Conor McGregor’s ‘Notorious Buck’ energy drink is part of a wide range of products endorsed by the UFC fighter (Picture: Getty/Bucked Up)
A worldwide sports energy drink fronted by Conor McGregor hangs in the balance after the UFC star was found to have assaulted a woman who accused him of rape.
Sports nutrition company Bucked Up is ‘evaluating our next steps’ in line with its ‘company values’ after Nikita Hand won her civil court case against the MMA fighter.
McGregor launched his ‘Notorious Buck’ energy drink in October, when he also became a brand ambassador for the firm through the partnership.
Bucked Up has a worldwide reach, including via Walmart and Amazon, and is the official energy drink for the Bare Knuckle Fighting Contest, of which the Irishman is a part-owner.
The US company is the latest known business to re-evaluate its links with McGregor, 36, nicknamed ‘The Notorious’, after Ms Hand won her claim at the High Court in Dublin on November 22.
She was awarded damages of 248,603.60 euros at the hearing, where she accused McGregor of raping her in a hotel penthouse.
A paramedic told the court she had not seen ‘someone so bruised’ in a long time when she examined Ms Hand the day after the attack.
Tesco and Ocado discontinued sales of ‘Proper No Twelve Irish Whiskey’, also promoted by the fighter, following the jury’s verdict.
And JD Wetherspoon has pulled his Forged Irish Stout from sale at all of its seven pubs in the Republic of Ireland.
Conor McGregor outside the High Court in Dublin, where he appeared for the assault case brought by Nikita Hand (Picture: PA)
A representative for Bucked Up said: ‘We are aware of the recent verdict in the legal matters involving Conor. We respect the legal process and its outcomes and recognise the complexity of the situation.
‘We are carefully considering all aspects of the situation and evaluating our next steps in alignment with our company values.
‘At this time, we have no further updates to share.’
Notorious Buck features an image of McGregor stripped to the waist and comes in Irish, apple and orange flavours. Workout supplements and apparel were due to follow through the partnership.
Founded in 2016, Bucked Up provides products available across 55,000 stores worldwide. Promoting the launch of his drinks range, McGregor said the collaboration was about ‘leaving the competition gasping for air.’
However the two-time belt holder is currently facing the drawback of his branded alcohol products from availability in the UK and Ireland, including by Tesco, Wetherspoon and M & S distributor Ocado.
A spokesperson for the pub chain said today: ‘Wetherspoon has taken the decision to remove the product, Forged Stout, in its pubs in ROI.’
Conor McGregor speaks during a news conference while holding up his Notorious-branded Irish whiskey (Picture by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Leading Irish retailer Musgrave has also said that McGregor’s products will be pulled from shelves. The network includes SuperValu, Centra, Daybreak and Mace. It is …read more
Source:: Metro