UFC superstar Conor McGregor drew the ire of the black community this week after hurling slurs at Floyd Mayweather during the two fighters’ promotional world tour ahead of their Aug. 26 boxing match in Las Vegas.
On two different occasions during the tour — once in Los Angeles on Tuesday and again in Toronto on Wednesday — McGregor said to Mayweather, “dance for me, boy,” in a mocking tone. Many viewed that as overt racism from McGregor, who has a history of discriminatory public speech.
McGregor responded Thursday night at Barclays Center during the third stop on the three-country trip.
“A lot of media seem to be saying I’m against black people. That's absolutely f---ing ridiculous,” McGregor said to more than 13,000 fans at the Brooklyn arena. “Do they not know I’m half-black? Yeah! I’m half-black from the belly button down. And just to show them that’s squashed, here’s a present for my beautiful, black female fans.”
McGregor proceeded to hump the air sensually as a mixture of shock and laughter emanated from the crowd.
Conor McGregor has received criticism lately due to his racist taunts directed at Floyd Mayweather.
The UFC star explained his actions at a news conference following the event.
“That doesn’t sit well with me,” McGregor said of the allegations of racism. “I’m very a multi-cultured individual. I don’t have any ill-feeling toward anyone. I don’t even see color. I just wanted to say something that I could have a little fun with. …I just wanted to play with it and address it in my own little way. It’s stupid and it’s ridiculous, is basically what I was getting at.”
The unprecedented tour will finish in London on Friday and has featured an onslaught of demeaning insults exchanged in mega press events bordering on circus acts.
Thursday night’s proceedings were no different.
McGregor walked into the arena sporting a white mink coat with a blue dragon stitched on the back, no shirt underneath, and blue and pink floral pants.
He said he bought the coat earlier Thursday on Fifth Ave.
“It takes balls to rock this!” McGregor said of his attire.
The night reached a climax when Mayweather instructed his six-person crew to walk across the stage and confront McGregor. The two groups meshed, and McGregor became noticeably agitated, trying to get his hands on Mayweather, who frolicked away yelling “Yeah!” over and over into his microphone.
The largely pro-McGregor crowd responded by chanting, “P--y” at the boxer with a 49-0 lifetime record.
In another flashy bit, Mayweather grabbed cash bundles out of his backpack and began tossing the money into the air at McGregor.
Connor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather have engaged in trash talk all week during their promotional tour.
In retort, McGregor scooped up one of the bills, only to realize it was $1.
“These are only ones!” McGregor exclaimed to the rowdy crowd.
Thursday was equally — if not more — vulgar and outrageous than the first two stops.
Before the event began, executive vice president and general manger of Showtime Sports Stephen Espinoza didn’t outwardly condemn the vicious attacks and language used in the first two stops of the tour.
“There’s bits and points where it became a little bit unconformable,” Espinoza said of the disrespectful banter. “I don’t have kids, but I can imagine that would be alarming. Having said that, if you know anything about the two guys, this isn’t WWE. It’s not family friendly. Do I condone all of the language? No. But at the same time, this is combat sports, and tempers are flaring. It’s getting heated, and it’s very authentic and off-the-cuff. I don’t excuse it, but I certainly understand where it comes from.”
After his performance, McGregor was asked if there are any topics off-limits when it comes to dissing Mayweather.
“Maybe a few things, but we’ll see,” McGregor said. “There’s still one more stop left.”
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