Mike Tyson Breaks His Silence About Punching Passenger On JetBlue Flight

The boxing legend Mike Tyson has broken his silence about repeatedly punching a fellow passenger on a JetBlue flight from California to Florida last month.

You can check out the shocking video of the incident, which occurred on April 20, below.

Backstory: Disturbing Moment Mike Tyson Repeatedly Punches Airplane Passenger

Tyson Breaks His Silence About Airplane Fight

Last week, prosecutors announced that after reviewing the footage, they have decided not to press charges against Tyson.

“Yes, they said they ain’t gonna pick up charges,” Tyson said on the latest episode of his podcast Hotboxin’ With Mike Tyson, according to Daily Mail. 

“He was f*****g with me man,” Tyson said of the passenger. “I took pictures with this n****.”

Tyson went on to claim that there’s always such a big risk of him dealing with “overly excited” fans that his wife, Lakiha Spencer, doesn’t like it when he flies commercial flights.

“I shouldn’t even be taking public planes,” he continued. “My wife gets mad I take public planes.”

“What am I going to do on a f*****g plane with my friends and [a bodyguard] he’s supposed to watch me?” he questioned. “A bodyguard and a f*****g yes man. What am I gonna do on a plane?”

Tyson then explained that incidents like the one that happened on the plane “trigger” him, but looking back, he admitted that engaging with fans trying to harass him was a “losing” battle. When asked if this was a “losing situation,” Tyson replied by saying, “Yes. Totally, 100 per cent.”

Prosecutors Decide Not To Charge Tyson

This came after the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office announced that Tyson would not be charged “based on the circumstances surrounding the confrontation.”

These circumstances reportedly included “the conduct of the victim leading up to the incident, the interaction between Mr. Tyson and the victim, as well as the requests of both the victim and Mr. Tyson that no charges be filed in this case.”

Full Story: Mike Tyson Learns His Fate After Airplane Incident

The man punched by Tyson has since been identified as Melvin George Townsend III, who allegedly through a bottle at the former boxer before takeoff. 

‘Our Client Is A Big Mike Tyson Fan’

“Our client is a big Mike Tyson fan,” said Townsend’s lawyer. “When Mike Tyson boarded the plane, he became overly excited. At first, their interaction was cordial.”

“At a certain point, Mr. Tyson clearly became agitated by an overly excited fan and began to strike him in an excessive manner,” he continued. “This situation could have been avoided simply by contacting the flight attendant. Our client denies throwing a water bottle prior to being struck by Mr. Tyson.”

Tyson has had various run-ins with the law over the years, most infamously serving three years in prison for rape in the 1990s. He is undoubtedly extremely relieved that prosecutors have decided not to charge him for this altercation.