Comedian Kathy Griffin has joined the growing backlash against Jimmy Fallon after he interviewed UFC fighter Conor McGregor, who was found liable for the 2018 rape of Nikita Hand. In a social media video, Griffin called the decision a "bad call" and claimed she is banned from Fallon's show.
Griffin's Takedown of Fallon
Griffin posted a video on her social media accounts, stating: "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 marginalized 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 past controversial interview with Donald Trump, saying that as "the most cancelled celebrity in history," it's time "we make up our minds about who we're gonna cancel and who we're not." She concluded: "As the kids say, do better."
Claims of Being Banned
In the same video, Griffin claimed she has been banned from Fallon's show. "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," she said, adding that in her case, they "don't have room for you." However, she noted that Fallon seemed like a "nice man" when she met him. Sources close to the show told Variety that her claims of being banned were "exaggerated."
McGregor's Civil Case
Conor McGregor, 37, was found liable for raping Nikita Hand in December 2018 after a civil trial in November 2023. Hand's injuries included bruising on all four limbs, a bloodied scratch on her breast, tenderness to her neck, and a possible tear in her vagina from a tampon that had to be surgically removed. She was awarded €248,603 (£206,000) in damages. McGregor maintained the encounter was consensual and lost his appeal against the ruling.
Wider Backlash
The interview, which aired in June 2026, sparked outrage from viewers and celebrities. Christina Ricci reposted a statement on Instagram declaring: "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, 51, has not publicly addressed the controversy. Metro has reached out to NBCUniversal for comment.
