Two companies have recently severed ties with a well-known mixed martial arts fighter, Conor McGregor, following a civil court ruling in Ireland that ordered him to pay nearly 250,000 Euros ($257,000) to a woman who accused him of rape. The decision was made by a civil court jury in Ireland last week.
Proximo Spirits, the owner of the popular Irish whiskey brand Proper No. 12, announced that they will no longer be using McGregor's name or image in the marketing of their product. This decision was confirmed in a statement to the Irish Independent newspaper.
Similarly, video game developer IO Interactive has also terminated its collaboration with McGregor. The fighter had previously played a role in the game 'Hitman.' In response to the court ruling, IO Interactive released a statement indicating their immediate cessation of collaboration with McGregor and the removal of all content featuring him from their storefronts.
The court ruling stemmed from a civil case where a woman named Nikita Hand accused McGregor of 'brutally raping and battering' her in a Dublin hotel penthouse back in 2018. Hand claimed that the alleged assault, which occurred after a night of partying, left her with severe bruising and post-traumatic stress disorder.
During the trial, McGregor, aged 36, maintained his innocence, stating that he never coerced the woman into anything against her will. He contended that the accusations were fabricated by the woman following consensual sexual activity between them. However, the jury, consisting of eight women and four men, found McGregor liable for assault after deliberating for approximately six hours at the High Court in Dublin.
These recent developments have led to the swift actions taken by Proximo Spirits and IO Interactive to disassociate themselves from McGregor in light of the court ruling and its implications.
For more sports news, visit AP sports.
