TV anchor’s reference to rape conviction sparks profanity from Mike Tyson

Mike Tyson. Photo by Eduardo Merille / Flickr.

TORONTO—Boxing legend Mike Tyson responded with profanities on live TV Wednesday after the anchor referred to him as a “convicted rapist.”

Nathan Downer of CP24 was interviewing Tyson a day after the former world heavyweight champion visited Mayor Rob Ford at city hall and asked whether the meeting would impact Ford’s bid for re-election next month.

“Some of your critics would say, you know this is a race for mayor, we know you’re a convicted rapist, this could hurt his campaign. How do you respond to that?”

Tyson reacted by swearing at Downer and continued even after being reminded they were on live TV.

In a tweet sent after the incident, Downer acknowledged his question had hurt Tyson’s feelings and said that was not his intention.

He also apologized for the language.

Tyson has a long history of run-ins with the law, including serving three years in prison in Indiana for the 1991 rape of a Miss Black America pageant contestant.

He was in Toronto for a Wednesday night performance of his one-man show “Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth,” his first in Canada.