AND NOW A WORD FROM TYSON

Here’s what former Polo model Tyson had to say in a pretty interesting recent interview with BET.com:

BET: I know you and Diddy had some strife but you walked in his fashion show last year. Have you guys fully reconciled?
TYSON: Well, the thing is between me and him, it’s all business. It was so important that I walked in that show, not because he was Diddy or I was Tyson. It was more we were both two Black men fighting for the same cause. We might not get along, but we can put our differences aside and say, “Look, I might not like you or you might not like me, but we are two Black men trying to fight for a cause that is bigger than both of us—so, let’s just do this.” That’s the attitude I went in with. We didn’t really speak a whole lot, but when it comes to something like bettering or empowering Black people, me and Diddy get it. We might not agree with each other, but we are still going to get together and make it happen.

BET: Are you single?
TYSON: No, I’m not, but I’m like Brad Pitt and Angelina and Beyonce and Jay-Z—I just like to keep my relationship on the under. The thing I get all the time is, “Oh, he’s gay, he gotta be! We never see him out with a girl.” Well, I don’t want the world in my business because you got so many people like the bloggers, the paparazzi, YouTube, the camera phones—everybody is always in your business. Those who seen me with her know that she’s stunning. I just don’t want the world to know yet, it’s none of their business.

BET: Yeah, all those rumors — I never thought you were gay.
TYSON: Yeah, it’s just one hater that put that on me. But, don’t get me wrong, I work with GLAAD, I work with Gay Men’s Health Crisis—I work with all of that. It’s just I’m a straight man who got a little bit of style so they just say, “He’s gay.”

BET: Whenever Black men support gay people, people get crazy about that. It’s a shame.
TYSON: Exactly! My cousin is gay and I love him to death. I have more fun hanging out with him than I do my straight friends because he’s got style, he’s got flavor. I can take him shoe shopping with me and my girl, we know we’re getting the best advice. To me, it’s like the best of both worlds. As soon as people see me, “Oh, he’s gay.” I’m like, well, I don’t have that much flavor. I got flavor but I don’t have that much. I love my gay brothers and sisters.