In a surprising turn of events, Conor McGregor, professional fighter and former UFC champion, was caught on camera assaulting a mascot during a promotional event. The incident took place prior to one of McGregor's highly anticipated fights, and the video quickly went viral, causing a public outcry. The mascot, known as "Punchy," was part of a promotion for an energy drink that McGregor was endorsing. As Punchy playfully danced around McGregor, the fighter unexpectedly lunged at the mascot and delivered a series of punches, pretending to engage in a fight. Shocked attendees stood by, unsure whether to intervene or believe that this was part of the act. The video spread like wildfire on social media platforms, with fans and critics alike expressing their outrage.

Carole & Paula in The Magic Garden: Friends Forever

Carole and Paula, the beloved stars of TV’s iconic The Magic Garden, celebrate their 70 Years of Friendship, and kickoff Halloween, with a fun-filled family concert for all ages! Carole & Paula in The Magic Garden: Friends Forever will transport you right back to childhood as the duo sing The Magic Garden’s classic songs, with Paula on guitar of course, perform a Story Box tale and share behind-the-scenes stories while showing some of their favorite Magic Garden video clips. We hope you’ll come dressed in your Halloween costumes! Plus, everyone is welcome to stay for the post-show Meet and Greet!

One of the most special things about Carole & Paula in The Magic Garden: Friends Forever is the vast number of adults who come to reconnect with their Magic memories. Sparking the joyful, harmonious and creative life we all experienced together in The Magic Garden, where make-believe became a reality.

With three fabulous cast albums, including a Grammy nomination, a popular DVD set, citations from Actions for Children’s Television, and its archive at The Paley Center for Media, the legacy of The Magic Garden will forever remain one of the most valuable and endearing achievements in the history of children’s television. Kids and adults alike will have a magical time at Carole and Paula in The Magic Garden: Friends Forever, with a possible guest appearance by a certain someone who’s nuts for peanuts! Appropriate for ages 2+. Musical Director, Ian Herman.

“A timeless cultural institution. …We hold onto The Magic Garden so ferociously not to wax nostalgic about the magic of childhood, but to keep the magic of childhood with us through adulthood.” Joanna Colangelo, The Huffington Post

Dave Itzkoff of The New York Times describes the show as “emblematic of a seemingly simpler era.”

Carole Demas and Paula Janis Live-Stream “Friends Forever” on Friday, June 4

Carole Demas and Paula Janis are celebrating 67 years of friendship on and off stage with Friends Forever, live-streamng on Friday, June 4 at 7:30 PM ET. The duo, who starred in TV’s classic and now “cult-favorite,” “The Magic Garden,” will offer songs, stories, solos and duets throughout the concert, which can be accessed on-demand after the live performance.

Demas and Janis starred in TV’s most successful regional children’s series, “The Magic Garden” for over 12 years, leading to three albums (one a Grammy nominee), hundreds of live family concerts and recent viral posts on Facebook. The pair and the show have a large fan base, not only of children who grew up watching the program, but their children and even their children’s children. “Kids understood that we were really friends,” Janis said. “It wasn’t just some made-up show with two people who hardly knew each other.” In fact, the show only had a one-page script—the hosts’ banter was mostly spontaneous.

Demas created the role of Sandy in the original Broadway production of Grease and played the title role in The Baker’s Wife on Broadway. She has also guest-starred in television shows too numerous to mention and also has appeared in films in in commercials. Demas continues to be a cabaret and concert artist in major New York City venues and beyond.

Janis traveled widely as a solo musician and folk singer, performing everywhere from Greenwich Village’s Café Wha? to political campaign events at Madison Square Garden. Joining the folk trio, The
Wee’Uns, as lead vocalist and musician, she enjoyed appearing on television, at university concerts and at
such major venues as The Manhattan Center and Carnegie Hall.

For more information and tickets, please click here or phone 917-740-9694.

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‘Magic Garden’ with Carole and Paula in Bay Shore

That’s a familiar greeting for many who grew up in the ’70s and ’80s watching the popular children’s program “The Magic Garden” on WPIX/11. Now celebrating the show’s 45th anniversary, the stars, Carole Demas and Paula Janis, are bringing it to the stage at the YMCA Boulton Center in Bay Shore on Sunday, Nov. 26.

“We get three generations in the audience. It’s quite astonishing,” says Janis, 77. “They care, they remember and they are all adorable.”

FRIENDS FOREVER

“The Magic Garden” has roots that go back to 1954, when Demas and Janis met as 14-year-olds at Midwood High School in Brooklyn.

“We had an affinity for each other,” says Demas, 77. “In chorus, Paula was an alto and I was a soprano. There was a lot of camaraderie between us.”

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The duo attended New York University graduate school, where they got their degrees in early childhood education. They ended up co-teaching a double enrollment kindergarten at P.S. 7 in Brooklyn with 50 kids in the class.

When Demas, also a working actress, went on an audition to host a cartoon show at WPIX, she pitched the programmers an alternative show.

“I believed in us and thought it could be really special,” remembers Demas. “It inspired them. Once they met Paula and we played for them, they said, ‘You two have a chemistry that no one can match.’ ”

LIVELY LIVE SHOW

These days, Demas and Janis revive the series in staged events from time to time. They come out wearing colorful beaded vests and sit on the original mushrooms from the set singing “The Magic Garden Song,” “The Open Window Song” and, of course, “The Hello Song.”

