“Nike Just Did It” and has fired boxer and Philippines Senate candidate Manny Pacquiao after the boxer made homophobic comments that claimed gay people were worse than animals.
“We find Manny Pacquiao’s comments abhorrent. Nike strongly opposes discrimination of any kind and has a long history of supporting and standing up for the rights of the LGBT community,” Nike said in a statement. “We no longer have a relationship with Manny Pacquiao. Any recent remarks made by Manny Pacquiao reflect his personal views. Nike is strongly opposed to discrimination of any kind and has a long history of supporting and standing up for the rights of GLBT individuals”
TMZ adds to its story:
Multiple sources connected to the situation tell us Manny personally tried to save the deal up until the last minute.
We’re told several members of Manny’s team had been communicating with Nike all morning — begging the company to reconsider and give Manny another chance.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. who beat Pacquiao in the so-called “super fight” last May, when asked about Pacquiao’s comments said “We should stay positive. We should let people live their lives the way they want to live their lives. I don’t have nothing against anyone…To each his own.”
Pacquiao, who is campaigning to move from the House of Representatives to the Senate in the Philippines, originally said: “If you have male-to-male or female-to-female [relationships], then people are worse than animals.”
Pacquiao later offered a weak apology, but stood by his opposition to gay marriage saying:
“I’m sorry for everyone who got hurt due to my comparison of gay people [homosexuals] to animals,” he said (via CNN). “It was my mistake. Please forgive me for those who I’ve hurt. But this does not change my position against same-sex marriage. That’s what I believe. My only mistake is comparing gay people to animals.”
Pacquiao is training for his third bout against Timothy Bradley on April 9 in Las Vegas which is currently be called upon to be cancelled.
