Conor McGregor, the famous mixed martial artist, is in hot water after losing a civil court case in Ireland. A jury decided he has to pay nearly €250,000 (about $257,000) to a woman who accused him of a brutal attack. Since the verdict, two major companies have cut ties with him.
One of the companies, Proximo Spirits, owns Proper No. 12, the Irish whiskey brand McGregor helped popularize. But they’ve decided it’s time to move on without him. “We won’t be using Conor McGregor’s name or image in any of our marketing anymore,” the company told an Irish newspaper. It’s a big shift, considering McGregor was once the face of their brand.
Another blow came from IO Interactive, the video game company behind the popular “Hitman” series. McGregor had a role in their game, but that’s over now. The company announced on social media, “Given the recent court decision, we’ve ended our partnership with Conor McGregor. Starting today, we’re removing all content featuring him from our platforms.” They emphasized how serious they are about distancing themselves from the controversy.
This all started with a shocking claim from a woman named Nikita Hand. She accused McGregor of attacking her in a Dublin hotel penthouse back in 2018. According to her, the assault left her with severe bruises and lasting emotional trauma, including PTSD. McGregor, on the other hand, testified that the two had consensual sex and that her accusations were false.
After six hours of deliberation, a jury in Dublin’s High Court sided with Hand, holding McGregor responsible for assault. The case has not only damaged McGregor’s reputation but has also caused a major fallout with brands that once stood proudly by his side.