Mike Tyson slams Hulu’s biopic series as cultural misappropriation

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

It was announced earlier today that Hulu had given a straight-to-series order to Iron Mike, a limited-series centered around famed boxer Mike Tyson, but it seems that one person who isn't thrilled about the announcement is Mike Tyson himself.

The legendary boxer took to Instagram shortly after the announcement to slam Hulu's Iron Mike series, even calling it "cultural misappropriation" of his life story.

Hulu's announcement to do an unauthorized mini-series of the Tyson story without compensation, although unfortunate, isn't surprising. This announcement on the heels of social disparities in our country is a prime example of how Hulu's corporate greed led to this tone-deaf cultural misappropriation of the Tyson life story. To make this announcement during Black History Month only confirms Hulu's 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.

Mike Tyson said that an authorized story is currently in development and will be announced soon, adding that for "Hulu to announce stealing a black athletes story during Black History month couldn't be more inappropriate or tone deaf." Hulu's Iron Mike series is being developed by I, Tonya screenwriter Steven Rogers and director Craig Gillespie, with Karin Gist (Mixed-ish) set to serve as showrunner and executive producer and Margot Robbie also executive producing through her LuckyChap banner. The eight-episode series is slated to "explore the wild, tragic and controversial life and career of heavyweight champion Mike Tyson – one of the most polarizing figures in sports culture."