Jimmy Fallon slammed for hosting sexual assault-accused UFC star Conor McGregor

Jimmy Fallon is facing backlash after hosting UFC star Conor McGregor on The Tonight Show. Social media users slammed the host for featuring McGregor and questioned why the interview did not address the civil case involving Nikita Hand. Martial artist Conor McGregor at The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. New Delhi, UPDATED: Jun 23, 2026 10:50 IST Jimmy Fallon is facing criticism online after featuring mixed martial artist Conor McGregor on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on June 17. Social media users accused Fallon of giving McGregor a platform despite the fighter having been found liable in a civil case involving Nikita Hand. Many also questioned why the interview did not address the controversy or mention the civil ruling. Fallon, who has hosted The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon since 2014, welcomed McGregor to the show as the Irish fighter prepares for his return to the UFC. However, clips from the interview quickly circulated online. Several social media users criticised Fallon for not raising questions about McGregor's legal history during the conversation. One user wrote, "Shame of @jimmyfallon. Conor McGregor is a f***ing rapist. You're some c*nt having that c*nt on your show (sic)." Another commented, "A f***ing rapist on tv, jesus (sic)." A third user wrote, "Pretty cool of Jimmy to help rehabilitate a rapist's image (sic)." Another social media user questioned the interview's approach, writing, "No questions about when he raped a woman so violently she needed surgery? Or about when she sued him masked men broke into her house and stabbed her partner (sic)?" One more post read, "Good to know @jimmyfallon is friends with a man who raped a woman so violently that her tampon had to be surgically removed (sic)." All about the case The backlash is linked to a November 2024 civil trial in which a jury found McGregor liable for the sexual assault of Nikita Hand over an incident that occurred at a Dublin hotel in December 2018. During the proceedings, Hand accused the UFC fighter of "brutally raping and battering" her. Medical and forensic experts testified that she suffered severe internal injuries, while the court also heard that a doctor had to use forceps to remove a tampon lodged deep inside her vagina following the alleged assault. A paramedic who examined Hand after the incident reportedly said he had not seen "someone so bruised" in a long time. McGregor's appearance comes as he prepares for his first UFC fight since 2021. The former two-division champion recently announced that he will return to the Octagon to face Max Holloway at UFC 329 on July 11.