CIRCUS COMES TO
Conor responds to criticism with racist
Well, that’s one way to address accusations of racism.
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 as a mixture of shock and laughter emanated from the crowd.
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 a very 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.”
Mayweather didn’t find McGregor’s antics funny, though. The boxing champion called the comments “totally disrespectful” to his daughter, the mother of his daughter, and black women everywhere. Mayweather, however, has had a long history of violence against women, being charged with multiple counts of domestic violence since 2002. He served 90 days in jail for one of those arrests in the summer of 2012.
“He came out today and did it again,” Mayweather said. “I don’t care if it’s white women, black women, white men, black men, Asian, Latina or Latino, you don’t disrespect people. To get respect, you must give respect.”
Mayweather then detailed what he views as a double standard between himself and McGregor.
“Racism still exists,” Mayweather said. “I’ve been flashy for years. … I’ve been driving Ferraris and Bentleys and Rolls-Royces for over 20 years. All this flashy stuff, I