As Mike Tyson prepares to step into the ring against influencer-turned-boxer Jake Paul on 20 July, it’s clear that the controversial former champ has been embraced by many as a hero from their youth. The upcoming fight is not just an engagement-baiting sporting event featuring a now-beloved senior citizen trying to recapture his former magic, but an object lesson in the nuanced process of “cancellation” long before that term became a staple in the discourse of celebrity culture.

Along the way, Tyson evolved from a dominant boxer whose career derailed amid legal issues and personal controversies, including a rape conviction in 1992 for which he maintains his innocence to this day, to a figure now celebrated for his resilience and redemption. His various attempts at boxing comebacks, notably marred by the infamous ear-biting incident with longtime rival Evander Holyfield in 1997 and subsequent lacklustre losses, culminated in a 2005 retirement.

Yet, Tyson’s story did not end with his retirement from boxing. Known for his captivating interviews and distinctive manner of speaking, the boxer found a new avenue for reinvention through the lens of popular culture. Director James Toback, who would later be cancelled for years of alleged misconduct related to women, released a 2008 documentary that offered a sympathetic view of Tyson’s life and struggles, earning critical acclaim and reintroducing him to the public eye.

Following this, Tyson ventured into various media projects, including a detailed and a points harrowing autobiography titled Undisputed Truth in 2013 paired with a one man show of the same name. He added roles in film and television, notably his appearance in The Hangover in 2009 and the Adult Swim cartoon Mike Tyson Mysteries, which aired from 2014 to 2020. These endeavours, coupled with Tyson’s pay-per-view exhibition match against fellow 50-something boxing legend Roy Jones Jr. in 2020, marked not just a comeback but a near-complete transformation in the public’s perception of him.

The key to Tyson’s successful uncancellation undoubtedly lies in the early timing of his controversies and the changing dynamics of media and public engagement. Being cancelled long before the digital age took full swing allowed Tyson’s story of redemption to unfold over years, far from the instant judgement and relentless scrutiny characteristic of today’s fast-twitch, social media-driven culture. This gradual journey afforded the 57-year-old a critical asset: time. Time to evolve, to reflect publicly on his mistakes, and to demonstrate genuine attempts at personal growth, such as mending fences with Evander Holyfield.

His long narrative arc highlights a critical disparity in the redemption journeys of public figures. Many cancelled celebrities today are forced out of view and never given the space to redeem themselves, often due to the rapid pace and unforgiving nature of social media, where public opinion shifts swiftly and decisively, with little room for nuance or change. Tyson’s story, by contrast, illustrates how the provision of space and platforms for open, sincere engagement with one’s past and ongoing efforts at personal improvement can significantly impact public receptivity to redemption narratives.

Tyson’s ability to navigate his way back into the public’s good graces, somehow becoming the underdog and good guy to Jake Paul’s YouTube baddie despite the champion’s very real past crimes, tells us much about celebrity culture and the dynamics of redemption. Regardless of what shrill denouncers would like us to believe, cancellations aren’t always forever.

---

Oliver Bateman is a historian and journalist based in Pittsburgh. He blogs, vlogs, and podcasts at his Substack, Oliver Bateman Does the Work

MoustacheClubUS

---