After about 10 years with Manny Pacquiao on their payroll, Nike has decided to drop the boxer over remarks he made recently regarding the LGBT community. In a television interview with TV5 earlier this week, Pacquiao — currently running for a seat in the Filipino senate — said that gay couples were “worse than animals.”
That stream of consciousness came when Pacquiao was asked he thoughts on same-sex relationships. Here’s the full quote:
“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.”
Pacquiao later issued an apology, saying he didn’t mean to condemn the LGBT community but that he still doesn’t believe in gay marriage. (That is not a good apology.)
Regardless, the damage was already done. On Wednesday, Nike made the decision to let the boxer go, releasing this statement to break the news.
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.
