Jimmy Fallon, Connor McGregor, and the Culture of Forgiving Powerful Men
When entertainment becomes more important than accountability
Disclaimer: This article contains discussion of sexual violence, sexual assault, and rape. Please take care while reading. If you or someone you know needs support, resources are provided at the end of this article.
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Imagine you are the host of a popular talk show. You have built your public image around supporting progressive values and speaking out on issues affecting marginalized communities. One day you are informed that one of your future guests will be a famous figure who was found liable for sexual assault. Having this person on your show goes against your morals and everything you have built your platform and audience on. You have a serious decision to make: should you have this person on your show or should you do everything in your power to ensure that you do not give a platform to someone found liable for such a horrific crime? Would you put your morals, values, and your audience’s trust above potential viewership?
This is the position Jimmy Fallon found himself in recently when Conor McGregor was booked as a guest on “The Tonight Show.” Instead of standing by his self-proclaimed moral code, Fallon decided to go ahead with the interview and provide McGregor with a safe, happy environment to make his return to the spotlight after he was found civilly liable for sexual assault in 2024.
Sadly, the actions of “The Tonight Show” and its host are just another example of how Hollywood overlooks the violence perpetuated by men in positions of power. In many cases, these men are simply welcomed back into Hollywood with little to no consequence. At the same time, their accusers and victims continue to suffer the long-term effects of their actions coupled with the scrutiny that comes with telling their stories in a public forum. This is a pattern that rings true throughout history and will only continue if the public does not take action against not only those who commit these violent and appalling acts, but also those who provide them with the platform and opportunity to return to public life as if nothing happened.
Connor McGregor: Accusations, Trials, and Verdicts
MMA fighter Conor McGregor was accused of violently raping and battering Nikita Hand in a Dublin hotel room on December 9, 2018 (Melley, 2024). Despite denying the allegations, McGregor was found liable for sexual assault by a civil jury in Ireland and had to pay Hand $257,000 in damages and legal fees (Melley, 2024; Raycraft, 2026).
Being found liable for a crime means that the accused must be held liable or accountable for causing harm to another person. Often this means being required to compensate the other party for harm or financial loss.
Jimmy Fallon recently had Conor McGregor on his show as a guest to promote McGregor’s return to competition within the MMA space (Giacomazzo, 2026). While the interview was your standard celebrity promotional appearance, it was difficult to view it as just another interview. With McGregor’s past of sexual violence, it calls into question the values and morals of those working on The Tonight Show and, by extension, Jimmy Fallon himself.
Regardless of the values held by the producers, crew, and host, choosing to have someone who was found liable for sexual assault on your show sends a message to your audience, specifically those who are survivors of sexual violence. It tells them that perpetrators of sexual violence can be redeemed in the eyes of Hollywood, and The Tonight Show has no issue providing them with the stepping stone they need to make their return to the spotlight. While The Tonight Show is promoted as a show that welcomes all and a space where people could feel safe, they decided to forgo these implied values for the sake of one guest.
While this paints an unflattering picture of The Tonight Show and its host, this is unfortunately not an isolated incident. Instead, it is another example of a never-ending pattern where Hollywood and the public overlook the violent and harmful behaviour of famous men in favour of profits, exposure, and entertainment.
History of Survivors and Why They Don’t Come Forward
While Jimmy Fallon’s interview with Conor McGregor seems like an isolated event, it reflects a broader pattern that permeates through law enforcement, the legal system, and Hollywood. Survivors often face barriers to reporting sexual violence, whether that be law enforcement, societal pressure, or fear. The system has been built to isolate survivors rather than support them. Understanding these barriers and how traumatic going through the legal system can be is essential in understanding why interviews like Jimmy Fallon’s matter.
One in four women will experience some form of sexual violence in their lifetimes, and the majority of these cases will remain unreported (Murphy-Oikonen et al., 2020). Of those that are reported to police, one in five are deemed baseless and labelled as unfounded (Murphy-Oikonen et al., 2020). These high rates of unfounded cases suggest that dismissing sexual assault has become common practice within the police service (Murphy-Oikonen et al., 2020). Police are often seen as the gatekeepers to justice as they determine whether and how these cases are investigated (Murphy-Oikonen et al., 2020).
This dismissive attitude towards sexual violence that bleeds throughout law enforcement is often rooted in stereotypes and myths about sexual assault. In some cases, police will dismiss cases simply because the victim does not fit the stereotypical perfect victim (CICS, 2018). Some believe that if the victim did not scream, fight back, or get injured, then it was not sexual assault (Burrowes, 2013). In reality, many victims in these situations cannot fight back or scream because they are fearing for their lives, so they will often cooperate with their attackers to ensure their safety (Burrowes, 2013). In addition, in many sexual assault cases, there are not always visible signs on the victim’s body (Burrowes, 2013).
