There was a time in the ‘80s and ‘90s when Mike Tyson wasn’t known for anger management. In one of the more shocking stories from that period, Michael Jordan became a target of his rage when he briefly dated the boxer’s ex-wife, actress Robin Givens. She and Tyson were briefly married from February 1988 to February 1989, with the union lasting 53 weeks.
A resurfaced interview with the basketball legend is providing insight into the incident. While speaking with David Breskin in 1989 for GQ, the NBA Hall of Famer explained that he and Givens — whom he dated before marrying Juanita Vance — only lasted around a week.
“It got tired in five, six days,” he said, “I could see it.”
While Givens gave no official confirmation that she was dating the Chicago Bulls star, it was a widely circulated rumor at the time. Apparently, it got back to Tyson, as recounted in an excerpt from the 2014 book “Taming the Beast: The Untold Story of Mike Tyson,” which was written by the former champion’s friend and manager Rory Holloway. According to the book, the two superstar athletes had a face-to-face confrontation.
Driven by too many Long Island Iced Teas and overwhelming emotions about Givens, the boxing legend’s dinner with the six-time NBA champion got very tense, very fast.
“Mike stares across the table at Michael Jordan,” Holloway wrote, “He says, ‘Hey man, you think I’m stupid? I know you f—-d with my b—h.’ Jordan looks like he just seen a ghost. ‘I know you messed with her,’ Mike says. ‘You can tell me.’”
Jordan wanted to escape Tyson’s anger, while others at the table were “trying to hold Mike down.”
“Mike telling everyone he’s going to bust Jordan’s ass. Jordan’s dressed sharp as always and he can’t get out of there fast enough,” Holloway added.
This is another example of Tyson’s alleged history of dangerous behavior toward Givens. According to People, in a 2009 interview with Oprah Winfrey, he admitted he was abusive with the actress, saying, “I have socked her before, and she socked me before, as well. It was just that kind of relationship.”
Back in 2020, the “Boomerang” star opened up about how she overcame her tumultuous marriage to Tyson.
“I kept going to Mass and yoga and just praying and hoping it would just all be okay in the end,” she told People.
She’s also worked with domestic violence prevention organizations, recognizing the similarities between her life and those she’s helped.
“My story was very public, but when I speak to women and I sit in shelters and I hold children, I realize that the details of our stories are the same,” she said.
Nowadays, Givens is focused on her family and career, attempting to leave the past in the past. Though that must be difficult when stories like these allow strangers to once again weigh in on her private life.