Madonna has revealed that she wanted Mike Tyson to feature on her new 13th studio album 'Rebel Heart' because he's a "remarkable human being".
Determined to get him to collaborate with her on the track 'Iconic', she faced criticism and backlash because of the former boxer's troubled past which includes one conviction of rape.
Despite that Madonna went ahead and got Tyson on the record, saying to The Sun newspaper of her choice: "He's gone through a lot. I think his evolution is quite interesting. I knew him when he was married to Robin Givens.
"I've seen all the trials and tribulations he's been through. He's a changed man. He's been through a lot. He's suffered a lot.
"He's made other people suffer. But I think he's a truly remarkable human being. I think he's a role model. He's the perfect example of how you can come from a very bleak upbringing, with no education, make mistakes and turn your life around."
What convinced Madonna to work with Tyson was the one-man show Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth, which he developed alongside Spike Lee and used to bare his soul.
"I saw his one-man show that Spike Lee directed for HBO. I was really impressed with his honesty, his wit and charm. He seemed to be very remorseful. I thought, 'That's a man.' "
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