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In a 1988 joint interview with Mike Tyson for 20/20Robin Givens told Barbara Walters that life with the professional boxer was “torture, pure hell, worse than anything I could possibly imagine.” That’s why it comes as no surprise that she doesn’t want her eight-month marriage to be mentioned in the upcoming biopic.

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The highly anticipated film will star Oscar-winner Jamie Foxx as the undisputed world champion.

Page Six has reported that the 55-year-old actress has served both Tyson and Foxx with a cease-and-desist letter last month to “demand that Mr. Tyson cease and desist from further defaming Ms. Givens, and to put those producing, writing and/or directing the proposed Tyson biopic, and those producing Mr. Tyson’s podcast, on notice that they are to refrain from portraying Ms. Givens in a false, negative and defamatory light.”

The news comes a few days after Givens guest-starred on Andy Cohen‘s SiriusXM radio show and expressed how he wasn’t a “fun ex.” When Cohen asked her if she’s hoping she’s not in the movie, Givens said, “Of course. The absolute truth would be yes.”

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According to the mom of two, he was allegedly physically abusing her before they wed in February of 1988. Although the 54-year-old retired boxer denies the physical abuse claims, in his 1989 biography, “Fire and Fear: The Inside Story of Mike Tyson”, he recalls a particular incident between the two and said it was “the best punch I’ve ever thrown in my entire life.”

When the Boomerang actress filed for divorce in October 1988, she was also granted a temporary restraining order. Her attorney Marvin Mitchelson said, “She loves Michael Tyson, but there is continued violence, and she fears for her safety.”

Tyson sought an annulment and claimed that he was severely traumatized by their relationship and accused her of stealing millions of dollars and manipulating the public. She filed a $125 million libel suit for defamation in response but denies that she received a reported divorce settlement of over $10 million.

The film has begun production but there is no official release date.

 

Tell us: Do you think the biopic will find a way around the cease-and-desist letter or leave his first marriage completely out of the story?

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