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Nike is reportedly looking to cut ties with Manny Pacquiao over remarks

Fighters Network
17
Feb
Manny Pacquiao (L) and Timothy Bradley at the kickoff press conference for their third fight, which Pacquiao has said will be his last. Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley pose off while promoting their April 9 rematch on HBO Pay-Per-View. Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Nike is looking to sever ties with Manny Pacquiao over his recent claims that those involved in same-sex relationships are “worse than animals,” according to a report on TMZ.com.

The sports apparel giant is “particularly disturbed” over Pacquiao’s remarks that were made as he was campaigning for a Senate seat in the Philippines. The company is preparing to “drop the boxer for good,” according to TMZ, citing unnamed sources.

While Nike hasn’t dropped the axe yet, the company is in the midst of discussions. “We’re told it appears to be heading in that direction,” read the TMZ report.

Perhaps a clue this is nearing completion is that Nike seems to have scrubbed Pacquiao’s likeness and products from its online store on Wednesday.



A message to Nike reps for comment wasn’t immediately returned.

Pacquiao, who faces Timothy Bradley on April 9 on HBO Pay-Per-View and is campaigning as a conservative Christian for the Senate, made the comments in a video posted on the website of the Filipino television network TV5.

“It’s common sense,” Pacquiao said. “Do you see animals mating with the same sex? Animals are better because they can distinguish male from female. If men mate with men and women mate with women they are worse than animals.”

Floyd Mayweather Jr., who beat Pacquiao last May, took the opportunity to stand up for gay rights in a recent interview while he was shopping in the Diamond District in midtown Manhattan.

“We should let people live the way they want to live,” Mayweather told TMZ.com. “I don’t have nothing against anyone. I think we should stay positive and we should let people live their lives the way they want to live their lives. To each their own.”

Pacquiao later apologized for his remarks, while saying he was still against gay marriage.

“I’m sorry for hurting people by comparing homosexuals to animals,” said Pacquiao in a video posted to his various social media platforms on Tuesday. “Please forgive me for those I’ve hurt. I still stand on my belief that I’m against same sex marriage because of what the Bible says but I’m not condemning LGBT. I love you all with the love of the Lord. God Bless you all and I’m praying for you.”

But on Wednesday, Pacquiao stubbed his toe in controversy once more as took to his Instagram account and, claiming to quote the Old Testament book Leviticus, wrote: “If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.”

Pacquiao later took the post down. Top Rank, which promotes Pacquiao, declined to comment on Wednesday.

This is an ongoing story and will be updated throughout the day.

 

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