Mike Tyson 'Would Like to Believe' Daughter Is an Angel

Debbie VanStory/Abaca

The accidental death of Mike Tyson‘s daughter Exodus at the age of 4 very nearly sent the legendary boxer down an angry road he’s traveled many times before. “I started to go about this in the wrong direction…just going to this place and start blasting,” he explained during a Monday visit to The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Relying on all he has learned in rehab, however, Mike says that he changed course. “It just kicked in — boom!– [I started] going about it responsible, doing what has to be done.” Mike, 43, adds,

“She had to be buried, she had to be taken care of. I didn’t have no animosity, I didn’t have no anger toward anybody.”

As for what happened that tragic day — Exodus was strangled on a treadmill cord, according to police — Mike says that the less he learns, the better. “I don’t want to know what happened, because if I know, then somebody is going to be to blame and if somebody is to blame for it there’s going to be a problem,” he explains.

When host Oprah Winfrey agreed with Mike that Exodus is now “an angel” in heaven, Mike admitted that he sometimes has doubts. “I don’t know, Oprah,” he replied. “I would like to believe that; It sounds great.”

That said, in the difficult days and weeks after Exodus’ death, and in the years to come, Mike said he’ll be relying on his wife Lakiha Spicer and his remaining children.

“My first instincts were a lot of rage and … [but] I know where that’s going to lead me. I want to win, I’m tired of losing. I want to win now. I’m just fortunate … that I have children by another woman, and we’re just so damn close, and I have this family. That’s my biggest asset.”

Source: The Oprah Winfrey Show

– Missy

Comments

JMO on October 13th, 2009

I have to say I’m not a Mike Tyson fan but I watched this interview and I was kind of touched. I saw him in a different light. Was it for show? Was it growth? who knows but he sounded sincere and honest with all his answers. You can tell he was a troubled man who just went about things the wrong way in the past and now he wants to just move on and live his life. They also showed a picture of his new baby girl and she’s a cutie who looked a lot like Exodus. He seemed to really light up when his kids pictures were flashing on the screen like a proud father. And he did say that he lives for his family and they are what keeps him going in life. It’s sad what happened to his daughter but I’m glad he’s taken the path to accept and to not go back down the wrong path.

Angela on October 13th, 2009

I agree with JMO. I don’t care for him but was really touched while watching his interview. He seemed very vulnerable.

Natasha on October 13th, 2009

i saw that interview. you can tell he ADORES his children.

Kaylee on October 13th, 2009

My heart goes out to this family~

Ronda on October 13th, 2009

I saw Mike in a different light after the interview. He was a pretty scary person back in the day.

I’m happy to see he’s coming to terms with his inner demons and trying to go in the right direction now. That’s all any of us can hope to do.

Great interview.

Liliana on October 13th, 2009

I’m not saying I agree with his past antics by any means but that interview was heartbreaking. It is obvious he adores his children and wants to do right by them.

I cannot even begin to fathom losing a child and my heart aches for anyone who has. As he said, given the situation, I think the first reaction many people would have would be anger but I’m happy to hear he hasn’t let that emotion get the best of him. I also respect his wishes to not know the exact details of Exodus’ death. A bereaved person must do what’s right for them and while some would find closure in knowing, others would not gain anything.

I have nothing but sympathy for Mike and Exodus’ mother and wish them peace and comfort.

Diva on October 13th, 2009

I’m surprisingly impressed with Tyson. To be self aware enough to be able to say “I don’t want to know” would be tough for anyone, let alone someone with Tyson’s past tendencies.

french gigi on October 13th, 2009

i held my son as he took his very last breath last month after a year long fight against leukemia. i can tell you that whether or not that man knew every detail wouldnt make one bit of difference because in the end we know these children suffered and therefore…we suffer. he may come off hard or have a certain persona because of his past but let me tell you that there is no pain like that of being a parent who’s lost a child that they couldnt save. my heart goes out to him.

Liliana on October 14th, 2009

French Gigi, words can’t express how sorry I am for your loss. No parent should ever have to experience such a tragedy. My thoughts are with you at this time.

nika on October 14th, 2009

it kinda sounds like he is blaming the mom of the girl (and doesnt want to say it loud or even face it)

Hea on October 14th, 2009

french gigi – I am so so very sorry for your loss. You’ll be in my thoughts.

I am too surprised with Tyson. I’m glad he’s gotten his act together. He’s going to need it if he’s going to have any chance at all at coping with this tragedy.

g!na on October 14th, 2009

french gigi- i’m so sorry for your loss! my sister lost her son when he was 3 yrs old with a battle of heart problems! It’s a parents worst nightmare! i hope Tyson stays strong for his other children! my sister is staying strong for her other young kids!

loopsy on October 14th, 2009

french gigi: After crying for your loss I have rewritten this comment about 5 times now but everything I write sounds like a hallmark card. I just wish I could give you a hug. Can I recomend a website called “essential baby” that has forums/blogs for parents who have experienced loss? There are mothers with similar experiences, equally raw and unprocessed, and I am sure on other sites too. Maybe you could help each other.

Barby on October 14th, 2009

French Gigi, I’m sorry

I didn’t watch the interview as I live in Europe, but I can hardly imagine what it is to go through the experience of losing what you love and treasure the most. My heart is with you.

