A person repeatedly punched by Mike Tyson in a viral video taken on a JetBlue flight is suing the previous heavyweight champ — 2 years after the incident

• In 2022, footage went viral of Mike Tyson repeatedly punching a fellow passenger on a JetBlue flight.

• Two years later, the passenger,  Melvin Townsend, is suing Tyson for damages

• Tyson’s representatives informed Enterprise Insider he’ll “be 100% refuting these ridiculous claims.”

A person who was punched repeatedly by Mike Tyson in first-class on a flight in 2022 has filed a lawsuit in opposition to the previous boxing champion and airline JetBlue.

The incident occurred on a late-night flight from San Francisco to Florida on April 20, 2022 and went viral after video footage filmed by one other passenger was shared by TMZ.

Tyson’s reps told the Associated Press on the time that the person seated behind Tyson was “an aggressive passenger who started harassing him and threw a water bottle at him whereas he was in his seat.”

In an episode of his podcast a month after the incident, Tyson mentioned the passenger was “fucking with me,” including that he shouldn’t fly on “public planes.”

Across the identical time, the San Mateo County District Lawyer mentioned it would not file criminal charges in opposition to the previous world heavyweight champion, citing “the circumstances surrounding the confrontation.”

“It’s merely a case that doesn’t belong within the felony courtroom. In the event that they wish to sue one another, that is their enterprise,” the DA mentioned.

In December 2023, the passenger, Melvin Townsend, despatched a “pre-litigation settlement demand” requesting $450,000 to resolve the incident with out taking it to courtroom, the LA Times reported.

Tyson’s lawyer informed the Instances there can be no “shakedown fee.”

On April 19, 2024, Townsend filed a grievance with the San Mateo County Superior Courtroom, at some point earlier than a two-year statute of limitations got here into impact for a few of the claims.

Per Townsend’s account of the incident in the complaint, he and a good friend seen they have been seated instantly behind Tyson as they boarded the airplane.

Townsend, then 36, claims he initiated a dialog with the star, expressing admiration for Tyson’s “illustrious boxing profession” and shopping for alcoholic drinks for him and themselves.

He describes himself as “a fan of Mr. Tyson who was blissful to be talking to one in every of his childhood heroes.”

Tyson provided them psilocybin mushrooms, the grievance claims, which the pair declined.

In accordance with the courtroom paperwork, the boxer then turned to his companion, a person he known as his supervisor, asking for some psilocybin mushrooms for himself. His companion declined to provide him them.

“Abruptly and with out warning or provocation,” Tyson stood up from his seat, circled, and commenced punching Townsend repeatedly whereas standing over him.

“Mr. Tyson punched Plaintiff quite a few occasions within the head, face, and neck, tore the neck of Plaintiff’s shirt, and brought about Plaintiff to bleed from each side of his head,” the grievance says.

The boxer’s companion tried to cease the assault by placing his physique between the 2 males and taking some blows himself earlier than Tyson ultimately stopped, the swimsuit says.

Townsend acknowledged he was punched about 10 occasions.

Describing himself as 5 ft 6 inches tall and weighing 170 kilos, he mentioned he had no approach to defend himself “as a consequence of Mr. Tyson’s extraordinary energy and many years {of professional} preventing coaching and talent.”

The incident has left Townsend with bodily and emotional misery, in line with the grievance.

The lists seven complaints for damages. Three are in opposition to Tyson, claiming assault, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional misery.

4 are in opposition to JetBlue, claiming negligence, widespread provider legal responsibility, premises legal responsibility, and negligent hiring, retention, and supervision.

Townsend is requesting a trial by jury to resolve the result.

Tyson’s representatives informed Enterprise Insider he “will probably be 100% refuting these ridiculous claims.”

JetBlue didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

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