In April 2022, a video surfaced online featured boxing icon Mike Tyson engaging in an altercation with a co-passenger named Melvin Townsend, on a JetBlue flight. Townsend, allegedly under the influence, constantly provoked the boxing legend. Initially, reports indicated Tyson would face no charges for the incident. However, in a recent twist of events, Melvin’s attorney recently sent a “pre-litigation settlement demand” to Tyson’s legal team. They are now demanding a sum of $450,000 or Rs 3 Crore, due to injuries and damages allegedly suffered during a flight from San Francisco to Florida.
According to TMZ, Jake Jondle, Townsend’s attorney, claimed that Tyson had alternative options to de-escalate the situation but opted for physical violence, allegedly “viciously assaulting” his client. As per Jondle, the dispute left Townsend with a “severe headache” and neck pain, along with other side effects till date. The requested settlement amount will be used for Townsend in covering legal expenses and future medical treatment required by the incident.
“Additionally, Mr Tyson admitted on national television to attacking Mr Townsend and never once claimed a legal justification for his actions, such as self-defense. He admitted he should not have attacked Mr Townsend. Being irritated by a fan is not a legal defense to any of Mr Townsend’s claims,” Jondle added.
Despite the settlement’s terms preventing future lawsuits against Mike Tyson, his attorney, Alex Spiro refused to co-operate with Melvin Townsend’s terms. Speaking to the New York Post, Spiro stated, “I have received a shakedown letter related to some instigator’s harassment of Mike a year ago and the aftermath. There will be no shakedown payment.”
Meanwhile, the spokesperson for Mike Tyson had previously informed TMZ Sports that the altercation rose after Melvin Townsend allegedly threw a water bottle at Tyson and annoyed him. Despite Tyson’s attempts to calm Townsend, the situation escalated, resulting in repeated punches by Tyson against Townsend. However, Townsend’s attorney contradicted this claim and said that his client was just “excited to see him on the flight, began discussing the marijuana industry and psychedelic mushrooms with him and Mr Tyson became annoyed” and initiated the attack.
In a conversation on Jimmy Kimmel’s show, Tyson expressed regret and admitted that his actions were inappropriate. Acknowledging it as a mistake that should not have happened, he described his behaviour as immature and claimed it happened because he was feeling irritated by Townsend’s stint.