How the victim responds during the assault is not the only factor that is considered by law enforcement, as their behaviour after the attack is also subject to stereotypes and questions. Many believe that you can tell if someone was “actually” sexually assaulted by how they act; however, this stereotype often overlooks the range of emotions and shock victims go through (Burrowes, 2013). Reactions to sexual violence can differ from case to case (Burrowes, 2013). Not every woman will display the range of emotions that classifies them as the perfect victim because many experience shock or numbness after they are attacked (Burrowes, 2013).
These stereotypes are often worse when victims are people of colour or Indigenous, as stereotypes about race and ethnicity intersect with those surrounding victims of sexual violence, creating additional barriers to being believed and receiving support from law enforcement. Many studies have found that people of colour are disproportionally targeted as victims of sexual violence (OEASV, 2013). Women of colour are often blamed for the sexual violence they experience, with many of them being stereotyped as promiscuous (OEASV, 2013).
Indigenous peoples are less likely to report sexual violence due to an inherent mistrust of law enforcement, rooted in colonialism (Barkaskas & Hunt, 2017). In the cases where they do report, it is not likely that they will be believed due to long-held racist and stereotypical views from law enforcement and Crown prosecutors (Barkaskas & Hunt, 2017). Their bodies are often sexualized and dehumanized, only serving to normalize sexual violence against them (Barkaskas & Hunt, 2017).
When you look at how often women are dismissed and the additional trauma they face due to law enforcement and societal opinions, it becomes easy to understand why many of them choose to stay silent. Instead of a justice system that works for these women, we have built one that actively works against them, dismissing them at every avenue and placing barriers between them and real justice.
The Court of Public Opinion: When a Famous Man is Involved
Beyond these institutional barriers to justice, survivors who accuse wealthy, powerful, or famous men often face further scrutiny and additional trauma because their accusations often make it into the mainstream media, opening them up to public criticism, harassment, and accusations. The experiences of women like E. Jean Carroll and Ashley Judd highlight this well, as these women endured intense criticism and harassment while in the pursuit of justice.
E. Jean Carroll accused Donald Trump of sexually assaulting her in a department store in the 1990s (Pilkington, 2019). Despite Trump being found liable for sexual abuse, Carroll faced years of public scrutiny and harassment (Pilkington, 2019). In an interview, she admitted to receiving hundreds of death threats after Donald Trump spoke out against her (Offenhartz, 2025). She stated that it got to a point where she kept a gun near her bed (Pilkington, 2019). Carroll also admitted to the negative effects this has had on her work life, as she lost her decades-long career at Elle and was no longer invited on talk shows (Offenhartz, 2025). All of this while her abuser simply went on with his life, facing little to no public consequences, eventually being elected for a second term as president of the United States in 2024 while Carroll continues to suffer from the trauma of that day in 1990 and the decades that followed.
Ashley Judd accused Harvey Weinstein of sabotaging her career after she refused to give in to his sexual advances (Jenkins, 2018). She lost status, prestige, and power in her career as an actress due to Weinstein blacklisting her from Hollywood (Jenkins, 2018). She eventually sued Weinstein, stating that he had to be held accountable for his behaviour and conduct (Francis, 2018). This began a wave of women coming forward about their experiences with Harvey Weinstein, and eventually led to him being found guilty of rape and sentenced to 16 years in prison (CBS, 2026). This decision was, however, overturned, resulting in Weinstein needing to be re-sentenced (CBS, 2026). Once again, Weinstein was able to go on with his career after he ruined Judd’s life. He used his position of power to silence her and ensure that she would never be seen on screen again. Weinstein continuously used his power and influence to coerce women and take what he wanted, while punishing those who were in a position to say no.
These are only two examples of the mistreatment survivors of sexual violence can face after coming forward, but they are far from isolated incidents. Similar patterns have played out repeatedly throughout Hollywood, professional sports, and politics. Time and again, powerful men have been accused of using their wealth, influence, or status to exploit women in vulnerable positions, only to later rely on that same power to discredit their accusers or protect their public image. As seen in Ashley Judd’s allegations against Harvey Weinstein, positions of power can be used to silence victims through professional retaliation. In other cases, such as E. Jean Carroll’s lawsuit against Donald Trump, public figures have relied on their platforms and supporters to publicly attack the credibility of those who came forward.
This revolving door of controversial and abusive public figures is not a recent development. History has shown that many influential men are eventually welcomed back into positions of power and prominence, while survivors are left to cope with the lasting effects of sexual violence, public scrutiny, online harassment, and the emotional toll of navigating the legal system. It is this pattern, not just individual cases, that continues to discourage many survivors from coming forward in the first place.
