The late-night host, Jimmy Fallon, is facing intense backlash for his recent interview with Conor McGregor, a UFC fighter who was previously found liable in a civil case for the 2018 rape of Nikita Hand in a Dublin hotel.
McGregor, 37, was accused of severe physical and emotional abuse, with doctors describing Hand's injuries as 'moderate to severe.' Fallon's decision to platform McGregor has left many of his viewers disappointed and outraged, with some taking to social media to express their disgust.
However, this is not the first time Fallon has faced criticism for his guest choices. In 2016, he interviewed Donald Trump, then the presidential nominee, and was accused of 'humanising and normalising' him. A jury later found that Trump sexually abused and defamed E Jean Carroll in a civil trial relating to an incident over 30 years ago.
Following the backlash, Fallon addressed the criticism, stating that he didn't want to 'humanise' Trump and that the moment was intended to 'minimise' him. He later reiterated that he didn't believe in Trump's political beliefs and that the moment didn't mean he condoned them.
Trump himself responded to the situation, posting on social media that Fallon was 'whimpering' to critics and that he had called to congratulate him on the 'monster ratings' of the show. However, Fallon claimed that the situation got 'bigger and out of control' and that comedians were mocking the moment, causing him to want to step back.
Now, Fallon has been accused of trying to bury the interview by posting other clips on social media, with some critics accusing him of being insincere and a 'suck-up' when conducting his interviews.
Actress Christina Ricci even spoke out against Fallon, sharing a statement on her Instagram story that called McGregor a 'piece of human garbage' and accused Fallon of giving him a platform on his show. Fallon has yet to address the backlash, opting not to mention the scandal in the most recent episode of his show.
