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WARNING: This article contains details of abuse and may affect those who have experienced sexual violence or know someone affected by it.
Actress Christina Ricci called out Jimmy Fallon after the late night host interviewed mixed martial artist Conor McGregor on his show.
In 2024, an Irish civil court jury found McGregor, 37, liable for sexual assault at a 2018 Dublin party. McGregor was ordered to pay the victim, Nikita Hand, a total of 250,000 euros. McGregor denied he assaulted Hand, and two later appeals were denied. Prosecutors declined to bring criminal charges, saying there was insufficient evidence and a conviction was unlikely.
A paramedic who examined Hand testified that she had never before seen someone with that intensity of bruising.
Ricci, whose acting credits include The Addams Family, Monster and Yellowjackets, reposted an Instagram story Monday expressing that the show should not have featured McGregor.
“Conor McGregor raped a woman so brutally that the EMT who saw her commented on the severity of her bruising. She also had to have the tampon she was using when he raped her surgically removed, as it had been shoved so far inside her,” the post, originally shared by entrepreneur Adam McRae, said.
“Why the absolute f–k is this piece of human garbage being given a platform on Jimmy Fallon’s show? Shame on you, Jimmy.”
Representatives for Ricci and Fallon have not yet responded to requests for comment.
McGregor’s comeback brawl
McGregor was once the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s (UFC) biggest star, having held the mixed martial arts promotion’s featherweight and lightweight titles, but he hasn’t fought since 2021. He’s set to return to the octagon at UFC 329 on July 11, where he’ll fight Max Holloway.
McGregor appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon last week to promote his comeback brawl. In the interview, McGregor and Fallon reminisced about drinking and singing songs together at a bar called Paddy Reilly’s. They also discussed McGregor’s four children, his 13-second knockout of José Aldo and his nickname “Notorious” — but not his past outside the octagon. The bulk of comments under a YouTube video of the Fallon-McGregor interview expressed outrage.
WATCH | Conor McGregor on The Tonight Show:
In addition to the 2018 rape, McGregor faced allegations of sexual assault at a Miami Heat basketball game in 2023 — the same night he punched out the Heat mascot. He has also been accused of numerous other incidents involving assault.
McGregor, a Dublin native, announced his intention to run for president of the Republic of Ireland in 2025, but withdrew amid poor polling results. His most recent acting foray was in the 2024 Road House movie remake.
In his The Tonight Show interview, McGregor said fighting is his main passion.
“Fighting is my bread and butter. It’s what lights a fire in my belly. And to be back, and to be doing my thing with structure and discipline — it’s the best version of me,” McGregor told Fallon.
If you’re in immediate danger or fear for your safety or that of others around you, please call 911. For support in your area, you can look for crisis lines and local services via the Ending Sexual Violence Association of Canada database.
