26 November 2024 , 15:19
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Tesco has said it will no longer sell Conor McGregor’s whiskey after the UFC star was found to have assaulted a woman who accused him of raping her.
The fighter’s Proper No Twelve 70cl bottle was still available up to today via Britain’s biggest retailer, which has been promoting the spirit since 2018.
Ocado, an online distributor for leading retailers including M&S, is understood to also be removing the product from its website.
McGregor’s lucrative business interests have been in the spotlight since Nikita Hand won her civil claim at the High Court in Dublin on November 22.
She was awarded damages of 248,603.60 euros at the hearing, where she accused the 35-year-old Irishman of raping her in a hotel penthouse.
Independent video game developer and publisher IO Interactive subsequently announced that all content related to McGregor — who appears as an optional character in the most recent Hitman game — will be removed this week.
The fallout has now spread to McGregor’s whiskey brands with Ocado in the process of removing Proper No Twelve Irish Whiskey from sale.
Pressure had been mounting on Tesco to do the same over the brand — which the retail giant promoted on X in 2018 a few months before the attack took place.
A Tesco spokesperson said: ‘We can confirm that we are removing Proper No 12 Whiskey from sale in Tesco stores and online.’
The chain has signed up to the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles to reaffirm its commitment to gender equality, which includes addressing sexual harassment and discrimination.
Women Against Rape, a multiracial grassroots organisation that supports survivors and campaigns for justice, asylum, compensation, called on the public to act against men who abuse their power over women and children.
Speaking before Tesco confirmed the product would be removed, spokeswoman Lisa Longstaff said: ‘Ms Nikita Hand’s courage in fighting for justice is an inspiration to women in Ireland and everywhere.
‘Violence against women and girls is a global pandemic, as the Metro’s This is Not Right Campaign reports this week.
A Proper Twelve whiskey advert from 2018 (Picture: Tesco Ireland)
‘In recent years rape has been practically decriminalised, so it’s great that the jury in the civil court found in her favour. We support the call for the public to boycott Tesco and any businesses that make money from promoting McGregor’s products.
‘Boycotting is a winning strategy.
‘There’s many a sportsman, musician, politician, businessman, policeman who think they’re above the law because money and status protect them.
‘Society needs to show businesses that it’s wrong to promote these men who sexually abuse their power over women and children.’
In 2018, Tesco Ireland promoted Proper Twelve with the catchline ‘if you deserve it, go get it’ and said the drink was ‘available now exclusively at a Tesco near you’.
The two-time belt holder’s drink was still available on the retailer’s website as of this afternoon, with a picture of the fighter raising a glass in a bar.
In court, Ms Hand, who has no automatic right to anonymity, told how McGregor pinned her to a bed and raped her in the Dublin hotel.
A paramedic told the jury she had not seen ‘someone so bruised’ in a long time when she examined Ms Hand the day after the alleged sex attack.
Appearing as a witness, McGregor insisted he had consensual sex with Ms Hand and said ‘she never said no or stopped’.
Ms Hand, who is also known as Nikita Ni Laimhin, lost her case against another man, James Lawrence, who she accused of assaulting her by allegedly having sex without her consent at the same hotel.
Following eight days of evidence and three days listening to closing speeches and the judge’s charge, the jury of eight women and four men spent six hours and 10 minutes deliberating before returning with its verdict.
McGregor has said on X that he has instructed his legal team to appeal the decision.
Women’s Aid Ireland said after the verdict: ‘We are in awe of the determination & bravery of Nikita Hand as she endured the civil process to seek justice for the brutality she received at the hands of Conor McGregor.
‘We hope that the verdict today gives Nikita a sense of vindication and will help her healing and recovery.’