This article contains descriptions of alleged sexual assault.
Actor Christina Ricci has led a wave of criticism aimed at host Jimmy Fallon for having Conor McGregor on his late-night show.
The MMA fighter appeared on the show last Wednesday (June 17) to promote his forthcoming fight for the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship). The appearance drew backlash on social media due to McGregor’s prior accusations of sexual assault.
Last November, McGregor was ordered to pay almost €250,000 (£208,000) in damages to Nikita Hand, who won her claim for damages in a civil court after accusing him of raping her. The alleged incident took place in a hotel in December 2018 but McGregor claimed in court that the encounter was fully consensual.
The decision led to McGregor being removed from the Hitman video game. The athlete’s name was also booed during a Limp Bizkit concert last year. Now, his appearance on Fallon has led to criticism of the host for inviting him on the show, with viewers on X (formerly Twitter) calling him “spineless” and “pathetic”. Jimmy Fallon himself is yet to comment on the appearance.
Christina Ricci, known for her roles in The Addams Family and TV show Yellowjackets, shared a post on her Instagram Stories that gives a graphic description of the treatment the EMT who treated Hand claimed was required. The post ended: “Why the ABSOLUTE FUCK is this piece of human garbage being given a platform on Jimmy Fallon’s show? Shame on you, Jimmy.”
On Fallon’s Instagram, it was speculated that he was trying to conceal McGregor’s appearance, after a user commented on a post of his saying: “No post about having Conor McGregor on the show???”
For more help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.