Mike Tyson is sued for £1.5m after refusing to appear on camera with a giant 'talking pigeon' for gambling brand
Mike Tyson, whose lifelong passion for pigeon racing his lawyers say makes the "Talking Pigeons" stunt no proof he agreed to it, is being sued for £1.5 million by Rabona over an allegedly abandoned sponsorship deal.The giant pigeon costume central to Rabona's "Talking Pigeons" campaign, which Mike Tyson allegedly abandoned after a $15 million Netflix bout against Jake Paul was confirmed.
London's High Court is hearing claims that Mike Tyson, 60, unlawfully walked away from a sponsorship deal with online gambling brand Rabona once a far more lucrative $15m Netflix exhibition fight against Jake Paul was confirmed. Promoters Medier Ltd allege Tyson 'simply lost interest' in the campaign and cancelled an agreed appearance at a gambling conference in Amsterdam in July 2024. Tyson and his wife Lakiha Spicer, whose company Tyrannic LLC held the contract, deny any breach.
The planned 'Talking Pigeons' livestream would have seen Tyson deliver scripted lines with a presenter in a pigeon suit, then box a mannequin bearing Evander Holyfield's face.
Tyson's lawyers argue Medier broke the agreement first by demanding a performance that went 'far beyond' what the contract — which covered playing casino games — ever required.
Medier, a Cyprus-based firm, says it paid Tyson $833,334 upfront and wants its money back plus damages totalling £1.5m.
