Multiple companies have reportedly cut ties with UFC fighter Conor McGregor after an Irish civil court found him liable for the sexual assault of a woman in 2018.
McGregor was ordered last week to pay Nikita Hand roughly $257,000 after he was found liable for sexual assault and allegations claiming that the fighter “brutally raped and battered” Hand, per Fox News. He has not faced any criminal charges related to the allegations.
The legendary UFC fighter has continually denied Hand’s allegations and has claimed that the two had a consensual sexual encounter. He wrote in a social media post that “everything that happened that night was consensual and all the witnesses present swore to that under oath.”
“I have instructed my legal team to appeal the decision,” he wrote.
“I can’t go back and I will move forward. I am beyond grateful to my family, friends and supporters all over the world who have stayed by my side. That’s it. No more. Getting back to the gym – the fight game awaits!”
However, multiple companies have now announced they are severing ties with McGregor, with each citing the court ruling as the largest reason for the decision to no longer work with the fighter.
Proximo Spirits, the owner of Proper No. 12 Whiskey, is the most notable company to announce that it will no longer use McGregor’s name or likeness in advertising.
McGregor sold Proper No. 12 Whiskey to Proximo Spirits in 2021 but has continued to play a major role in the company through advertising on social media. However, McGregor’s association with the company has clearly come to a close.
“Since 2021, Proximo Spirits has been the 100pc owner of Proper No 12 Irish Whiskey,” wrote the company in a statement, according to The Irish Independent.
“Going forward, we do not plan to use Mr. McGregor’s name and likeness in the marketing of the brand.”
Video game developer IO Interactive also announced on social media that it would no longer collaborate with McGregor on an upcoming game titled “Hitman.”
“In light of the recent court ruling regarding Conor McGregor, IO Interactive has made the decision to cease its collaboration with the athlete, effective immediately,” the company wrote on X. “We take this matter very seriously and cannot ignore its implications. Consequently, we will begin removing all content featuring Mr. McGregor from our storefronts starting today.”