Rolling Stone
A hoodie from the streetwear brand Supreme, featuring an image of Mike Tyson surrounded by a collection of national flags, was removed from retail outlets this week following the emergence of the Palestinian flag in the design.
Initially announced as part of a collaborative collection with designer Martine Rose, the inclusion of the Palestinian flag became a focal point when the collaboration launched on Monday. Observers noted that the design referenced a vintage graphic of Mike Tyson, which featured the Israeli flag instead of the Palestinian flag. Subsequently, images of the hoodie reportedly disappeared from Supreme's promotional materials prior to the scheduled release, and the item is not available for purchase in this week's drop.
As discussions regarding the withdrawal spread online, speculation arose that Tyson's representatives urged Supreme to eliminate the garment due to the presence of the Palestinian flag, which replaced the original Israeli flag from the vintage design.
In a statement provided to Rolling Stone, Tyson's legal team, led by Mitchell Schuster of Meister Seelig & Schuster, emphasized, "Mike Tyson collaborated with Supreme and Martine Rose on a collection honoring his boxing legacy. His team approved artwork inspired by his iconic Jeff Hamilton jacket solely to celebrate boxing history.
"Without authorization, Supreme altered the approved design, embroiling Mr. Tyson in an unrelated political crisis. This modification constitutes a material breach of contract. With Supreme ignoring repeated demands, Mr. Tyson's legal counsel will take all necessary action to protect his name, likeness, and legacy." Representatives for Supreme did not provide a comment by the time of this report.
In addition to this controversy, Tyson is also featured in "Tyson," a four-part documentary series that premiered on Netflix this week, reflecting on his boxing career and various controversies outside the ring.
Supreme maintains a prominent position within the streetwear and fashion industry, often featuring notable pop-cultural figures in its marketing campaigns and product lines. The brand previously showcased André 3000 in its fall 2022 campaign and on a photo tee, followed by NBA YoungBoy in a 2023 shirt and Tyler, the Creator in 2024.
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