Days after an emotional admission that his massive global fame had ‘broken’ him, legendary two-weight UFC champion Conor McGregor has announced he is stepping away from social media for the foreseeable future.
The Irishman made numerous headlines at BKFC 82 in Newark, including agreeing to a future bare-knuckle fight with ‘King of Violence’ Mike Perry. However, the most significant moment came during a post-fight press conference where he openly discussed the profound struggles of being a global celebrity.
McGregor admitted that he had, at times, felt ‘broken’ by the intense demands of his schedule, which required him to train for some of the biggest fights in history while simultaneously fulfilling huge promotional duties. This rare moment of vulnerability from the former double champion was captured on video and quickly went viral, with millions watching and empathising online.
Conor McGregor Quits Social Media After Emotional Press Conference
Following his candid comments, McGregor shared a brief, definitive message to his followers across his X and Instagram accounts, confirming his decision to spend time away from the internet. He wrote: “Hey folks online, I’m out of here for a bit, see you again soon! My love, unwavering! Thank you all.”
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The temporary digital break follows McGregor’s insistence that he would take a six-month hiatus from social media to prepare for his anticipated comeback fight against Michael Chandler. That fight is currently being eyed for next summer, although UFC President Dana White quickly poured cold water on that timeline, insisting no bout would be finalised until next February.
McGregor’s Explanation of the Pressure
Reflecting on his experiences, McGregor explained the unique burden of managing both roles at the highest level: “I’ll tell you this and this is why we must really, really, really put our maximum respect and support behind our combatants in here because to fight as well as promote is the real deal. To promote on its own is easy and also coincidentally, to fight on its own is easy. People don’t really realise that.”
He continued: “You get these fighters, they come up and no one cares about you. You’re rocking under the radar, no one asks you a question, you get to show up and have fun and do your thing and there’s no stress of the outside world and it’s perfect. Then when you rise, you’ve got to add this promotional element to it and both of them combined is incredibly draining. I wouldn’t be the first to tell you it almost broke me.”
“And to be honest, maybe it did break me. As I went on and achieved massive success and global, otherworldly superstardom. It overcame me at times. To promote and fight at a high level deserves support and respect and that is what I’m here for. To ensure that is what happens. To promote on its own, it’s absolutely amazing. I put on a nice suit. I put on a nice watch. It’s what I love to do. But don’t get me wrong, I miss the fight game, and I’m excited about what’s ahead.”
