IO Interactive Cuts Ties With Conor McGregor And Pulls All Content Featuring Former MMA Fighter After Court Ruling

IO Interactive, the studio behind the critically acclaimed Hitman series and the same team that’s working on a coming James Bond game has announced it is cutting ties with Conor McGregor and pulling all content featuring the former MMA fighter.

The announcement comes shortly after McGregor was found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman in 2018, with the case ending just days ago. It was a civil case so McGregor doesn’t face any jail time, but he has been order to pay €248,000 to the woman he assaulted.

McGregor was lined up to star as “the Disruptor” as a celebrity elusive target for players to take out in Hitman: World of Assassination. While the event was meant to run until December 8, IO has cut that short.

“In light of the recent court ruling regarding Conor McGregor, IO Interactive has made the decision to cease its collaboration with the athlete, effective immediately,” IO Interactive’s statement began.

“We take this matter very seriously and cannot ignore its implications. Consequently, we will begin removing all content featuring Mr. McGregor from our storefronts starting today.”

Nikita Hand, the woman who accused McGregor and kicked off the court case she ultimately won, previously stated that McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her.

Following the court’s ruling, Hand read a statement outside the courthouse where she spoke in reference to her daughter and to other victims of sexual assault.

“I want to show Freya and every other girl and boy that you can stand up for yourself if something happens to you, no matter who the person is, and justice will be served. To all the victims of sexual assault, I hope my story is a reminder that no matter how afraid you might be, speak up, you have a voice, and keep on fighting for justice.”

This current event was McGregor’s second appearance in the Hitman world, after he was previously announced as an elusive target earlier this year. Though the court case only ended days ago, Hand originally accused McGregor back in 2019, a year after the assault.

Source – [IO Interactive, Global News]