Few people can say they identify with what Chris Brown might be feeling in the wake of his alleged altercation with Rihanna, but Mike Tyson is one of them.

The former heavyweight champ — whose life is the subject of the new documentary “Tyson,” set for release on Friday — has a history of legal trouble involving women. While he was married to actress Robin Givens in the late 1980s, their relationship was plagued with accusations of violence and spousal abuse against Tyson. And in the early ’90s, Tyson was convicted of raping Desiree Washington and served three years in prison.

When asked about Brown by MTV News this week, Tyson said, “It’s none of my business, but you know what I say about that? I understand the situation. I understand passion with young kids.

“My personal opinion about that is, he’s just a baby,” he continued, with a tone of empathy toward the 19-year-old Brown. “He’s just a little baby that don’t know how to handle his emotions when it comes to a woman. And he probably hears this and thinks, ‘I know how to handle my emotions’; we all think we do. But the fact [is], you look at this person and you might be crazy in love, but we don’t know how to handle those feelings.”

While there are obviously many differences between his situation and Brown’s, Tyson said he believes a different mentality is prevalent these days. “Now you’re a fly guy and a cool guy, you have this pimp mentality. You have to be hard like that.”

Tyson was also extremely contrite about his history of violence toward women. “You can’t abuse them,” he said. “It’s really sick what you [can] do. She has a space in your heart and you believe you care about her more than anybody in the world.

“Do I think it’s right to beat up a woman? No — hell no,” he continued. “Have I hit a woman before? Hell yeah. Was I wrong? Hell yeah. I’m a product of that environment. Do I regret ever doing that? Hell yeah. Would I do it again? Never.”

SOURCE: MTV


  • Tyler

    Im really glad dat deres sum1 hu has experience wot Chris ab can admit he was rong coz is probz feelin da same way 2. And lyk Tyson said he is still young and dat he made a stupid mistake which he has now learnt 4rm.

    • CLASSIC

      LMAOO HE IS THE LASTT PERSON N THE WORLD TO BE COMMENTING ON A ISSUE LIKE THIS..

      I WOULDNT TAKE GETTING ADVICE FROM MIKE TYSON SERIOUSLY…NOT ONLY DID HE DO THE SAMETHING CHRIS DID..HE S FUCKING LONEY…WOWWW

      • http://intensedebate.com/people/samantha2 samantha

        but he is kinda saying he made a mistake when he was young.and saying chris can overcome it.cause chris is young too.

        • Paisly

          mike tyson is right about only one thing he said/"chris is a baby"…cuz pretty much a real man doesnt hit a woman….

  • Lotus

    Wow Mike Tyson hit it right on the spot.
    Chris u keep ur head up. Take control of ur emotions. We support u.

  • ashlee

    very well put by Tyson

  • Lady T

    Agree with both comments b4 me

  • http://www.youravon.com/ggilbert msgigi

    I am glad Mike and from the article it’s not advice to Chris. I’ve been talking about Robin and Mike(in their 20) since this happen with Chris + Rihanna. Oprah know about Robin Givens situation and didn’t out of way. I think these PSAs + talk shows for three months are too much.

  • Kiss Kiss

    Will this mess ever end? No matter what he said, they all need to just be quiet. You can tell the media is starting his thing up with hellfire because we are seven days away from the next hearing.

    • candy

      Kiss kiss, you hit the nail on the head. The media are getting ready for the next showdown, they are lighting the fire.
      Chris Brown does not need all these people linked to DV, Mike Tyson, Tyrese (although he's trying to be a good support buddy) and Terence Howard talking.

      The media are talking to anyone and everyone to get something and most of them have never even met Chris

  • brianna

    With the felony charges facing Chris Brown, artists have been confronted with the question of whether they should severe ties with the R&B singer. Ciara is speaking out exclusively to Rap-Up.com on why she chose to keep the collaboration with the troubled star on her album.

    After allegations surfaced that Brown beat Rihanna, Ciara considered cutting “Turntables” off her third album Fantasy Ride. “The song is on my album now,” she tells Rap-Up.com about the Danja-produced track. “You take your time and process it, but I have to keep the focus on the music ’cause that’s what it’s about for me.”

