Jimmy Fallon is facing intense backlash after hosting Conor McGregor on his late-night show, with critics accusing him of platforming a man found liable for rape. The controversy has revived memories of Fallon's 2016 interview with Donald Trump, where he ruffled the then-presidential nominee's hair, sparking similar accusations of normalising a sexual abuser.
McGregor Interview Sparks Outrage
McGregor, 37, was found liable in a civil case for the 2018 rape of Nikita Hand in a Dublin hotel. Doctors described her injuries as 'moderate to severe,' including bruises on all four limbs, a bloodied scratch on her breast, neck tenderness, and a possible vaginal tear from a tampon that had been shoved so far inside it required forceps for removal. Despite this, Fallon welcomed McGregor onto his show, prompting viewers to brand him 'spineless' and 'pathetic' on social media.
User parasocialyte on X wrote: 'Well that's not particularly anything new for Jimmy Fallon,' sharing a photo of Fallon messing up Trump's hair from a 2016 episode. In 2023, a jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming E. Jean Carroll in a civil trial related to an incident over 30 years ago.
Fallon's Previous Trump Controversy
Fallon faced similar backlash in 2016 for humanising and normalising Trump during the hair-tussling segment. He later addressed the criticism, telling The New York Times: 'I didn't do it to humanise him. I almost did it to minimise him. I didn't think that would be a compliment: "He did the thing that we all wanted to do."' A year later, he reiterated that he didn't want to normalise the controversial president and that the moment didn't mean he believed in his political beliefs.
Trump responded on X before his account was permanently suspended, writing: '@jimmyfallon is now whimpering to all that he did the famous 'hair show' with me... He called & said 'monster ratings. Be a man Jimmy!'' Fallon later told the Hollywood Reporter that the situation got 'bigger and out of control,' with comedians mocking him, leading him to want to step back. 'They know the show. I'm just doing five hours a week... I'm one of the good people — I mean, really,' he said.
Fallon Accused of Burying McGregor Interview
Some observers have accused Fallon of trying to bury the McGregor interview by posting other clips on social media. The host has yet to address the backlash directly, opting not to mention the scandal in his most recent episode.
Christina Ricci Joins Criticism
Actress Christina Ricci expressed her disgust by reposting a statement from user mushroom.marauder on her Instagram story. The post read: '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.'
As of now, Fallon has not responded to the growing backlash, leaving many viewers disappointed and calling for accountability.
