Comedian Kathy Griffin publicly criticized Jimmy Fallon on Tuesday for featuring UFC fighter Conor McGregor on his show, citing McGregor's 2024 civil liability for sexual assault in Ireland. On her own show, Griffin stated, 'I think the Fallon folks made a mistake by having Conor McGregor on. I think it sends yet another message to women and marginalized folks everywhere that we’re not equal and you can do anything to us, and the perpetrators are still going to be out there being glorified.'
Details of the Civil Case
McGregor was ordered to pay nearly 250,000 euros ($257,000) to his accuser, Nikita Hand, after a civil jury found him liable for raping her in a Dublin hotel in 2018. No criminal charges were filed against the UFC star, and he denied the allegations, claiming the encounter was consensual. Testimony from Dr. Daniel Kane, a gynecologist and forensic examiner, revealed that he had to use forceps to remove a tampon Hand had been wearing that was 'wedged inside' her, highlighting the severity of the assault.
Backlash Against Fallon
Since Fallon's June 16 interview with McGregor, where the allegations were not mentioned, his social media has faced heavy criticism. Comments included, 'So disappointed in Jimmy. Not just interviewing but socialising with Conor mcgregor! When someone shows you who they really are, believe them!!' and 'Love all the comments you’re receiving, you deserve it.' Actress Christina Ricci shared an Instagram post stating, '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. Why the absolute f**k is this piece of human garbage being given a platform on Jimmy Fallon’s show? Shame on you Jimmy.'
Griffin's Criticism and Context
Griffin, a longtime critic of President Donald Trump, linked the interview to McGregor's appearance with Trump at the White House in 2025. She said, 'I do like Jimmy Fallon. I’ve met him a few times, and when I used to do his later show, he was always super nice to me, but I do think it was a bad call for him to have convicted rapist Conor McGregor on.' (McGregor was not convicted of rape; the civil jury found him liable for sexual assault.) Griffin added, 'I think it’s time we kind of make up our minds about who we’re going to cancel and who we’re not. Take it from the most canceled celebrity in history. Look it up, you know, as the kids say, do better.'
Additional Legal Issues
McGregor faced another lawsuit in 2024 from a woman claiming he sexually assaulted her in a bathroom at the Kaseya Center during the 2023 NBA finals in Miami. That case was dropped and dismissed with prejudice after the plaintiff filed for dismissal.