Connor McGregor is unfortunately just the most recent case of a man’s violent conduct and behaviour being overlooked in favour of his return to Hollywood. From actors to athletes, the public and Hollywood will excuse a man’s behaviour in favour of their favourite public figure or profits. Brad Pitt, Donald Trump, and Deshaun Watson are just a few examples of this larger issue, as these cases highlight a pattern that has become all too common in pop culture.
In 2022, a court filing revealed that Angelina Jolie accused her ex-husband, Brad Pitt, of violent behaviour towards her and their children (The Associated Press, 2022). The filing detailed an incident on a flight back in 2016 where Jolie accused Pitt of verbally and physically abusing her (The Associated Press, 2022). Jolie stated that Pitt’s violent behaviour started earlier that day when he had a verbal confrontation with one of their children. When Jolie confronted him about this on the flight, he responded by verbally attacking her, eventually pulling her into the bathroom to continue yelling at her (The Associated Press, 2022). He then grabbed her shoulders and violently shook her before pushing her into the bathroom wall (The Associated Press, 2022). When one of their children tried to defend Jolie, Pitt lashed out, allegedly lunging at them (The Associated Press, 2022). By the end of the altercation, Pitt had choked one of their children and struck another (The Associated Press, 2022).
Credit: The Associated Press
Most would see Pitt’s violent behaviour for what it was: a man using his power and strength to intimidate and hurt his own family, but Hollywood saw the opposite; they saw a man deserving of a comeback. Despite his violent past, Brad Pitt was able to return to the spotlight and star in numerous movies. After the altercation, before anything was made public, Pitt starred in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood alongside major stars such as Margo Robbie and Leonardo DiCaprio. After his behaviour was made public, his career was still flourishing; in 2022 he starred in Bullet Train, The Lost City, and Babylon. While it could be argued that these were filmed before the allegations were made public, it does not explain why his career seemed to only grow in the following years.
He took a few years off after his violent tendencies were revealed, but Hollywood was eager to welcome him back with open arms as he starred in the F1 movie in 2025. He was praised by the media as they all seemed to forget his past. With this attitude comes the other side of this situation: away from the bright lights of Hollywood, people often forget that there are real lasting consequences of Pitt’s actions. Children who grow up in violent homes often have lasting mental and physical health issues that can manifest as PTSD, Depression, or physical illnesses (OASH, 2025). In this case, we will never know the details of how impacted Pitt and Jolie’s children are, but it is clear from recent developments that they have no interest in a relationship with their father as four of the six have legally dropped Pitt from their surnames, further highlighting that the effects of a violent household go far beyond a story in the media (Siwak et al., 2026).
Hollywood’s willingness to continue casting Brad Pitt only further highlights how allegations, with evidence and testimony, have little to no effect on a famous man’s career; if anything, he is only further celebrated by the general public while his actions and those impacted are slowly forgotten. Hollywood is not the only institution willing to overlook serious allegations and convictions, as the same pattern is embedded in politics. We see politician after politician be accused or convicted of sex crimes, and nothing ever comes of it; they simply carry on with their lives and political careers as if nothing happened.
The clearest example of this would be the president of the United States, Donald Trump. While I previously touched on the allegations and ruling from the E. Jean Carroll case, that is, unfortunately, just the tip of the iceberg, as Trump has been accused of some form of sexual violence at least 18 times.
Trump’s sexually violent behaviour began all the way back in the 1970s and continued well into the 2010s, with allegations ranging from inappropriate touching to sexual assault and rape (Keneally, 2020). Donald Trump constantly used his power and influence to force himself on women, leaving them unsure if they should come forward out of fear of retaliation.
One of the clearest examples of this is his abuse of power within the Miss Universe organization. Trump owned the Miss Universe organization from 1995 to 2015, and over the years, five women have come forward sharing their experiences. Temple Taggart McDowell, Bridget Sullivan, Tasha Dixon, Ninni Laaksonen, and Cassandra Searles all shared similar stories that exemplify Trump’s abuse of power (Keneally, 2020). Their allegations ranged from alleging that Trump would enter dressing rooms while the contestants were undressed, kiss them without their consent, grope them, and overall use his position as owner to access women in vulnerable situations (Keneally, 2020).
The allegations do not stop at Miss Universe as Trump’s pattern of behaviour bled into his everyday interactions. Cathy Heller, Rachel Crooks, Jennifer Murphy, Jessica Drake, and Natasha Stoynoff all accused Trump of kissing them without their consent, with most stating that he would greet them with unwanted kissing or physical contact (Keneally, 2020).
