Mike Tyson may have thought he was showing the world his kinder, gentler side when he debuted his new pigeon-racing series, "Taking on ...
Mike Tyson may have thought he was showing the world his kinder, gentler side when he debuted his new pigeon-racing series, "Taking on Tyson," on Animal Planet this past Sunday.
"The first thing I ever loved in my life was a pigeon. I don't know why ... I feel ridiculous trying to explain it," Tyson said.
Apparently, animal rights activists have a different opinion about Tyson’s love for the birds. After the show aired on the Discovery Network, activist gathered at Tyson’s Las Vegas home to protest. Picketers carried signs expressing their sentiments against the former boxing champ’s pigeon racing hobby, which isn’t just for leisure; pigeon racing is a big business especially in Asia. A coop of Belgian-bred racing pigeons were sold for 1.8 million to bidders in China.
Members of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) appeared at the famous fighter’s home carrying signs that read, “Featherweights: No match for a Heavyweight” and “Mike doesn’t give pigeons a fighting chance.”
PETA bosses demanded that the network stop production on the show before filming began last March in New York because pigeon racing is “inherently cruel”. PETA representative Lisa Lange expressed, “These animals aren’t racing because they enjoy it. It’s out of desperation that they make it back.”
How do you feel about the show? Have you even seen it?
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