Nike Drops Manny Pacquiao After Anti-Gay Comments

Sportswear apparel giant Nike has severed ties with Manny Pacquiao following the boxer’s controversial statements about homosexuality.

Pacquiao became very religious and had some rough years. For years the boxer has commented on religion and homosexuality, but this week it reached a tipping point. In a recent interview, Pacquaio said people in gay relationships are worse than animals.

“It’s just common sense,” Pacquiao said in the remarks posted online by the TV5 network. “Have you seen any animal having male-to-male or female-to-female relations?”

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

He later apologized for including the animal comparison but stood by his feelings on homosexuality.

I’m sorry for hurting people by comparing homosexuals to animals. 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.

He also posted this photo of himself and his wife on Instagram with a message for the “sexually immoral.”

He then went post and delete on Thursday morning, with another photo of him and his wife, this time including a bible verse that says death to homosexuals.via TMZ Sports

Nike released the following statement after dropping Manny for the second time.

“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. We no longer have a relationship with Manny Pacquiao.”