Conor McGregor has drawn yet more criticism by claiming he can't be racist because he is “half-black from the belly button down.”

The comment has landed the MMA star in further controversy, after he was criticised earlier in the week for making racially charged comments at press conferences in Los Angeles and Toronto.

McGregor is currently on a four-stop press tour with the American boxer Floyd Mayweather, to promote their light-middleweight fight on August 26.

The pair began the eagerly-anticipated tour in Los Angeles, with McGregor quick to land himself in hot water. While he watched Mayweather shadowboxing on the stage, he called out “dance for me boy!”, a comment with overt racial connotations in the United States.

The Irishman repeated the comment a night later in Toronto, leading to fresh criticism.

McGregor decided to address the allegations of racism while on stage in New York, on the third stop of the tour. But he made little attempt to dampen the growing row, instead making another contentious comment.

McGregor has landed himself in yet more controversy (Getty)

“All of the media seem to be saying that I am against black people,” he said while on stage at the Barclays Center. “But do they not know that I am half black? I’m half-black from the bellybutton down.”

The comment met with a mixed reception from the New York crowd, who had until that point been supporting McGregor loudly. Although many people cheered the comment, a smattering of boos could also be heard.

McGregor then added: “And just to show them that it is squashed, here is a present for my beautiful, black female fans.” He then proceeded to thrust back and forth on stage.

Mayweather vs McGregor: From trash-talk to super-fight Show all 18 1 /18 Mayweather vs McGregor: From trash-talk to super-fight Mayweather vs McGregor: From trash-talk to super-fight 00-mayweather-mcgregor-trash-talk-timeline.jpg NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 10: UFC Featherweight Champion Conor McGregor addresses the media during the UFC 205 press conference at The Theater at Madison Square Garden on November 10, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) Getty Images Mayweather vs McGregor: From trash-talk to super-fight 01-mayweather-mcgregor-trash-talk-timeline.jpg Mayweather vs McGregor: From trash-talk to super-fight 02-mayweather-mcgregor-trash-talk-timeline.jpg LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 02: Floyd Mayweather Jr. reacts after the welterweight unification championship bout on May 2, 2015 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) Getty Images Mayweather vs McGregor: From trash-talk to super-fight 03-mayweather-mcgregor-trash-talk-timeline.jpg Mayweather vs McGregor: From trash-talk to super-fight 04-mayweather-mcgregor-trash-talk-timeline.jpg Mayweather vs McGregor: From trash-talk to super-fight 05-mayweather-mcgregor-trash-talk-timeline.jpg Picture shows an arrangement of copies of The Sun newspaper front pages on February 13, 2012. Rupert Murdoch's British tabloid The Sun condemned police raids against its journalists as a "witch-hunt" worthy of former communist states, and won rare support from rival newspapers. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEAL (Photo credit should read LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Mayweather vs McGregor: From trash-talk to super-fight 06-mayweather-mcgregor-trash-talk-timeline.jpg LAS VEGAS, NV - AUGUST 20: Conor McGregor waits for the start of his welterweight rematch against Nate Diaz at the UFC 202 event at T-Mobile Arena on August 20, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. McGregor won by majority decision. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images) Getty Images Mayweather vs McGregor: From trash-talk to super-fight 07-mayweather-mcgregor-trash-talk-timeline.jpg LAS VEGAS, NV - SEPTEMBER 13: Floyd Mayweather Jr. looks on while taking on Marcos Maidana during their WBC/WBA welterweight title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on September 13, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) Getty Images Mayweather vs McGregor: From trash-talk to super-fight 08-mayweather-mcgregor-trash-talk-timeline.jpg LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 02: Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe introduces honoree Floyd Mayweather Jr. during the 2017 Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Orleans Arena on June 2, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) Getty Images Mayweather vs McGregor: From trash-talk to super-fight 09-mayweather-mcgregor-trash-talk-timeline.jpg TORRENCE, CA - FEBRUARY 24: UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor speaks during an interview after a news conference with lightweight contender Nate Diaz at UFC Gym February 24, 2016, in Torrance, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) Getty Images Mayweather vs McGregor: From trash-talk to super-fight 10-mayweather-mcgregor-trash-talk-timeline.jpg LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 02: Floyd Mayweather Jr. throws a left at Manny Pacquiao during their welterweight unification championship bout on May 2, 2015 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) Getty Images Mayweather vs McGregor: From trash-talk to super-fight 11-mayweather-mcgregor-trash-talk-timeline.jpg LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 02: Floyd Mayweather Jr. looks on during the welterweight unification championship bout against Manny Pacquiao on May 2, 2015 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) Getty Images Mayweather vs McGregor: From trash-talk to super-fight 12-mayweather-mcgregor-trash-talk-timeline.jpg Mayweather vs McGregor: From trash-talk to super-fight 13-mayweather-mcgregor-trash-talk-timeline.jpg Mayweather vs McGregor: From trash-talk to super-fight 14-mayweather-mcgregor-trash-talk-timeline.jpg NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 17: (L to R) Conor McGregor, & Michael Conlan celebrate Conlan's 3rd round TKO win over Tim Ibarra in his super bantamweight bout at The Theater at Madison Square Garden on March 17, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Ed Mulholland/Getty Images) Getty Images Mayweather vs McGregor: From trash-talk to super-fight 15-mayweather-mcgregor-trash-talk-timeline.jpg NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 10: UFC Featherweight Champion Conor McGregor addresses the media during the UFC 205 press conference at The Theater at Madison Square Garden on November 10, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) Getty Images Mayweather vs McGregor: From trash-talk to super-fight 16-mayweather-mcgregor-trash-talk-timeline.jpg Mayweather vs McGregor: From trash-talk to super-fight 17-mayweather-mcgregor-trash-talk-timeline.jpg LAS VEGAS - MAY 23: Musician Musician Keith Urban performs onstage during the 41st Annual Academy Of Country Music Awards held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 23, 2006 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) Getty Images

McGregor, 28, was later quizzed on his comments at the rather more restrained news conference that followed the event, and staunchly defended himself against accusations of racism.

“That doesn’t sit well with me,” McGregor said when asked about the allegations being made against him. “I am a very multi-cultured individual. I do not have any ill feeling toward anyone. I do not even see colour.

“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, that’s basically what I was getting at.”

The two men are on a four-stop media tour (Getty)

Both Mayweather and his father, Floyd Mayweather Snr, had defended McGregor against accusations of racism for his “dance for me boy” comments. “Racist? I don't know what that has got to do with race,” Floyd Sr. told TMZ Sports moments after the news conference at the Staples Center,

But after the New York press event, Mayweather moved to criticise McGregor for his choice of language, which he described as “totally disrespectful”.

“He came out today and did it again,” Mayweather said.

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“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 added that racism is still exists in boxing and complained at double standards within the industry.

“Racism still exists,” he 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 was doing. ‘Oh he’s arrogant. Oh he’s cocky. He’s this. He’s that. He’s unappreciative.’