Conor McGregor whiskey brand owner ditches shamed star’s ‘name & likeness’ from brand following civil rape case outcome

CONOR McGregor has suffered another blow after the owner of Proper No 12 Whiskey said it will no longer use his “name and likeness” to market the drink.

Calls to boycott the Irish fighter’s booze and merchandise ranges grew after a civil jury last week ruled he “brutally” raped and “battered” Nikita Hand in a hotel penthouse in 2018.

And in the latest development, Proximo Spirits, which bought the McGregor-founded Proper No 12 brand in 2021, said it is severing all ties.

McGregor had continued to promote the whiskey after the takeover, but in a statement today, the firm said: “Since 2021, Proximo Spirits has been the 100pc owner of Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey.

“Going forward, we do not plan to use Mr. McGregor’s name and likeness in the marketing of the brand.”

The Rape Crisis Network Ireland was among the groups urging retailers to stop selling McGregor’s stout and whiskey after the civil case.

And the MMA fighter today saw the Musgrave Group, which operates supermarkets including Centra and SuperValu, pull his drinks Forged Irish Stout and Proper No 12 from purchase.

Musgrave, a family owned company, boasts a network of over 1,250 shops nationwide.

A Musgrave spokesperson told the Irish Sun: “Musgrave can confirm these products are no longer available to our store network.”

Among the McGregor-linked products getting the chop is Forged Irish Stout, a beer brand owned by the former UFC champion. Proper No 12 Whiskey and Proper No 12 Apple Whiskey is also being pulled from shelves.

Amid the continuing fallout out for the fighter’s rape case, Musgrave has ordered SuperValu, Centra, Daybreak and Mace stores to delist “all product” associated with the MMA star.

The BWG Foods group, which includes Spar, Eurospar, Mace, Londis and XL stores, has also pulled the products from over 1,000 stores.

REMOVED FROM SALE

Tesco also confirmed that it will stop selling the McGregor-linked whiskey.

A spokesperson for the supermarket firm said: “We can confirm that we are removing Proper No Twelve Whiskey from sale in Tesco stores and online.”

The operator of Costcutter and Carry Out off-licence outlets also dropped the brands and said: “Barry Group has made the decision to remove Forged Stout and Proper 12 from circulation to our network of Costcutter and Carry Out retail outlets. This action reflects our commitment to maintaining a retail environment that resonates with the values of our customers and partners.”

It comes after McGregor was also dropped from a promo with a video game company yesterday.

DROPPED FROM PROMO

Video games giant IO Interactive, which publishes the Hitman franchise, announced it was dropping all content featuring McGregor in light of the ruling.

The fighter plays an assassination target known as ‘The Disruptor’ in extra content for the popular game.

The Danish firm said in a statement on Monday: “In light of the recent court ruling regarding Conor McGregor, IO Interactive has made the decision to cease its collaboration with the athlete, effective immediately.

“We take this matter very seriously and cannot ignore its implications. Consequently, we will begin removing all content featuring Mr. McGregor from our storefronts starting today.”

COUNCILLOR QUITS PARTY

Separately, a Dublin councillor has quit his political party over backlash for showing support for McGregor at his recent court case.

Philip Sutcliffe, a candidate in Dublin South Central for Independent Ireland, was previously McGregor’s boxing coach.

Mr Sutcliffe was snapped with Mr McGregor going into the High Court hearing together on Friday, where the UFC fighter was found liable for rape.

Following criticism from the party for associating himself with Conor McGregor, Mr Sutcliffe announced he will run as a non-party candidate.

OUTCOME OF CASE

Mum-of-one Nikita Hand, 35, was awarded almost €250,000 in damages last week after the jury ruled she was sexually assaulted by UFC fighter McGregor at the Beacon Hotel in December 2018.

McGregor, who took the stand to claim he had consensual sex with Ms Hand, denied all allegations.

But after six hours and 10 minutes of deliberations, a jury found in favour of Ms Hand.

Yesterday the Irish Sun reported how pressure is mounting on the Director of Public Prosecutions to carry out a full review of the case.

HOPE FOR REVIEW

The DPP previously decided that no criminal prosecution would be taken against McGregor, 36, who continues to deny the allegations and has vowed to appeal.

They said there was “insufficient evidence” and not a reasonable prospect of conviction — forcing Ms Hand to take her civil case.

Politicians are now hoping the DPP will carry out a full review of the evidence heard during the two-week High Court action.