Mike Tyson’s role in the comedy-adventure film The Hangover was pure chaos and comedy gold. But behind the scenes, his iconic face tattoo reportedly caused drama. While the world laughed at his tiger obsession and vocal prowess, the sequel almost got KO’d—not by a wild stunt, but by legal trouble over his ink!
The tattoo artist allegedly sued the studio, claiming rights to the design, leaving The Hangover Part II dangling on the ropes. Who knew a piece of face art could pack such a punch?
Mike Tyson’s Tattoo Trouble: The Tattoo Lawsuit That Nearly KO’d The Hangover Part II
Mike Tyson’s unforgettable cameo in the 2009 The Hangover stole the screen (and our hearts!) but his face tattoo almost kept the sequel from seeing the light. While The Hangover Part II promised to take the chaos to Thailand, an unforeseen copyright battle over Tyson’s Maori-inspired ink reportedly threw the film into legal limbo.
The trouble started when the artist behind the tattoo, S. Victor Whitmill, sued Warner Bros., claiming copyright infringement. Posters showed Ed Helms’ character sporting a similar design around the left eye, sparking Whitmill’s demand for an injunction to block the film’s release. With $80M already spent on marketing and a May 26 release date, the stakes couldn’t have been higher.
Warner Bros. didn’t back down. The studio argued that tattoos couldn’t be copyrighted, calling Whitmill’s claim “radical.” They pointed out that Tyson’s tattoo appeared in the original Hangover without issue and questioned whether a design inked onto someone’s face could be controlled under copyright law. The court filing stated,
The very copyrightability of tattoos is a novel issue. There is no legal precedent for plaintiff’s radical claim that he is entitled, under the Copyright Act, to control the use of a tattoo that he created on the face of another human being.
Despite the drama, Mike Tyson himself wasn’t involved in the case. His role in The Hangover Part II was smaller, but his presence—and his tattoo—loomed large over the sequel’s release in 2011. In the end, the tattoo’s saga became another crazy chapter in the Hangover legacy—a story as outrageous as the films themselves.
Leaked ‘Script’ Fuels Fixing Rumors After Jake Paul’s Win Over Mike Tyson
![Jake Paul [Photo: Wikimedia Commons]](https://fwmedia.fandomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/29045019/Jake-Paul-Photo-Wikimedia-Commons.jpeg "Mike Tyson May Have Been the Best Thing About ‘Hangover’ But His Face Tattoo Almost Stopped Sequel from Releasing 4")
Jake Paul’s win over Mike Tyson sparked more drama outside the ring than in it, thanks to a controversial “leaked script” suggesting the fight might have been staged. The YouTuber-turned-boxer, Paul dominated the boxing legend by round three, eventually securing a unanimous decision.
The supposed script laid out every move—from Tyson’s jabs to Paul’s “youthful agility.” It even described a round-five knockdown that didn’t happen, fueling speculation. Former pros like Carl Froch claimed Tyson “couldn’t even try to hurt him,” while Teddy Atlas called the bout’s authenticity into question.
Adding to the chaos, Netflix faced a streaming glitch right before the main event. Real clash or orchestrated chaos? Fans are still debating.
The Hangover trilogy is available to watch on Apple TV & Amazon Prime.