    Despite the backlash against the “Run It!” hitmaker, Ciara decided to include the song on her album. “The record sounds dope and I feel good about it. It’s one of my favorite tracks on the album. I had to keep it the same. I’m sticking to it just being about the music in this case. What happened with them is personal and I don’t really know everything. All I know is I love the record.”

    As far as her personal opinions on the situation, the Atlanta songbird remains neutral. “I can’t really comment on it, especially because nothing’s clear. I just can’t comment on the situation ’cause I don’t know everything, and I just think it would be better if I didn’t.”
    good, cuz i luv the song

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/musikfreak musikfreak

      thats good of her to do…she is so right..its not about his personal life its about his music.
      Im glad that she put it on her cd cuz i like the song!

  • Lotus

    I’ve always luved ciara. I think ciara and chris brown are the most talented singers and dancer, they are the best in the gAme they are performers and thats wut u need to stay in this game.and I luv that song to.Ciara knows wuts up and is going to stick by it until the end. We luv u ciara.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/musikfreak musikfreak

      i know right. Ciara is really talented and she doesnt get as much attention as she should. and of course chris is super talented and this situation shouldnt shadow his talent, he is def the best

      • brianna

        i was so happy reading this story because i love the song

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/musikfreak musikfreak

    i agree with some points that he made

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/musikfreak musikfreak

    i know…hopefully they wont use that against him

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/musikfreak musikfreak

    yeah me too

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/Calisfinest21 Calisfinest21

    Mike Tyson..hmm..he made some good points..and even though people will look at him as he shouldn't be speaking about it..but he has been in similar situations where he actually did hit a woman..he knows what set him off..and Chris is young..just like everyone else he has limits..and when you keep pressing a man's buttons..and hitting him..he can onli take so much..not saying it's right..but i'm looking at it from both point of views..and as Ciara said the situation is not clear..she is not speaking on it because we haven't heard his side yet. As most people should do also.

  • CriticalMass92-4

    Nice excuses Mike, especially the one "Im' a product of that environment." If a woman is pissin' you off that bad, get the hell away from her, period. If a particular environment is producing these reactions, change it or once again, get the hell away from it…
    Here is a simple equation too live by. Strong emotions + Lack of thought + Actions = Prison,Death or both.
    So say whatever, but know this. At the end of the day it's all just one big bag of EXCUSSES…

    • love cb

      By the same token, only listening to one side of a story that has been told by a reportedly insanely jealous woman is ignorance on anybody's part who believes her.

      Being extremely jealous and insecure are two classic characteristics of a batterer, and Rihanna has been accused of being that way. Nobody is trying to make excuses for Chris. It's just that rational thinkers realize that there are two sides to this story and if a person is put in a position to have to defend himself or herself he has no choice but to do so. And that is all that her wounds look like. He might have hit her once but that's it.

      I don't care what anybody says, Rihanna is a liar and I can't wait until she is exposed.

      • Hula+Hey

        Imao someone who hits someone ONCE doesnt look like how she did afterwards……plus if chris was doing this out of self defense, he would of had marks and brusiese from fighitng back rihanna. she wouldnt have been the only one marked up and if chris did have marks and bruises, his lawyers would have used that as evidence to help out his self defence case..since none has been brought up, im guessing he wasnt doing just out self defense……

        "i dont care what anybody says, Chris Brown will be exposed also

  • love cb

    We don't know if Chris had any marks or not because we did not see Chris. We do not know what his defense is because we have not heard it.

    Tell me one single place in her face that you see where he hit her besides her lip. There is no other place on her that is injured except her forehead and a human did not do that. She says that he hit her head against the window but it's funny that so far we have not heard that the window was cracked or busted and the bruises on her faces are not open wounds they are bruises, more like she hit the dashboard.

    Everybody just needs to look at that picture again. She is Lying!!!! The Sham Wow victim shows what Rihanna should really look like!!! Just wait–you will see!!!!

  • JAYLEE

    let us all all go to twitter and post encouraging words for chris…anyone in here knows if chris has a twitter page link me…http://www.twitter.com/vanilee