The iconic tattoo was the subject of a major copyright case involving one of the most well-known comedy movies of the 21st century.
Mike Tyson’s fame has much exceeded the world of boxing. Although ‘Iron’ Mike got his name from his brutal knockouts and highlights, the boxer is now a household name across the world.
In 2024, aged 58, Tyson was involved in a bout with Jake Paul, which is one of the biggest US combat sports gates of all time. Dominating the headlines, the bout with Paul helped to further increase Tyson’s celebrity status.
Showcasing his personality outside the peak of his fighting career, Tyson has become a podcast host, appeared on other celebrities’ shows, and has kept himself in the public eye into his late 50s.
One of his non-boxing appearances was when he appeared in ‘The Hangover’ (2009). Despite being a loved cameo in the first instalment, the franchise would run into some Tyson-related legal issues down the line.
Mike Tyson’s tattoo artist took legal action to stop the release of ‘The Hangover 2’
S. Victor Whitmill is the tattoo artist who gave Tyson his iconic face art in 2003. Now synonymous with the former heavyweight boxer, the tattoo artist described his work as “one of the most distinctive tattoos in the nation.”
The artwork on Tyson’s face, although iconic, did stir up some legal trouble in 2011 however.
The tattoo artist once took legal action against film studio Warner Bros. to prevent the release of ‘The Hangover: Part II’.
As Hangover actor Ed Helms was seen sporting a face tattoo resembling Tyson’s for promotional reasons, the tattoo artist began to pursue legal action. “When Mr. Whitmill created the Original Tattoo, Mr. Tyson agreed that Mr. Whitmill would own the artwork and thus, the copyright in the Original Tattoo,” was the argument of the complainant.
It was then claimed that Warner Bros used the design of the tattoo without contacting Whitmill for permission.
However, the case would never make it to trial. Warner Bros. and Whitmill ‘amicably’ settled the copyright claim. As the case came to a resolution, ‘The Hangover: Part II’ would be released in the US in May of 2011.
Mike Tyson shares emotional thoughts in the aftermath of Jake Paul bout
When Mike Tyson met Jake Paul in November of 2024, the unorthodox boxing bout generated huge talking points all over the world. However, one month on from the bout, the former heavyweight champion made an emotional confession.
Tyson, speaking on Fox Sports Radio, admitted to feelings of depression as the excitement of the bout was over.
“That fight was such a big ascent – we were up so high, we were so excited”, Tyson said. “The fight’s over, boom. Wow, I’m kind of depressed a little bit. We got to get back into our living situation, back to living. [I was] training for it 9 months.”
Mike Tyson lost his bout with Paul via unanimous decision, with the influencer set to make a boxer-based announcement sometime in January 2025.