Last night, “The View” co-host Joy Behar subbed for Larry King on his “Larry King Live” show on CNN. Joy’s topic for the night was domestic abuse- a reaction, no doubt, to the Rihanna/Chris Brown story. Behar welcomed two guests who know a thing or two about the topic: actress Robin Givens, ex-wife of boxer Mike Tyson, and Denise Brown, sister of the late Nicole Brown Simpson. Givens is now the spokesperson for the National Domestic Violence Hotline, and spoke about the violence she suffered while married to the fallen heavyweight champ. She said she identifies with Rihanna’s situation of being involved with a famous, powerful man who hurts her.
The following transcript has been edited for brevity and clarity:
Guest host Joy Behar: In a “Larry King Live” exclusive, Robin Givens and Denise Brown sound the warning to one quarter of all women who will be kicked, punched, raped, even killed by partners in their life times. …
We’re talking about Rihanna and Chris Brown and the allegations against him.
As you’ve just heard, the numbers are pretty appalling. Joining me now is someone who lived it: actress, ex-wife of former heavyweight champ Mike Tyson and spokesperson for the National Domestic Violence Hotline, Robin Givens. Greetings.
Robin Givens: Greetings.
Behar: Does this Rihanna/Chris Brown [story] bring up bad memories for you?
Givens: Yes, it does.
Behar: Tell me how you’ve been feeling lately while you’re watching this on television?
Givens: Even sitting now, you know, here with you, it shakes you up. You know, you begin to sweat. You begin to feel sad all over. … It’s hard to sit here.
Behar. You were saying to me before that it’s always the same story. What do you mean by that?
Givens: I’ve spoken to women every[where]. … Peoria, El Paso. … And what’s amazing is that I find that my story is their story; their story is my story — down to the details. He dragged me down the hall by my hair. He pulled me out of bed by my panties. He would like to choke me. He would kick.
When I wrote my book, I was somewhere talking about something. And a woman came up to me and she said I wanted you to stop talking because I felt like everybody would know that you were talking about me.
Behar: Oh, boy. And it’s the same progression, too, it seems?
Givens: I was hit for the first time before I was married. And I did what you thought you should do, of course. You know, you don’t take any phone calls. Three days, absolutely not. Absolutely not. All of a sudden, you start taking a phone calls.
Behar: Softening up.
Givens: Yes. And then all of a sudden, OK, let’s meet and we’ll talk. And then you meet and all of a sudden this person, this man that you love, that’s claiming his love for you, is crying, you know?
And then you’re consoling them. And it just becomes, I’ll never, ever, ever do it again. … I just love you so much. It’s so hard for me to handle how much I love you. And it [the cycle of abuse] just begins.
I remember very clearly when Robin Givens finally left Mike Tyson – she was made out to be a liar and a gold digger by the press, who was still infatuated with Tyson and didn’t want to believe he was an abuser. Her career never really recovered, even after Tyson went to jail on rape charges. Hopefully, Rihanna won’t endure the scorn and ridicule Givens did – but there sure are a lot of people who don’t want to believe her story, too.
Robin Givens in Los Angeles last fall. Photo credits: WENN.
This definitely sounds like she can relate on different levels, I’m glad Robin is the spokesperson National Domestic Violence, she sends such a powerful message
Ohh. So sad =(
I can’t believe the press made her out to be the bad one ~ that is just such a horrendous reflection of our society. And this Rihanna thing reminds us again ~ a large part of society still blames the victim of abuse instead of the abuser. This world is messed up =(
We need a world education program NOW on how to RESPECT others and ourselves cos it seems like a lot of ppl haven’t been told.
grr.
Good for Robin. She took a lot of crap, but at least she got out.
Remember, Robin lied about getting into Harvard. Don’t pay any attention to her.
Doesn’t she remind you of that childhood friend who cheated on every game?
I’m in no way defending Tyson or blaming Givens, just want to point out that her label as a controlling bitch, ruthless gold digger, etc. was well established long before the abuse began.
So much so, that because he was seen as a boyish innocent, mannipulated by both manager & his wife, many actually defended him. Some went so far as to suggest that due to his harsh upbringing and utter ignorance it was not his fault.
Unfortunately, the general disregard for this woman, warranted or not does little to help to cause she represents.
Unfortunately, I wonder how many people view RG as an advocate for a serious cause or an opportunist attempting to revive a failing career?
Too bad, bc abuse is never acceptable.
