Every legend has a certain moment in their lives where they experience the sole moment that solidifies their legacy and are remembered and celebrated for the contribution they have bestowed upon the world. Sometimes, a celebrity's process of rising to the top isn't quite as smooth; there are some cases in which a celebrity either becomes better remembered for an incident which is either later remembered simply as a blip in a celebrity's long legacy, or the incident may go on to define the rest of their time in the spotlight; Some incidents are bigger than others, causing a bigger sense of severity, which can have the power to overshadow every accomplishment the celebrity has made, for the rest of their career, and sometimes beyond.

Mike Tyson was one of the most memorable names in sports in the late Eighties, his popularity big enough for him to cross over into additional entertainment circles. In the early Nineties, the heavyweight champion was forced to come to terms with having a different type of 'heavy weight' surrounding the legacy he had built up until that point. Tyson's name would begin making headlines for a much darker reason than he was used to: The star was convicted of rape in March of 1992.

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The Ring Lights Dim: Tyson's Fall From Grace

Mike Tyson being lead by police in his 1992 arrest
via The Times

The seven years between the first time he stepped into the ring professionally and his arrest were good for Tyson; it did not take long for Tyson to rack up multiple admirable accolades from his time in the ring. Only a year after stepping into the ring professionally, he received his first notable entry in his book of accomplishments; Tyson was able to bring in his twenties by solidifying his legacy with a 22-streak-win. The young wrestler now was at the top of his game and was a face to watch all around the globe.

Mike Tyson became not only a figure to watch within the ring, his name began circulating beyond sports fans. As the world got to know more about his abilities in the ring, his eccentric personality began making headlines as well. Despite Tyson's relatively young age, the wrestler had already wracked up a so-called 'rap sheet' by the time he was in his mid-20's. The number of arrests he had accumulated by this time period was bigger than his actual age. According to the Hamilton Spectator, Tyson had been arrested 38 times by the time he was only 13 years old.

Related: Mike Tyson Jailed 38 Times Before 13 And Visited By Tupac

A New Decade Brings New Consequences

Mike Tyson in the courtroom in 1992
via EssentiallySports

In the early Nineties, Tyson was a superstar making it more difficult for the world not to catch wind of his personal life, especially his personal shortcomings. Tyson's public image took a giant nosedive when a woman bravely came forward and informed the world Tyson had taken advantage of her and inflicted lots of pain. Desiree Washington rose to fame before becoming associated with Mike Tyson, as a Miss. Black American contestant, via Biography.com. Washington stunned the world when she revealed Tyson had raped her. To make matters worse, the New York Times alluded to Tyson being dismissive of the situation and disregarding Washington's terror, reporting he had "laughed" off her fear.

This particular conviction was a much bigger deal for Tyson than his many previous brushes with the law; Due to his worldwide success and a somewhat newfound level of fame he had not previously had to consider, Washington's revelation ushered in a whole new chapter in Tyson's career; Tyson's public perception would forever be affected following this incident, nearly overshadowing any kind of professional accolades or attention from here on out.

Related: Mike Tyson’s Manager Watered Down His Drink When He Was Around Michael Jordan. Here’s Why

What Happened On The Inside

Mike Tyson steps out of the courtroom following his rape trial
via talkSPORT

Being one of the biggest sports stars in the world did not do well for Tyson in terms of being granted special treatment during the case, beginning with the extremely strict sentencing he received. According to a New York Times article published at the time of Tyson's sentencing, the judge took Washington's words incredibly seriously. Tyson's judge Patricia J. Gifford granted him a decade-long sentence behind bars. Gifford did not mince words and expressed her distaste for those who hoped Tyson would be granted a reprieve. Gifford was serious when she said, "Rape is rape."

Tyson's fame also did not grant him any favors while in prison. His status probably prepared him in ways he did not imagine. Tyson is open with telling the story of how he was approached while incarcerated to have a fight. Opening up on his podcast many years later, Tyson spoke on the matter saying "Just one time (I had to punch someone in prison.) Somebody said something and I just went over there and hit him. We were locked down for a long time and it was just something that was irritable and I went over there and hit him."

The majority of Tyson's time behind bars was seemingly rather tame, physical altercations aside. He has been candid with his decision to explore a new religion, with a notable conversion to Islam. The religion spoke to the heavyweight during his difficult period behind bars; According to Republic World, the teachings of Islam made him feel "Very moved" when he began studying the texts, adding he viewed its teachings as "Peaceful."

No matter what one may think about the star, his notable time in prison was a landmark case in history revolving around a celebrity being faced with an extremely serious situation, and the celebrity's fame status not playing any type of role in his sentencing. Despite not serving his full 10-year sentence (he was released in 1995), the idea of holding our idols accountable and having to re-evaluate the way in which we look up to our heroes was illustrated in Mike Tyson's landmark prison sentence, perhaps setting the bar for the topic of accountability when applied to the topic of celebrity, and examining the role of the downfall of a famous figure.

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