CONOR McGregor’s booze has now been pulled from taps of all Wetherspoons in Ireland, the Irish Sun can reveal.
Up until this week, pub-goers to any of the chain’s seven Irish stores who wanted a stout were told the one on tap was Forged Irish Stout.
However, as the fallout continues from McGregor’s civil court rape case defeat last week, they have decided to pull it from their Irish pubs.
A civil jury last Friday found that McGregor had raped Nikita Hand in a Dublin hotel in December 2018, while his partner Dee Devlin was eight months pregnant.
Nikita was awarded damages of up to €250,000 that Conor will have to pay.
Already, Musgraves, who look after SuperValu and Centra, have pulled his beers and his former whiskey, Proper No. 12, from their shelves and will no longer be selling them.
Musgraves alone are responsible for around 1,250 stores in Ireland.
BWG Foods, who own Spar, Mace and Londis and XL stores have also confirmed they are gone from shelves.
Tescos did not stock the stout but have pulled his whiskey out of their stores.
And in a statement to the Irish Sun, the Wetherspoons pub chain has now joined them in standing against the shamed star.
A spokesman said: “Wetherspoon has taken the decision to remove the product, Forged Stout, in its pubs in ROI.”
This will include the Silver Penny on Abbey Street and the Forty Foot pub in Dun Laoghaire.
The move is the latest in a number of brands pulling their association with the former UFC fighter, who has not been in a ring since 2021.
McGregor sold Proper 12 Whiskey to Proximo Spirits three years ago but he was still promoting it and had an association with the brand.
However, the owners have said that will now be cut after the verdict.
WHISKEY MOVE
A spokesperson said: “Since 2021, Proximo Spirits has been the 100 per cent owner of Proper No 12 Irish Whiskey.
“Going forward, we do not plan to use Mr McGregor’s name and likeness in the marketing of the brand.”
Barry Group, who own a number of Costcutter and Carry Out off-licences, 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.”
MURAL MESSAGE
Belfast boozer Filthy McNasty’s, where McGregor held a launch event for Forged Stout, was also among the pubs announcing it had suspended its sales of the product.
Filthy’s further pledged to remove a mural advertising the beer on the side of its building.
The mural, which features one of the Dublin fighter’s catchphrases “Here to take over” alongside a pint of Forged stout, is to be painted over.
Other murals associated with McGregor are also being removed.
KATIE TAYLOR TRIBUTE
Scully Fitness in Annaghdown, Co Galway painted over a McGregor mural that has adorned their walls since 2017.
The gym declared: “The double champ does in fact not do what he wants.”
Scully Fitness vowed to replace the mural with Irish boxing hero Katie Taylor.
“Wetherspoon has taken the decision to remove the product, Forged Stout, in its pubs in ROI.”
Spokesperson for Wetherspoon pubs
He has been dropped from a top video game that he was due to feature in.
IO Interactive said “in light of the recent court ruling” they would “cease collaboration with the athlete, effective immediately.”
He was a character in their Hitman: World of Assassination game.
COMMERCIAL HITS
And the disgraced fighter faces more commercial KOs amid a backlash “tsunami” following his civil rape case, brand experts has declared.
PR and sponsorship specialists told The Irish Sun the pro brawler-turned-businessman was set for a further commercial hammering.
“This action reflects our commitment to maintaining a retail environment that resonates with the values of our customers and partners.”
Barry Group spokesperson
One brand expert declared: “The reputational damage is seismic.
“The impact to his commercial interests is already evident.
“There is already a significant backlash following the civil case. I believe the tsunami is only beginning.”
‘IN RUINS’
Another PR whizz told The Irish Sun Brand McGregor was “in ruins”.
They said: “McGregor’s talent and personality helped shoot the Dubliner to global superstardom.
“He then leveraged his star power to grow various businesses by putting himself front and centre. While to date his profile has been helpful in supercharging the growth of brands such as Proper 12 it’s now a hindrance.
“There are few entrepreneurs whose businesses are as tied to their personal brand as McGregor’s are and it’s therefore difficult for consumers to separate both.
“As a consequence retailers are now questioning existing partnerships with the MMA star no matter how successful they have been up to now.”
