The Straits Times, 17 Feb 2016
MANILA • Eight-time world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao yesterday apologised for describing homosexuals as "worse than animals" after his remarks sparked a firestorm of criticism in his native Philippines.
Now in the twilight of his boxing career, the 37-year-old is reinventing himself as a Bible-bearing politician ahead of the country's May elections, when he will run for a Senate seat.
"I'm sorry for comparing homosexuals to animals. Please forgive me for those I've hurt," he said in a video post on Instagram, his arms crossed.
He said he was not condemning homosexuals but was standing by his Christian faith.
In an interview aired this week by local broadcaster TV5 in, he had said: "It's common sense. 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."
Gay marriage is outlawed in the Philippines due to strong opposition from the Catholic Church and 80 per cent of the country's 100 million people subscribe to the Christian faith.
The country's most popular gay comedian, Vice Ganda, posted #PrayForMannyPacquiao to his 6.7 million followers on Twitter as he criticised the boxer.
"Some people think they can judge people like God just because they've attended a prayer meeting and read the Bible," he said. "The Senate needs experts on politics and law, not blind prophets."
Pacquiao gave the TV interview as part of his campaign for one of 12 seats in the nationally-elected Senate. He represents his wife's impoverished home province of Sarangani in the House of Representatives. The most recent surveys suggest he would win despite the fact that he is notorious for his chronic absences, favouring boxing training over legislation.
MANILA • Eight-time world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao yesterday apologised for describing homosexuals as "worse than animals" after his remarks sparked a firestorm of criticism in his native Philippines.
Now in the twilight of his boxing career, the 37-year-old is reinventing himself as a Bible-bearing politician ahead of the country's May elections, when he will run for a Senate seat.
"I'm sorry for comparing homosexuals to animals. Please forgive me for those I've hurt," he said in a video post on Instagram, his arms crossed.
He said he was not condemning homosexuals but was standing by his Christian faith.
In an interview aired this week by local broadcaster TV5 in, he had said: "It's common sense. 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."
Gay marriage is outlawed in the Philippines due to strong opposition from the Catholic Church and 80 per cent of the country's 100 million people subscribe to the Christian faith.
The country's most popular gay comedian, Vice Ganda, posted #PrayForMannyPacquiao to his 6.7 million followers on Twitter as he criticised the boxer.
"Some people think they can judge people like God just because they've attended a prayer meeting and read the Bible," he said. "The Senate needs experts on politics and law, not blind prophets."
Pacquiao gave the TV interview as part of his campaign for one of 12 seats in the nationally-elected Senate. He represents his wife's impoverished home province of Sarangani in the House of Representatives. The most recent surveys suggest he would win despite the fact that he is notorious for his chronic absences, favouring boxing training over legislation.
But before that, he will return to the ring on April 9 in Las Vegas to take on American Timothy Bradley for a third time.
Pacquiao, who has a record of 57-6-2 with 38 knockouts, has not fought since a May 2 unanimous-decision loss to unbeaten Floyd Mayweather last year.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Manny Pacquiao: “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.”
Posted by The Guardian on Tuesday, February 16, 2016
"Do you see animals mating with the same sex? If men mate with men and women mate with women they are worse than animals": Boxing champion Manny Pacquiao under fire for his comments on gay couples.
Posted by Channel NewsAsia on Tuesday, February 16, 2016
Manny Pacquiao has sparked outrage with this.
Posted by GiveMeSport on Wednesday, February 17, 2016
I'm sorry for hurting people by comparing homosexuals to animals. Please forgive me for those I've hurt. I still stand...
Posted by Manny Pacquiao on Tuesday, February 16, 2016
Boxing: Nike drops Pacquiao over homophobic comments
The Straits Times, 19 Feb 2016
LOS ANGELES • US sports equipment giant Nike on Wednesday axed Manny Pacquiao after he described gay couples as "worse than animals", slamming the Filipino boxer's remarks as "abhorrent".
A Nike statement said the company had severed its ties with Pacquiao, who triggered a firestorm of controversy with his comments to a Filipino broadcaster earlier this week.
"We find Manny Pacquiao's comments abhorrent," a Nike statement said. "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."
The Straits Times, 19 Feb 2016
LOS ANGELES • US sports equipment giant Nike on Wednesday axed Manny Pacquiao after he described gay couples as "worse than animals", slamming the Filipino boxer's remarks as "abhorrent".
A Nike statement said the company had severed its ties with Pacquiao, who triggered a firestorm of controversy with his comments to a Filipino broadcaster earlier this week.
"We find Manny Pacquiao's comments abhorrent," a Nike statement said. "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."
The Nike endorsement, whose terms were not disclosed, was Pacquiao's most prominent sponsorship deal. Forbes.com magazine put his earnings for 2015 at US$160 million (S$225 million), including US$12 million from endorsements.
Nike's move was welcomed by gay rights campaigners in the Philippines yesterday.
Devout Christian Pacquiao, 37, who is running for a seat in his country's Senate, had issued an apology soon after the controversy erupted.
Devout Christian Pacquiao, 37, who is running for a seat in his country's Senate, had issued an apology soon after the controversy erupted.
"I'm sorry for comparing homosexuals to animals. Please forgive me for those I've hurt," he said in a video post on Instagram.
The eight-division world champion said he was not condemning homosexuals but was standing by his conservative Christian faith. "I love you all with the love of the Lord. I am praying for you," he added.
Pacquiao told television station TV5 earlier this week: "It's common sense. 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."
His comments were greeted with revulsion in the United States, where same-sex marriage is enshrined in law following a historic Supreme Court ruling.
Jason Collins, the first openly gay athlete in the National Basketball Association, dismissed Pacquiao as "bigoted".
"I lost all respect for you," he wrote on Twitter. "Bigoted people like you (& yes you are one) should never hold an office in politics."
Pacquiao's long-time rival Floyd Mayweather - who outclassed the Filipino in their money-spinning mega-fight last year - also took aim at the remarks.
"We should let people live their lives the way they want to live their lives. To each his own," he told TMZ Sports.
While homosexuality is not criminalised in the Philippines, gay marriage is outlawed due to strong opposition from the Catholic Church and 80 per cent of the country's 100 million people subscribe to the faith.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
"We find Manny Pacquiao's comments abhorrent" - Nike
Posted by BBC News on Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Nike terminates Manny Pacquiao's endorsement deal following his derogatory remarks towards same-sex couples.
Posted by SportsCenter on Wednesday, February 17, 2016
"The statement was not an attack to LGBT community as humans with equal rights, but a conviction of a Christian."
Posted by ABS-CBN News on Saturday, February 20, 2016
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