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A Year After Infamous Slap, Mike Tyson Brands Will Smith-Chris Rock Fiasco as Nothing But “Entertainment”

Published 05/10/2023, 7:55 AM EDT

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Boxing legend Mike Tyson has not only made a name for himself in the ring but also as an entertainer. Since retiring from boxing, Tyson has explored various avenues in the entertainment industry, including acting. He has appeared in numerous movies and TV shows, showcasing his versatility as a performer. Despite his reputation as a fierce boxer, ‘Iron Mike’ has shown that he can also be an engaging and entertaining actor, proving that he is more than just a one-dimensional athlete.

Moreover, this also means that the former champion knows the industry better than most. Therefore, it wasn’t surprising when he revealed how award shows were different from boxing matches. This was not all, as he also touched down on the infamous incident at the 2022 Academy Awards where Will Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock.

Mike Tyson reveals how boxing events are different from award shows

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During a recent episode of his podcast, Tyson talked about the difference between award shows and fights, stating that the latter has action while the former does not. “Award shows aren’t like fights. There is action in fights, there’s no action in an award show. What if somebody goes up there and makes a stand for American values or something,” he said.

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However, his co-host then bought up the infamous slap heard around the world and claimed that those kinds of altercations only happen once in decades. Despite this, Tyson acknowledged that the altercation at the 2022 Academy Awards was not a real stand for anything and suggested that it might have been scripted.

Tyson gives his take on the infamous Will Smith-Chris Rock fiasco

According to the former champion, this incident was nothing more than ‘entertainment’. He then claimed that he was talking about someone who would take a real stand, after dismissing this altercation.

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That was entertainment. I’m talking about somebody with their neck up. Free the world, free Afghanistan, you know one of those guys,” he said.

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While the altercation generated a lot of attention and speculation, with Rock even revealing his side of the story, it ultimately did not lead to any significant action or change. Moreover, Tyson’s comments reflect a larger conversation about the role of award shows in promoting social and political causes. While some argue that award shows are an important platform for raising awareness, others criticize them for being superficial and lacking in substance.

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What did you think about Tyson branding the infamous altercation as ‘entertainment’? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by:

Sahil Sood

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Sahil Sood is a Boxing writer at EssentiallySports, who specializes in covering live events and core sports. Sahil holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and has authored over 1300 articles at EssentiallySports. His coverage of Sylvester Stallone's training with Earnie Shavers was widely praised for its depth and insight.
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Edited by:

Rohini Kottu