Jessica Leeds, Kristin Anderson, Jill Harth, Karena Virginia, Mindy McGillivray, Summer Zervos, and Amy Dorris all accused Donald Trump of unwanted touching and groping, as each woman detailed situations where Trump touched their breasts, buttocks, thighs, or genitals in both public and private settings (Keneally, 2020). In most cases, when they tried to pull away, Trump continued his advances (Keneally, 2020).
E. Jean Carroll, Jessica Leeds, Summer Zervos, Amy Dorris, and Jill Harth have all accused Donald Trump of some form of sexual assault or rape, with locations ranging from private dressing rooms to airplanes, and even at the U.S Open (Keneally, 2020).
These allegations span over decades and show a consistent pattern of concerning behaviour and sexual violence against women. Most would assume that a man like this would be blacklisted from Hollywood, politics, and the business world, but the opposite happened. Despite all of these allegations, Trump was able to have a successful career and make millions through his TV shows, hotels and investments. He was even able to win the 2016 and 2024 presidential elections despite his past.
This acceptance of Trump despite everything he has been accused of is just another example of how power and influence in the public sphere hold more value than the experience of victims. In this case, they are forced to suffer in silence as Trump goes on with his life and destroys US relations with other countries, enacts harmful policy, and starts unnecessary wars. While Hollywood and the political realm continue to bolster these men, the sports world is seemingly following in their footsteps as they too choose to ignore allegations of sexual violence in favour of their team’s season.
Deshaun Watson is a recent case of an athlete being able to persevere and return to their former glory after allegations of sexual violence and the consequences that came with them. Watson is a quarterback for the Cleveland Browns (NFL Team). In 2021, 30 women came forward claiming that Watson exposed himself, touched them with his genitals, or kissed them without their consent, mostly during massage appointments between 2017 and 2020 (Associated Press, 2026). Some women claimed that he forced them to perform oral sex, while one woman alleged that he sexually assaulted her (Associated Press, 2026).
Most of the lawsuits were settled in 2022, with others being dismissed, but as a result of the allegations, he was suspended from the NFL for 11 games as he violated the league’s personal conduct policy (Associated Press, 2026). He was also fined $5 million and was subjected to a mandatory evaluation before he was reinstated (Associated Press, 2026).
Watson’s behaviour reveals a disturbing pattern where he constantly used his power as a man to commit sexual violence against women. 30 women coming forward with similar allegations reveal a man who is constantly sexually violent towards women. While he did face consequences for his actions with a suspension from the NFL, this did not seem to do much damage to his reputation, as he was able to return to the Cleveland Browns as their quarterback, making $46 million a year. While he did face some public backlash, it seems as though the Browns organization and fans are largely accepting of Watson and his past. He can carry on with his NFL career while his alleged victims are forced to deal with the lasting impacts of his behaviour. This never-ending cycle will continue unless there is real societal change that forces these men to be held accountable for their actions.
Through the examples of Brad Pitt, Donald Trump, and Deshaun Watson, it is clear that this pattern of famous, powerful men having the ability to revive their careers after accusations of sexual violence goes beyond Conor McGregor and his appearance on Jimmy Fallon. This is a deeply embedded system that manifests as famous men who continue to get a free pass when it comes to their sexually violent behaviour.
Beyond the lack of accountability and the fact that these men will continue to be millionaires regardless of their behaviour, there are the real victims who seemingly face more consequences for the violence perpetuated against them. Some are forced to deal with years of trauma and pain surrounding the incident and sex in general. While others have the added layer of public scrutiny and living with the lasting trauma while their abuser simply goes on with his life. And these are just the consequences faced by the women who come forward; this attitude and acceptance of violent men within the public sphere only serves to discourage women who are victims from coming forward. They will most likely wonder “what’s the point, if there will be no real consequences?” Or “Am I willing to be constantly re-traumatized by public scrutiny or media coverage?” And this may only serve to make these men more comfortable committing violent acts, as they know that victims are scared to come forward and, in the cases they do, there will be no real justice. A culture that has little to no accountability can make these harmful behaviours easier to hide and get away with.
While Jimmy Fallon is not the single driving force of this ideology in society, he is unfortunately just another example of how Hollywood, the political sphere, and the sports world refuse to hold men accountable. His interview with Conor McGregor just shows that it does not matter if you are found liable for sexual assault; in the eyes of the public, you are redeemable, and this is the attitude that needs to stop. As a society, we have to stop allowing the media and these men to convince us that these bad things never happened. We have to say enough is enough and make it clear that these men have no place being public figures. While the everyday person cannot dismantle this system, there are small things we can do. This can mean questioning the media we consume, the celebrities we continue to support, and the institutions that choose profit over accountability, because change cannot happen if it does not start somewhere, no matter how small that start may be.
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Sexual Violence Support Centre