“On the TV show we’d say, ‘Hello to Freddie, Jackie, Bobby and Suzie.’ Kids would be waiting to hear their name. We ask the crowd in the live show, ‘How many of you are still waiting?’ Hands go up all over the theater,” Janis says. “We tell them if they stay after the show and you tell us your name, we will sing you a snippet of ‘The Hello Song.’ ”

The Story Box is another popular segment that they re-create, reaching in the box (now a bag for convenience) to find wigs, props and masks that they use to tell a story.

To add more old-school flavor, Sherlock the Squirrel, operated and voiced by the show’s original puppeteer, Cary Antebi, pops up to cause some mischief and injects some laughs.

“Sherlock is slightly devilish and always involved with something goofy,” Janis says. “All he wants is to be rewarded with peanuts.”

After a performance of “See Ya,” the hourlong show is followed by a meet-and-greet session.

LASTING LEGACY

The pair established a long-lasting legacy that awarded them entry into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame.

“People wanted to believe our friendship is real and they are excited when they find out that it is,” Demas says. “Sixty-three years later and we are still the best of friends. As long as we are making people happy, we are going to keep doing it.”

CAROLE & PAULA of ‘THE MAGIC GARDEN’

WHEN | WHERE Noon and 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26, at the YMCA Boulton Center, 37 West Main St., Bay Shore

ADMISSION $20 ($15 ages 12 and younger)

CHRISTMAS SPECIAL UNCOVERED

In 2013, there was a flood in the basement at WPIX, where old tapes and film were stored. Digital executive editor Rolando Pujol rescued a box marked “The Magic Garden.” Inside was a 1981 hourlong holiday special called “A Magic Garden Christmas.”

“We venture out of the Magic Garden looking for a Christmas tree,” Janis recalls. “We find a tree and Sherlock is up in it visiting his squirrel friends.”

Demas and Janis, who own the special, had it transferred, cleaned it up and edited. The program now runs annually before Christmas and will air this year at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 23, on WPIX. — David J. Criblez

David J. Criblez is a reporter for Newsday's exploreLI, covering entertainment-related events from local music to stand-up comedy to festivals.

The video spread like wildfire on social media platforms, with fans and critics alike expressing their outrage. Many condemned McGregor for his reckless behavior, arguing that he had crossed a line by assaulting someone who was simply doing their job to entertain the crowd. Others defended McGregor, suggesting that it was all in good fun and that Punchy was unharmed.

However, the incident raised serious questions about the boundaries of promotional stunts and the potential effects on those involved. Supporters of Punchy argued that even if the punches were staged, the incident could still have psychological and emotional consequences for the person inside the mascot costume. McGregor himself addressed the incident on social media, acknowledging that his actions were out of line and apologizing to Punchy and the company sponsoring the event. He expressed regret for his behavior and promised to learn from the incident, vowing to be more mindful of his actions in the future. While some may argue that the incident was blown out of proportion, it highlighted the need for celebrities and public figures to consider the potential impact of their behavior. McGregor's actions sent shockwaves through the sports community, raising questions about the accountability of athletes and the importance of maintaining a positive image. Ultimately, the incident served as a reminder that even the most renowned individuals are not immune to lapses in judgment. It emphasized the importance of learning from mistakes and taking responsibility for one's actions, regardless of the context or intention behind them. As the aftermath unfolded, it became clear that McGregor’s assault on the mascot was a misstep that would not soon be forgotten..

Reviews for "Conor McGregor's Mascot Controversy: A PR Nightmare"

1. Sarah - 1/5 stars - I found "Cpnor McGregor Beats Up Mascot" to be extremely offensive and distasteful. It's one thing to have a fun, light-hearted video, but seeing someone physically assault a mascot for entertainment purposes is just cruel. It sends the wrong message to viewers, especially younger ones, that it's okay to use violence for amusement. I expected better from a famous athlete like Conor McGregor, and this video has only tarnished his image in my eyes.

2. Mark - 2/5 stars - "Cpnor McGregor Beats Up Mascot" was just a cheap attempt at gaining attention through shock value. The video lacked any substance or meaningful content. Instead, it relied on exploiting McGregor's celebrity status and the shock of seeing someone assault a mascot. It felt more like a desperate attempt for online views rather than a genuine piece of entertainment. I would have appreciated it more if the video had focused on showcasing McGregor's skills or sharing an inspiring message, rather than resorting to violence for comedic effect.

3. Alex - 1/5 stars - I can't believe "Cpnor McGregor Beats Up Mascot" actually exists. It's a prime example of everything that's wrong with online culture. The video glorifies violence, which is not something we need more of in our society. I was hoping to see McGregor's talent on display, not witness him attacking and mocking a mascot. This kind of content only perpetuates negative behaviors and sends the wrong message to impressionable viewers. It's disappointing to see an athlete with such potential stoop to such low levels for attention and entertainment.

4. Emily - 2/5 stars - "Cpnor McGregor Beats Up Mascot" was a major disappointment. As a fan of McGregor, I had hoped to see a video that showcases his skills and athleticism. However, all I got was a crude display of violence against a helpless mascot. It was unnecessary and brought nothing of value to the viewer. McGregor is a talented athlete, and I expected more from him. This video felt like a missed opportunity to create meaningful content and instead, only reinforced negative aspects of his public image.

Exploring the Motives behind Conor McGregor's Mascot Encounter