Companies drop Conor McGregor after sexual assault conviction

Conor McGregor will no longer be the face of Irish whiskey brand Proper No. 12, after he was found responsible in a sexual assault case last week in Dublin.

The correct no. 12, which McGregor co-founded in 2018, told the Irish Independent on Tuesday that it would no longer be associated with the former UFC champion. McGregor sold his stake in Proper No. 12 in 2021, but remained the brand’s public face.

“Since 2021, Proximo Spirits has been a 100 per cent owner of Proper No. 12 Irish Whisky,” the company told the Irish Independent. “Going forward, we do not plan to use Mr. McGregor’s name and likeness in the marketing of the brand.”

McGregor, 35, was found liable by a civil jury in a case in which a woman said McGregor sexually assaulted her in a hotel room in December 2018. The Supreme Court in Dublin ordered him to pay the complainant 248,000 euros, or about $257,000. McGregor, who said in court that he had sex with the woman, has said he intends to appeal the decision. He is not currently facing any criminal charges in connection with the case.

In addition to Proper No. 12, video game developer IO Interactive announced it would cut ties with McGregor. McGregor had been a supporting character in the company’s game, Hitman.

“In light of the recent court ruling regarding Conor McGregor, IO Interactive has made the decision to cease working with the athlete, effective immediately,” the company said via X. “We take this matter very seriously and cannot ignore its implications. Consequently, we will begin removing all Mr. McGregor content from our storefronts starting today.”

Several retailers have announced they will pull McGregor-related products, including Proper No. 12 whiskeys and Forged Irish Stout beers, off the shelves in Ireland.

The woman in the civil suit said McGregor, a former 2-weight UFC champion, forced her onto a bed, choked her and made her fear for her life. She was treated for injuries the following morning by paramedics.

McGregor has not fought in the UFC since 2021. The UFC has not commented on McGregor’s civil suit.