Nike Ends Manny Pacquiao’s Contract Over Remarks About Gays

Following Pacquiao’s comments saying couples in same-sex marriages are ‘worse than animals, ‘ the brand issued a clear statement on where it stands.

Singer Aiza Seguerra, who recently married her actress-girlfriend, called on voters to boycott Pacquiao, who is also preparing for his last boxing fight in April, calling him an “ignorant, bigoted hypocrite”.

For the record, Magic is a huge boxing fan and attended the big Mayweather vs. Pacquiao fight a year ago.

Gay advocates praised Nike’s decision to cut ties with Pacquiao, one of the most celebrated boxers in history.

The 37-year old congressman, among those favored to win a Senate seat at the May elections based on independent pollsters’ surveys, apologized on Tuesday.

Unlike other professional athletes, who rely heavily on sponsorship money as a source of income, boxers at Pacquiao’s level traditionally earn the bulk of their income from matches.

“It’s common sense. Do you see animals that go male to male or female to female?” The sportswear company also said it opposes discrimination and supports the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

Manny Pacquiao accepts he has no choice but to proceed without Nike’s backing. “I’m apologetic personally to the gay movement in the United States”. When he was asked as a Senate candidate about his views on same-sex marriages, Pacquiao came under fire for his curt reply. “I’m in favor of gay rights and same sex marriage”.

Animals, he said, were better because they recognise gender differences and “if you have male-to-male or female-to-female (relationships), then people are worse than animals”.

He said “you are supposed to protect your fighter but he knows Manny is on his way out so he wants to separate”.

Billed as his final fight, Pacquiao is going up against American Timothy Bradley.

Can Pacquiao move on from the controversial incident without suffering any more losses?

“You can’t condemn all of sport because of people’s stupid remarks”.

“Some people think they can judge people, like God, just because they’ve attended a prayer meeting and read the Bible”, he said.