Getty ImagesConor McGregor leaving court after being found guilty of sexual assault by a civil jury.
Conor McGregor declared to his social media followers that “The fight game awaits!” on Tuesday, as retailers removed products associated with him from shelves, murals of him were erased, and brands announced they were cutting ties with him.
This came after a jury in Dublin found McGregor guilty of sexual assault in a civil case brought by Nikita Hand, who accused him of raping her at a Dublin hotel in December 2018. She was awarded nearly €250,000 in damages. McGregor stated that he would appeal the decision in a social media post.
Ms Hand’s case was just one of several legal issues and controversies that McGregor, a well-known athlete in Ireland, has faced in recent years. His support in Ireland has been declining, with many turning against him following the civil case.
Following the verdict, numerous supermarkets in the UK and Ireland removed brands associated with McGregor from their shelves. Companies like Proximo Spirits, who acquired McGregor’s Proper No Twelve whiskey brand, announced they would not use his name or likeness in their marketing moving forward. IO Interactive, the creators of Hitman video game, also ended their collaboration with McGregor in light of the court ruling. Ireland’s National Wax Museum removed its figure of McGregor two weeks prior.
McGregor, known for his patriotism and bold personality, has faced backlash and criticism in recent years, with some former supporters turning away from him. Petesy Carroll, an MMA journalist, credits McGregor for popularizing the sport in Ireland but believes he has also tarnished it with his actions.
As McGregor navigates the aftermath of the civil case, his future remains uncertain. A divisive figure in the sports world, McGregor’s journey from humble beginnings to stardom has been marked by controversies and legal issues.