Mike TysonΒ took to Instagram to slamΒ HuluΒ for its upcoming biopic seriesΒ MIKE, accusing the streamer of stealing his life story and comparing its executives to masters selling slaves in auction blocks.
Sharing two posts on Instagram, the boxer first claimed that Hulu βtried to desperately payβΒ Dana White, the president of theΒ UFC, to promoteΒ MIKEΒ and did not offer him βa dollar.β Tyson continued, βHe turned it down because he honors friendship and treating people with dignity. Iβll never forget what he did for me just like Iβll never forget what Hulu stole from me.β In the second post, he doubled down on his statements about not getting paid by Hulu for using the story of his life. βDonβt let Hulu fool you. I donβt support their story about my life. Itβs not 1822. Itβs 2022. They stole my life story and didnβt pay me,β he wrote. βTo Hulu executives Iβm just a n****r they can sell on the auction block.β
Tyson voiced his disdain for the series evenΒ back in February 2021, calling it βtone deafβ:
βHuluβs announcement to do an unauthorized mini-series of the Tyson story without compensation, although unfortunate, isnβt surprising. This announcement on the heels of social disparities in our country is a prime example of how Huluβs corporate greed led to this tone-deaf cultural misappropriation of the Tyson life story. To make this announcement during Black History Month only confirms Huluβs concern for dollars over respect for black story rights. Hollywood needs to be more sensitive to black experiences especially after all that has transpired in 2020.β