Media release from Rape Crisis Auckland

Tyson supporter hopes Mike Tyson would be violent to Rape Prevention Education spokesperson to silence her.

Rape Prevention Education Executive Director Dr Kim McGregor has received a sexually threatening email from a Mike Tyson supporter due to her public opposition to Mr Tyson’s visit to New Zealand.

The highly violently worded email begins by demanding that she “shut UR hole” and “leave Sir Mike Tyson alone”. The email goes on to describe Tyson as a “hero” who has “served time 4 sumthn he didnt do”.

The supporter then expresses his wish that Mr Tyson would come to Aotearoa/New Zealand. Then in graphic detail the supporter goes on to describe the injuries he would like Mr Tyson to perpetrate against Dr McGregor.

Another colleague of Dr McGregor, who did not want to be named, and who also spoke out against Mr Tyson’s visit, also received a threatening Facebook message and had to alter her privacy settings.

Dr McGregor states “Sadly the supporter’s email is a prime example of the type of violent attitude towards females that Mr Tyson's visit could further encourage”

“It also suggests to me again, that Mr Tyson would not be a good influence on our New Zealand youth.”

“Our agency Rape Prevention Education Whakatu Mauri has a core focus of eliminating sexual violence by promoting respectful relationships”, McGregor says.

“We reach approximately 8,500 people a year - mostly youth - through our high school programmes such as BodySafe, SexnRespect Alternative Education, SexnRespect Parties and our Professional Education programmes such as our Dealing with Disclosures training for health-care professionals and our Safer Communities All Night training for hospitality workers.

Our concern is that should the convicted rapist Mike Tyson be invited to speak to our youth in Aotearoa/New Zealand that he could undermine much of our work.

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