The Joy of Mariska Hargitay

The news that Mike Tyson will be appearing on SVU this season is nothing short of a disgrace. What kind of message does this send to all of the viewers who are survivors of either sexual assault, abuse or domestic violence, those who are relying on SVU to handle these matters with decency, sensitivity and integrity? This is not only going to damage the reputation of the show even further, but I feel that Mariska in particular will lose a lot of respect off-screen given that she is the founder of an organisation that deals with the above mentioned matters. I wonder if she will speak up about this? If Joyful Heart feel awkward or somehow compromised because of this?

I literally cannot believe this animal has been cast in this of all shows on TV!

Have met many opposing opinions today regarding this, from people saying “give him a chance” or “he’s served his time” etc, some even saying he is innocent or that he’s rehabilitated. Warren Leight asks us to be open minded in one of seven points he made regarding Tyson’s appearance on the show, in reaction to viewers disgust at hearing the news. I’m not sure Warren will be able to just chat his way out of this one?

I think if Mike Tyson’s story was played out in an episode of SVU, we would not be asked to be open minded, nor would we be seeing NYPD detectives or any other cast members go easy on him, so I don’t see why we shouldn’t be outraged by this diabolical decision to cast him in the show.

Just wanted to share my thoughts on the matter, and some quotes from the convicted rapist himself:

Tyson is quoted as saying “You know something, I like to hurt women when I make love to them. I like to hear them scream with pain, to see them bleed. It gives me pleasure.” He also said that the best punch he ever threw was one that hit his former wife, Robin Givens. “She really offended me and I went BAM. She flew backwards, hitting every wall in the apartment,” Tyson recalled. “That was the best punch I’ve ever thrown in my entire life.”

Really, Mr. Leight? Really?! You have betrayed many loyal fans and viewers of the show, some survivors, some not, and I personally hope this backfires for you in a big way if you choose not to reconsider this appalling choice you have made.

What next, Gary Glitter? He is probably available since I don’t think he is currently incarcerated. Then there’s Phillip and Nancy Garrido, perhaps they could play a loving couple who adopt babies or something? Want to dig up Jimmy Savile’s corpse and see if you can find some use for that in the show, perhaps a prop to further rub people’s noses in it? How about Josef Fritzl? He’d play a “wonderful” father, or grandfather, if anyone could ever distinguish which of the two he actually was at any given time, and to which child!

I am disgusted with this whole situation.