Fox News host Tucker Carlson has dismissed comments made on talkback radio more than a decade ago, where he is heard labelling Iraqis "semiliterate primitive monkeys" and women "extremely primitive" and "basic".

Key points: Tucker Carlson is heard saying he has "zero sympathy" for Iraqis or their culture

Tucker Carlson is heard saying he has "zero sympathy" for Iraqis or their culture He also uses explicit sexist slurs against a number of high-profile women, and says he "feels sorry" for unattractive women

He also uses explicit sexist slurs against a number of high-profile women, and says he "feels sorry" for unattractive women Mr Carlson said he had the full support of Fox News and would never "bow to the mob"

The recordings, which were unearthed by Media Matters — a self-proclaimed research centre dedicated to "correcting conservative misinformation" — were purportedly made between 2006 and 2011, during Carlson's time as a guest panellist on controversial radio program Bubba the Love Sponge.

During one exchange, while discussing foreign affairs, Carlson said he had "zero sympathy" for Iraqis or their culture.

"A culture where people just don't use toilet paper or forks," he is heard saying.

"Iraq is a crappy place filled with a bunch of, you know, semiliterate primitive monkeys."

He went on to say the Middle Eastern country could be "salvaged" if its citizens "started behaving like humans".

"If you're really into Islam, I'm sorry, I just don't care for you," he said.

"And I don't care what that sounds like, you can call me a racist, you can call me whatever the f*** you want."

Carson's controversial comments were made on a radio show hosted by Bubba the Love Sponge. ( Supplied: @btlstampa )

'You need to be quiet and kind of do what you're told'

It is the second leaked recording to emerge over the past 48 hours, as the political commentator staves off repeated calls to resign.

On Sunday, Carlson was catapulted into the national spotlight for all the wrong reasons, after he was heard labelling women "extremely primitive" and "basic" in the tapes that date back to 2006.

Sorry, this video has expired Audio surfaces of Fox News host's misogynistic comments

When discussing women's response to weakness in men with the program's hosts, Carlson said: "They're like dogs that way … They can smell it on you".

"I mean, I love women, but they're extremely primitive, they're basic, they're not that hard to understand," he said.

In another back-and-forth, the Fox News host suggested arguing with women to "get them going".

CARLSON: If you're talking to a feminist, and she's given you, "well, men really need to be more sensitive", [say] no, actually, men don't need to be more sensitive. You just need to be quiet and kind of do what you're told. CO-HOST: And lighten up a little bit, bitch. CARLSON: They love it. They love it.

He is also heard taking aim at a number of high-profile women, including Martha Stewart's daughter Alexis, Britney Spears and Paris Hilton.

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In separate interviews, he went on to say that Oprah Winfrey and Hillary Clinton both "hate the penis".

Comments questioning the charges against Warren Jeffs, a cult leader who is in prison for child sex abuse ("arranging a marriage between a 16-year-old and a 27-year-old is not the same as pulling a stranger off the street and raping her") further earned the ire of his opponents, who have called on sponsors to cut ties with Fox News.

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'We will never bow to the mob'

In a statement released on social media on Monday, Carlson appeared to dismiss criticisms, saying the "naughty" comments were made more than a decade ago.

"Rather than express the usual ritual contrition, how about this: I'm on television every weeknight live for an hour," he wrote.

"If you want to know what I think, you can watch.

"Anyone who disagrees with my views is welcome to come on and explain why."

Sorry, this video has expired Tucker Carlson has refused to apologise over the recordings.

He then doubled down on those comments on Tuesday in a video titled The Great American Outrage Machine.

In it, he said the "left's main goal is controlling what you think", and that "since the day we went to air, they've been working hard to kill this show".

"First, Fox News is behind us, as they have been since the very first day. Toughness is a rare quality in a TV network and we are grateful for that," he said.

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"Second, we've always apologised when we're wrong and we will continue to do that, that's what decent people do.

"But we will never bow to the mob."

The political commentator has also garnered a number of supporters amid the fallout, including Donald Trump Jr — the son of United States President Donald Trump — who made light of the radio program and its name.

"Obviously a serious policy show where no satire would be made," he tweeted.

"The left is not going after Tucker Carlson for any reason other than he's effective at destroying their agenda."

Actress Alana Stewart, the wife of rockstar Rod Stewart, also took to social media to question whether Media Matters would "go through all the hosts on CNN and MSNBC for any discrepancies in their past".

"Funny, [Media Matters] only targets conservative hosts like Tucker Carlson and bullies their sponsors," she said.

It's not the first time Carlson has been embroiled in leaked recordings.

Sorry, this video has expired Mr Carlson made headlines in February after insulting historian Rutger Bregman.

He made headlines last month after telling historian Rutger Bregman to "go f*** yourself".

Fox News is yet to publicly comment on the most recent recordings.