Nike ends relationship with Manny Pacquiao after anti-gay comments

Feb

Photo: John Gurzinski/Getty Images

Nike has terminated its relationship with Manny Pacquiao after the boxer’s anti-gay comments on same-sex relationships.

“We find Manny Pacquiao’s comments abhorrent,” a Nike spokesman said in a statement on Wednesday. “Nike strongly opposes discrimination of any kind and has a long history of supporting and standing up for the rights of the LGBT community. We no longer have a relationship with Manny Pacquiao.”

Pacquiao, who faces Tim Bradley on April 9 on HBO Pay-Per-View and is campaigning for a seat in the Philippines senate, said those in same-sex relationships are “worse than animals.” Pacquiao made the comments in a video that was published on the website of the Filipino television network TV5 as part of its election coverage.

“It’s common sense,” Pacquiao said in the video. “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.”

The eight-time champion, perhaps aware of the growing controversy, offered an apology on Tuesday. Pacquiao was dressed in a white Nike T-shirt bearing his initials in a video he posted to his various social media platforms.

“I’m sorry for hurting people by comparing homosexuals to animals,” he said. “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.”

Pacquiao is the latest high-profile athlete to lose his Nike sponsorship after Lance Armstrong, Ray Rice, Oscar Pistorius and Adrian Peterson also lost their deals.