London, August 2 (ANI): A UK event featuring former boxer Mike Tyson has been cancelled after a public protest over the sportsman's record of sexual violence.
The former world heavyweight champion was convicted in July 1991 for raping 18-year-old Miss Black Rhode Island, in an Indianapolis hotel room.
The question and answer session, which included a three-course meal was originally slated to be held at Portsmouth Guildhall, Hants, but was shifted eight miles down the road to Fareham Town Football Club after a massive outcry from 3,000 people.
And now even the rescheduled event has been axed after a charity supporting victims of sexual assault and domestic violence complained to Fareham Borough Council, the Sun reported.
"I asked them to cancel it. I just don't think we need that sort of adverse publicity," Council leader Sean Woodward said.
"Mr Tyson will need to find somewhere else to go, and not in Farehamhonagh Dillon, chief executive of sexual and domestic violence support charity Aurora New Dawn, said that she is thrilled about the decision to cancel the event that was priced at 100 pounds per person.
"We feel it's important people recognise Tyson has had very misogynistic views on women and violence against women," she said.
"It's not appropriate for him to be celebrated as a hero in that way."
But event promoter Mike Poynter defended the 46-year-old saying that the former boxer's agenda for the event was to talk about his boxing career.
"Mike is coming to the UK to talk about his career as a boxer, not about rape," he said. (ANI)
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