Two companies have ended their partnerships with MMA fighter star Conor McGregor after a civil jury in Ireland ruled that he must pay damages to a woman who accused him of rape. The decision, which involves paying almost 250 thousand euros, was reported by AP on Wednesday (November 27, 2024).
Companies that have chosen to remove the athlete’s image include video game developer IO Interactive and Proximo Spirits, which owns the Irish whiskey brand Proper No. 12.
Proximo Spirits has told the Irish Independent that it does not plan to use McGregor’s name or image in its marketing going forward. The move represents a significant shift in the company’s marketing strategy, which had previously been heavily tied to the fighter’s image.
On the other hand, videogame company IO Interactive, responsible for the game Hitman, which featured McGregor, also chose to end the collaboration.
The company expressed, through a statement on platform X, that, given the publication of the recent court decision, it decided to end its collaboration with the athlete, with immediate effect. Additionally, it announced the removal of all McGregor-related content from its stores.
In the case, Nikita Hand claimed that McGregor “brutally raped and assaulted” her in 2018 at an upscale hotel in Dublin. Hand said the alleged attack left her with severe bruising and post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor defended herself, claiming the act was consensual and accusing Hand of fabricating the allegations.
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