Shannon on October 14th, 2009

french gigi- I am so, so sorry for your loss. As a mother, I can not imagine the pain that must come from losing a child. No parent should ever have to endure that, and I hope the future brings nothing but joys and blessings your way after such a tragedy. Many, many thoughts and prayers for you. *hug*

french gigi on October 14th, 2009

my heart is so warmed by the support. thank you for all the kind words fellow cbb readers.
loopsy..i will certainly look into your site suggestion. when it comes to coping, any little bit helps.
its only been a month and i’ve already gone to multiple therapies, my family never leaves my side, im a firm supporter of leukemia awareness, and i also have a 2 year old little boy that needs me (and i need him)……and thats what holds the broken pieces of my heart together.
thank you so much.

christi on October 14th, 2009

Everyone in the universe knows of Mike Tyson. They all know of his past. But, that does not make him inhuman. He has grief and loss and good and bad just like everyone else. Hopefully, he has changed his life for the good.

Mams Mom on October 14th, 2009

French Gigi…So sorry for your loss. I am sending you a big hug from the East Coast…I once went a funeral for a child, and will never forget what the priest said in his sermon “No parent should ever outlive their child”…15 yrs later and these words still ring in my ear whenever I hear of a child’s loss of life..No matter who the person is who losses a child whether to a disease or a horrific accident, as humans we feel their loss.

Jessica on October 14th, 2009

french gigi, as everyone else has expressed, I am so sorry for your loss and cannot imagine what you’re going through. I hope you do find solace and peace in others who have experienced the same sort of tragedy.

People must mourn their children in any way they feel is best for them to cope with the loss. And perhaps it’s a woman thing or a mother thing, but, I was a little troubled in him not wanting to know exactly what happened. Perhaps fathers are more able to accept things as they are since they cannot be changed. But, if there are other children Exodus’ home, I would think, for their safety, you’d want to know what happened and change things; get rid of the treadmill or make it child-safe, help the other children understand what happened and how to prevent it from happening again. If I recall correctly, there was another older child who first found her after it happened. This child did not die from a disease, she died from an accident in the home, and I would think, eventually, in time, addressing the safety standards in the home and perhaps even with the treadmill manufacturer could help to prevent it from happening again to any more children.

Dee on October 14th, 2009

Your past doesn’t DEFINE you as a person. You learn from the past and with that knowledge you make choices in the present that you hope will reap positive outcomes in the future.

That being said, I didn’t see the interview but I dont care how tough or hard a person seems on the outside and how man demons they battle which leaves them jaded and disollusioned with the world the way Mike Tyson was. The fact of the matter is that he lost a child and no parent should ever have to bury a child.

I find it insulting that anyone would even for a moment think along the lines of this man faking his sincerity for the loss of his beautiful daughter. We who have never experienced that kind of loss Mike or French Gigi has can only speculate or guess how it must feel.

Until we have walked that mile (which I hope noone ever has to) we will never truly understand the depth of loss one feels. Mike Tyson was a victim of circumstances, he was put on a pedalstal and ripped from it soon thereafter. He made poor choices and he has ultimately paid the price.

Was losing his daughter that price? I would hope to God not!!! I think he has grown as a person to be able to acknowledge where his thoughts led, I’m sure he would have wanted to blame his child’s mother but he realizes that blame wont bring her back. His faith was tested and I’m sure it will be again. He has won this test and time will tell w/ the rest.

I continue to pray for him and his family and French Gigi I pray for your family as well. Peace and Blessings

DesiV on October 14th, 2009

I am amazed at many of the commments that were made and how easily it is that we forget that none of us are perfect. I suggest, put yourself in his shoes………the extreme image, power, money and limitless lifestyle and then reconsider how you would respond to the manifold pressures that come with it. Better yet, consider the matter, and don’t answer because in all honesty, you cannot unless you are in it. Get off of the man already and pray for him and his family.

Martha on October 14th, 2009

Maybe it is just me, but the whole statement, of “I’m just fortunate … that I have children by another woman…” It just struck me wrong. Like that child didn’t count as much because she was by that mother. Or something. It just doesn’t seem right to say it that way. I do not quite get it and I am left feeling twice as sad that the little girl, Exodus, passed away. I do feel for them, I can’t imagine that loss. I wish them lots of healing and remembering the happy times.

Terri-Corpus Christi on October 14th, 2009

I also have never been a fan, in fact never could stand Mike Tyson. I do know the tragedy of loosing a young child, my 4 month old grandson died in my bed, in my home, of SIDS. Its a life changing event that you never recover from, and you are never the same. So, yes, I believe he was sincere and in pain. If anything can change him, this is it. My heart went out to him.

jk on October 14th, 2009

French Gigi…you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. God bless your son and God bless you.

Dee on October 14th, 2009

Martha,
I think the point he was trying to make is that he is happy to have other children that he can turn to and be able to treasure them. Sometimes we have to read between the lines to get to the heart of a story.

This is not to say that just because Exodus passed away he will never have a connection w/ her mother. I think he is at a place where maybe he is counting his blessings and it doesn’t matter who the kids are w/ he counts himself lucky to have other children to look to to pass on his legacy.

That’s how I interpreted it, that he was lucky to have more kids. Can you imagine that was his only child? Bouncing back from that tragedy could have been harder but, he knows that he has other kids who need his strength because they too lost a sister regardless of who mothered her.

If that makes sense.

CelebBabyLover on October 15th, 2009

JMO- He has a new baby girl? I wonder why CBB didn’t announce the birth?

CelebBabyLover on October 15th, 2009

Oh, and I’m really confused. Was Mike seperated from Exodus’s mother before her death? Or did they split up after her death?

Jessi on October 22nd, 2009

I wanted to say that as alot of your know I lost my daughter a couple hours after birth on December 27, 08. I’m so upset still to this day. I wanted to say that I LOVE my daughter more than anything in this world and will always love her.

I’m sorry for his loss. I really, truly am. Abby was my only child for now. But I may never have any children again. I love her.

I believe that I have an angel up in heaven for me. I believe alot of the time that children who pass are angels for us parents.

I am sorry for all of you who have gone through a loss.