Kathy Griffin has joined the chorus of criticism against Jimmy Fallon for hosting Conor McGregor on his late-night show, calling it a 'bad call' that sends a harmful message to women and marginalised people. The UFC fighter was found liable in a civil case for the 2018 rape of Nikita Hand, with damages of €248,603 (£206,000) awarded to her. McGregor has maintained the encounter was consensual and has lost his appeal.
Griffin's Social Media Takedown
In a video posted to social media, Griffin stated: 'I do think it was a bad call for him to have rapist Conor McGregor on… I think the Fallon folks made a mistake by having [him] on. I think it sends yet another message to women and marginalised folks everywhere that we're not equal and you can do anything to us and the perpetrators are still gonna be out there being glorified.' She also referenced Fallon's previous controversial interview with Donald Trump, questioning the consistency of 'cancelling' public figures.
Claims of Being Banned
Griffin alleged she has been banned from Fallon's show, saying: 'I have not done the Jimmy Fallon show since it was on at 12:30 Eastern and Pacific, so I guess I'm banned from the Fallon show, or inappropriate, or too controversial.' However, sources close to the show told Variety that her claims were 'exaggerated'. Griffin did note that Fallon seemed like a 'nice man' when she met him.
Wider Backlash
The decision to platform McGregor has sparked widespread outrage, with actress Christina Ricci posting on Instagram: '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.'
Fallon has not publicly addressed the backlash. Metro has reached out to NBCUniversal for comment.
