“One false accusation can ruin a man’s life,” men’s rights activists are wont to say. And yet, men like Russell Brand and Louis C.K., who both face accusations of sexual misconduct in varying degrees, continue to have high-profile careers. The same goes for Chris Brown, who, in 2009, infamously beat Rihanna so severely that the internet was inundated with pictures of her bruised and injured face. Now, he’s on tour with Usher.
Conor McGregor is just another example of how a sexual assault conviction—not a mere accusation—does not even come close to ending a man’s career. After going on hiatus in 2021 due to a broken leg, the Irish wrestler is making his return to UFC this July.
Jimmy Fallon, the newest face of rape culture
Last June, Jimmy Fallon had McGregor as a guest on “The Tonight Show,” which sparked massive backlash against the host for platforming a convicted rapist—triggering the larger conversation about rape culture.
“Not all men” is a phrase often used in defense against men’s violent actions and behaviors toward women. “Not all men, but always a man,” feminists retort, drawing rightful attention to the sorry fact—that while not all men commit heinous crimes against women, all men participate in a culture in which such violence is normalized and permitted.
In other words, while Fallon himself may not be a convicted rapist, his behavior enables rape to continue to happen. All men are responsible for ensuring the safety of women. All men have a baseline duty to actively respond against gender-based violence.
While Fallon himself may not be a convicted rapist, his behavior enables rape to continue to happen. All men are responsible for ensuring the safety of women
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What exactly is Conor McGregor convicted of?
An Irish High Court jury found McGregor civilly liable for raping Nikita Hand in 2018. It’s agonizing to go over the details of the brutality McGregor committed against Hand. A paramedic who examined her had testified that the intensity of the bruising she observed on Hand was unlike what she had ever seen before.
In fact, during the civil trial, the court received medical evidence that a tampon Hand was wearing at the time of the assault was wedged so far inside her body that it required a doctor to surgically remove it.
The barbarity of the crime was not lost on those who heard the case. Among them was “The Addams Family” star Christina Ricci, who joined the backlash against Jimmy Fallon. On an Instagram story, she reshared a post that stated: “Shame on you Jimmy Fallon for platforming this human garbage. We need to stop pretending like rape is OK.”
Actress and comedian Kathy Griffin also responded to Fallon having McGregor on the show, calling it a “mistake” that Fallon decided to share his platform with the wrestler. “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 [going to] be out there being glorified,” she stated in an Instagram post.
Addressing the manosphere
When a sexual assault case gains traction, it is not long before we start hearing from the manosphere, eager to defend fellow men and their entitlement to women’s bodies.
The manosphere, a term used to describe online communities in which male influencers address men’s issues—with the likes of Andrew Tate leading the charge—is known for its opposition to feminism. Members of the manosphere are likely to believe that men have become victims of misandry, and that the #MeToo movement has gone too far.
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They believe that the court of public opinion is skewed against them, that women have gained too much power—victimizing innocent men who only truly seek love and affection. They believe that women have weaponized sexual assault accusations against them.
Here’s the truth: The data on false allegations vary, but according to an article by The Open University, evidence suggests that false reporting is consistently low. Research conducted in Europe and the US indicates that the rate of false accusations is somewhere between two and six percent. Whereas the World Health Organization estimates that about one in three women worldwide have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime.
The numbers are tangible, and so, too, is the trauma. “This appeal has retraumatized me again and again,” says Hand in a statement recorded by BBC News. “Being forced to relive what happened has had a huge impact on me.”
“This appeal has retraumatized me again and again,” says Hand
Tell me again how an accusation ruins someone’s life, and I’ll tell you what McGregor has been up to.