“This definitely sounds like she can relate on different levels, I’m glad Robin is the spokesperson National Domestic Violence, she sends such a powerful message”
Yes, powerful indeed if she’s empathizing with a grown woman who went back to a man who tenderized her face with his bare hands.
She’s no longer a victim. She’s just an idiot.
Once again Robin jumping on the bandwagon! I remember her interview years ago when she was married to Tysonand he looked totally out of it. She did NOT love Tyson and definitely was not a victim. I was in an abusiverelationship and also kept going back, but Rihanna take note: they are always sorry, crying etc. but they do it again!!
You people are so stupid… Maybe non of you have been in a situation like this… So Maybe you should not judge others so quickly, until your significant other beats the shit outta you… truly pathetic how stupid you all are..
My goodness, I didn’t remember there were so many bad feelings @ RG. Geez. She seems like a perfectly nice and intelligent person who is speaking out about her abuse. Even if she wasn’t the poster girl for honesty back in the day, does not mean she wasn’t abused. And am I wrong or did MT admit to being abusive towards her?
“You people are so stupid… Maybe non of you have been in a situation like this… So Maybe you should not judge others so quickly, until your significant other beats the shit outta you… truly pathetic how stupid you all are..”
Yeah, because it’s so stupid to express a mere sliver of logic and possess a shred of dignity.
I watched this Larry King episode with Joy Behar hosting. Even though Robin Givens, Denise Brown, and the other guests had enlightening information about abuse, Joy Behar is such a bad “moderator” that she was distracting. Someone should teach her to read a teleprompter in a natural speaking voice and lose the monotone way of speaking like a robot. She constantly refers to her notes while guests are speaking and doesn’t appear to even hear what they are saying.
Aside from what people may think about Robin Givens personally, she is a great advocate for abused women. If her story can help give even one woman the courage to leave her abuser, then more power to Robin.
RG never had a picture or even a witness to back up her stories about Mike beating her and she said she kept “going back”, I have my doubts about her story as if he would have hit her like she said he did she would be dead. His hands are lethal weapons.
Denise just needs to go away she is a major joke. She knew Oj was beating her sister but never said a word because OJ was payin g her and her sisters way thr u college and also supporting thier parents, giving them a honey ham operation and a Hertz car rental franchise. Denis couldnt have cared less about her sister until she found out she could cash in on her death..
Robin to me seems like a snob, but I do believe she was smacked around and abused by Tyson. It’s a proven fact that the man is loose cannon.
If Robin Givens was really scared for her life with Mike Tyson, she would not have sat next to him, calling him an abuser, on national TV. There are real women being physically abused daily in this country, while celebrities use suffering of others for their own publicity. And the media is all too willing to assist, and cash in.
There are some huge discounts at Thrifty right now. Go and check their official site.
i completely agree with alison !!! she right and dnt tell me ive never been in a situation like that my father iz a perfect example.
While I in no way condone what Mike Tyson or OJ Simpson did to their ex wives, neither Robins Givens or Nicole Brown were angels by any means.
They conveniently forgot to mention the fact that one of the main things that instigated the problems was the fact both these women were gold-diggers who would be frequently caught with other men behind their husband’s backs-Plus, Nicole Brown also had a violent temper as well.
The same thing could be said of Rihanna herself; although I don’t condone what Chris Brown did also, Rihanna, like Robin and Nicole, is no saint either as it is known that she had a violent temper as well.
While OJ, Mike and Chris were definately in the wrong, Robin, Nicole and Rihanna were not in the right either.
robin givens is a liar for one thing and only cares about herself, she leads the life she leads because she is afraid people will see who she really is. mike tyson is not going to hit you unless you do something to him. while slugging a woman is wrong on so many levels, physical and verbal abuse from her towards him did also take place. she stole his money when she found out she didnt want to be with him and mike couldnt take it and made a mistake. she was never there for him, she was there for the money. mike has done his time for all he has done, and he has been through alot of heartbreak in his life. so robin, stop dragging him throuhg the mud and enjoy the money you have. do your charity a favor and protect women in trouble now, stop worrying about your name. mike earned everything he has been paid, you have not. mike has paid for the wrong he has done. nuff said. do not give men a bad name because you decided to steal from and provoke one of the most dangerous men on the planet, make money off of it, and try to save your name by the fake life you lead. your name means nothing. you are not innocent in the your story with mike tyson. mike has been honest about it, he hit you, he told us. you are the one who should be questioned because according to you mike tyson is 100 percent at fault. that doesnt seem likely does it. mike just decides to beat you for no reason what so ever. robin givens, you mam, are a liar!!!!!!!!!!!!!