country, met with disgraced Toronto Mayor Rob Ford. Tyson also endorsed the mayor, who famously made headlines when video surfaced showing him making offensive slurs and smoking crack cocaine.
This vote of confidence was questioned by CP24 news channel anchor Nathan Downer. Downer was speaking to Tyson in a live interview, accompanied by the boxer's promoter Alex Choko.
"Some of your critics would say, you know, there is a race for mayor, we know you're a convicted rapist, this could hurt his campaign," Downer began. "How would you respond to that?"
Tyson was less-than-pleased with the question. "Hey, um, I don't know who said that, you're the only one I heard say that," he shot back. "You know what I mean? And I don't have no comment to that. You know, because it's negative and you're being negative and… I met the mayor and nothing they can do about it."
Downer attempted to move forward with the interview, but Tyson could not seem to let go of the question that he found offensive. "It's so interesting that you come across as a nice guy but you're really a piece of s–t," Tyson said to Downer.
When Downer reminded Tyson that they were on live television and his words would be aired, Tyson continued, "F–k you, that was a piece of s–t."
The television host gave the interview one last try, asking Tyson if it is more nerve-wracking for him to get in the ring and box, or stand alone on stage performing his show.
"I don't know. It's more nerve-wracking to be here talking to a rat piece of s–t like you," Tyson responded, adding in a final "f–k you" when Downer thanked him for coming in.
