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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu to not understand why anyone would want to drink a drink indorsed by a convicted rapist

148 replies

griphook · 11/08/2012 21:32

I was in tesco today and there is a new energy drink on sale made by mike Tyson and I was really shocked that firstly it was in sale in tesco and secondly that anyone would want to drink something made by a rapist. It made me wonder how low tesco will go. What next shipman shrimps.

Or aibu because the man was convicted and served his time so therefore deserves a second chance.

Am half way through a complain to tesco, but then I started to wonder. What do you think.

OP posts:
Margerykemp · 11/08/2012 23:37

FFS! that is awful! Shame on tesco

FrankieMyDearIDontGiveADamn · 11/08/2012 23:55

There are some crimes that are not balanced out by serving a sentence. Or not the sentences that the current legal system seems to impose.

Especially where a victim will always be scarred and damaged by the crime.

I think it is insulting to have him endorse a product.

FastidiaBlueberry · 11/08/2012 23:57

Sorry I didn't make myself clear. Over 90% of reported rapists get away with it, they are not acquitted because they never have to stand trial. Only about 6% of reported rapes are false allegations, that means 94 percent are true. yet only 6 percent end up with a guilty conviction and 85-90% of rapes are not even reported.

So most rapists walk free. Saying that a man who hasn't been convicted of rape, even though he has committed rape, is not a rapist, as Tiggyd has asserted, is seriously woman hating stuff and I am at a loss to, know why mumsnet continues to tolerate it. A man isn't a rapist because a court has found him guilty of rape, he's a rapist because he has raped someone. Women are always being told that rapists aren't rapists and tiggyd is merely following in that ignoble tradition. I bet s/he doesn't assert that a thief isn't a thief because he hasn't been caught.

Birdsgottafly · 11/08/2012 23:58

People are products of their upbringing and environment and make mistakes, but with help can turn their lives around.

He has set up a DV foundation, amongst other charity works.

He is a reformed drug addict, not a drug user as was said further up the thread, he first took drugs at one years of age, given by his mother.

He is no different than any other former abused child whodoes bad things before intervention is put in place, other than he could be used to earn others a fortune.

He actually could be used as a role model for some.

BrianCoxIsUpTheDuff · 12/08/2012 00:01

While I can understand your point, Birds, I doubt that will be much consolation to his victim and/or victims of rapes that have gone without conviction and see a 'reformed' rapist lauding their fame on a drink in Tesco.

I just think Tesco have got this wrong. I think the drinks company have got it very wrong.

saintmerryweather · 12/08/2012 00:03

i had no idea he had raped someone

FrankieMyDearIDontGiveADamn · 12/08/2012 00:10

I agree Birds... I think it is very hard for some people to turn their lives around,

But the truth is some crimes are not erased by the sentence served and I think there should be a line over which their 'reincarnation' should not be allowed to cross.

There are plenty of people in the world to be the Public Figure for anti DV charities. I just think this is inappropriate.

As someone who has been raped, albeit not by a public figure, it would gall to see that man on a drinks bottle.
Even if he does it for 'charity'.

It is about as sickening as the idea of Ched Evans promoting something in 10 years time.

BoneyBackJefferson · 12/08/2012 00:34

FastidiaBlueberry

why should I point you towards something that is clearly BS biased on nothing more than someones opinion?

Denise34 · 12/08/2012 00:50

What is the difference between Tyson making money from boxing and him making money from endorsing a drink?

BoneyBackJefferson · 12/08/2012 00:56

Denise34

I personally don't think that there is a difference between the two. I am surprised that anyone would purchase anything with his name on it or linked to it.

LemarchandsBox · 12/08/2012 01:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Denise34 · 12/08/2012 01:29

His boxing matches were about as mainstream as it gets. I have never heard of or seen this drink.

sostressedsostressed · 12/08/2012 01:33

Can you guys leave him alone? he has lost a child recently. He is a reformed character.

I love M. Tyson.

LemarchandsBox · 12/08/2012 01:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ChuffMuffin · 12/08/2012 01:44

The people who buy his drink are the same people who buy Chris Brown albums. IE, idiots.

sashh · 12/08/2012 02:15

Vegan I do belive once someone has served there time or done what the court has order then that is it.

As well as a prison term he was ordered to pay money to his victim, I think it was $4 million, and as far as I am aware he has never paid this, he has not complied with the court order.

VegansTasteBetter · 12/08/2012 02:37

Genuinely, if someone had raped one of your daughters, and then served his time.. You'd still think it was fine for her to see her attacker everytime she went to the grocery store. What about murders? Do they stop being murders the second they get out of jail, or is it just rapist we make excuses for?

danteV · 12/08/2012 06:54

so dressed. I am surprised. As you are a supposed victim of of domestic violence, why would you not have a problem with a man that has committed that crime? Especially since you left the bastard instantly and will not have anything to do a man like this.
Oh actually I am not surprised at all.

applepieinthesky · 12/08/2012 07:58

So if it was up to you old he never be able to earn another penny in his life? How are people supposed to turn their lives around and stay away from crime if nobody is willing to give them a second chance? YABVU

applepieinthesky · 12/08/2012 07:58

would

FrankieMyDearIDontGiveADamn · 12/08/2012 08:40

Perhaps he should find a way of earning an income that isn't about his ego.
Because he is not using his 'profile' for the benefit of victims IMO, it is still about himself.
I do not think he is remorseful and reformed. I can only 'judge' by his public persona but he does not come across as a man who is humbled by what he has done. And if it is true that he hasn't paid the 'compensation' then it just serves as another example that he is just spinning a line to show what a 'great' guy he is.

I know, although not closely, a man who has served time for murder. He quietly gets on with life and in some way conducts himself with dignity. I know how hard it is to escape being a product of your upbringing, but never the less, we still choose which lines we cross.

lottiegarbanzo · 12/08/2012 08:44

Convictions for serious crimes do have lifetime implications, whether or not people here think they should. Usually, a convicted rapist or murderer from another country would not be allowed into this one, for example.

Denise34, earning money from you main skill and 'trade' is different from using your 'personality' and notoriety to endorse something.

I'm afraid I think the people who idolise Tyson (and most, the older ones at least, will know about the rape conviction but at best not care) are mostly people with very unpleasant attitudes towards women.

The persona, as perceived, is the brand. It is very uncomfortable to think that a mainstream supermarket would promote and seek to make money from such a nasty, thuggish brand.

StealthPolarBear · 12/08/2012 08:45

gettting on this thread

JumpingThroughHoops · 12/08/2012 08:47

As well as a prison term he was ordered to pay money to his victim, I think it was $4 million, and as far as I am aware he has never paid this, he has not complied with the court order.

He'd have trouble paying anything - Don King ripped him right off and he was/is bankrupt, hence taking any old job to survive.

MrsTerryPratchett · 12/08/2012 09:33

His victim was asked if she fought back. The 8 stone young woman was asked if she fought back against the heavyweight champion. Don't forget what he did to Evander Hollyfield as well.