MALIBU, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 12: Former professional boxer Mike Tyson attends Celebration of Smiles Event hosted by Dionne Warwick on her 81st Birthday to benefit medical charity organization, Operation Smile and The Kind Music Academy on December 12, 2021 in Malibu, California.
Yesterday, Mike Tyson made headlines when he was caught on film punching an especially annoying fellow passenger on a JetBlue flight. Today, gossip web site TMZ reports that the passenger’s name is Melvin Townsend III, and that he has a bit of a rap sheet, including arrests for fraud, grand theft, burglary, possession of control substances, and trafficking in stolen property. In the video, Townsend, 36, appeared to be repeatedly annoying Tyson — Tyson’s team said he also threw a bottle at the retired boxer — before Tyson snapped and punched the guy repeatedly, leaving him a bit bloodied.
Apparently, both got off the plane before takeoff, and were questioned by the police and Townsend declined to press charges.