Conor McGregor landed himself in yet more controversy on Thursday night, when he insisted on stage at a New York press conference that he cannot be racist because “he is half-black from the belly button down”.

His comments met with a divisive reaction in the Staples Centre, where the Irishman was promoting his August 26 fight with Floyd Mayweather, and were quickly criticised on social media.

Mayweather, having defended McGregor against accusations of racism earlier in the day, also said that his opponent had crossed a line.

“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.”

Here you can read McGregor’s comments in full, as we publish the full transcript from the controversial New York press conference that has made headlines around the world.

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

Conor McGregor: It’s the N-O, T-O, R-I, O-U-S, you just, lay down, slow. Recognise a real Don when you see one (recites The Notorious B.I.G’s Going back to Cali). Shout out to the greatest of all time, The Notorious B.I.G.

What’s up New York City?

50 Cent’s a b****. You (Mayweather) and 50 are two fake money b**ches. He’s bankrupt and you’re about to be. It should be 50, nah. Bentley, nah. We owe out bollocks to the IRS, yah yah yah. Sing it for me beautiful, yah, yah.

I got Floyd a gift. This is Jay-Z’s new album, 4:44. I want you to take this and listen to it and learn. Learn how to build and maintain a real empire, not a fake empire and when you’re done with it, send it on to 50 and when you do, tell em Blanco sent ya.

Let’s address the race. A lot of media seem to be saying I’m against black people. That’s absolutely f***ing ridiculous. Do they not know I’m half black? Yeah, I’m half back from the belly button down.

And just to show that that’s squashed here’s a present for my beautiful, black, female fans (thrusts hips).

The coat’s polar bear. I’m a cold c***.

The Irishman met with a mixed reception in New York City (Getty)

F*** you. Do something. Someone do something about this polar bear coat I’ve got on.

Someone come up and stop me walking around this place like I own it.

I don‘t give a f*** how hot it is outside, I’m still wearing this s***.

Hey weasel (at Showtime executive Stephen Espinoza). Tell those f***ing Showtime b**ches to turn the air conditioning up. The champ champ’s rocking polar bear tonight.

New York, New York. What a f***ing city. What a city. To come back here, where I made history. I became the first fighter in UFC history to win two world titles simultaneously.

Thank you all, I’m blown away by the support. All Floyd’s side can suck this d***.

Floyd Mayweather: Hard work! Hard work! Hard work! Hard work! Hard work! Yeah.

Mayweather got the better of his rival at the third press conference (Getty)

I don’t just smell victory, I don’t just smell victory, you know what I smell? I smell a b**ch.

All money, it ain’t good money. Hey, point to the easy work. Yo, point to the b**ch. Yo, point to the quitter.

CM: (Flips the bird, points to groin): Point to that.

FM: This b**ch quit once, this b**ch quit twice, but, b**ch, you quit three times? You ho.

Where the bag at? Yeah. Yeah. Take a picture of motherf***ing greatness. You all in my face (to photographer)

Yo, yo, DJ, turn the music on for the strippers (throws money up).

CM: They’re all f**ing ones!

FM: That’s all you’re worth you b**ch

CM: Where’s the real money at? ... f***ing ones.

FM: All work is what? All work is what? All work is what? Well point to the easy work then.

Yeah. We just getting started baby. Yeah. We just getting started.

Dana White, I wanna take my hat off to you and tell you you done a f***ing remarkable job, 21 years. And guess what, me and you is getting that money, me and you.

We ain’t got to dress up. Guess what, this (McGregor) ain’t s*** but a circus, come on. And a p*ssy. I ain’t never quit and never will.

Yeah. Yo. (Floyd calls out to his entourage).

The media tour ends in London on Friday night (Getty ) (Getty)

CM: Take them high heels off.

(Mayweather’s entourage surrounds McGregor)

FM: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Whassup?

CM: Pick them one dollar bills up b**ch. All you b**ches pick up them one dollar bills right here.

FM: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

CM: (To member of Mayweather’s entourage) F***ing juice head b**ch. Look at you you blown up b**ch. You couldn’t run up and down out there without being out of breath you f***ing fat b**ch.

FM: Yeah.

He’s a con artist, he’s a quitter. Real fighters don’t quit. Real fighters don’t quit. You f***ing idiot.

CM: F*** you

FM: You f***ing idiot.

CM: Look at them high heels. Take them high heels of you little f***ing squirt.

FM: You f***ing idiot. You f***ng circus clown. You ho. You stripper you b*** and you know it. And you know it.

I run the show, this is my ho and I threw one dollar bills on this b**ch.

Yeah that’s a $3 million fighter, this is an $800 million fighter.

I ain’t running nowhere but to the bank.

Brooklyn, what’s up? (crowd boos). That’s what I like, all you’re doing is putting money in my account.

That’s what I like.

Mayweather steals a flag during McGregor press conference

CM: You pay a ho.

FM: (to crowd) You all want more?

CM: The stripper b**ches on the payroll.

FM: You all want more?

CM: (to female in the crowd) You’re looking good baby. You deserve better.

FM: 21 years

CM: F*** you and your time difference.

FM: Five weight classes and ya’ll choose a quitter? They say if you quit once, you will quit twice. But three times? Ah, man.

But I love my guy Dana White, he’s a smart motherf**er. Dana White pimpin’ this b**ch.