INQUISITR.COM / Health & Lifestyle

Nike Drops Manny Pacquiao For Homophobic Comments As Boxer Runs For Senate

By Christopher Brown
Published on: 10:11 PST, Feb 17, 2016

Nike has dropped Manny Pacquiao from its label in light of his recent comments today. Nike does so in light of the boxer’s recent comments remarks where he said those in gay relationships “are worse than animals.”

USA Today reports that Nike wasted no time immediately dropping Pacquiao for his homophobic statement and issued a statement of their own as to why they’ve made the decision to drop him.

Nike also notes that they have a storied record for showing their support for the LGBT community.

The Inquisitr posted the video which led to the initial outrage that would subsequently cause Nike to drop his name from their products.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=20&v=GCxzdsNpUJg

“Woman was made for man, man was made for woman. It’s just common sense. Do you see animals engaging in homosexual behavior? Animals are better. They know how to distinguish between male or female. Right? If we approve male on male, female on female, then man is worse than animal.”

Pacquiao has since apologized for his statement, however Nike does not seem to be buying it.

The Inquisitr also reported that he made similar comments in 2012, which got him banned from The Hollywood Mall, where he was scheduled to have an interview with Mario Lopez.

“If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads,” the boxer said four years ago. And in his defense, he added:

“I only gave out my opinion that same sex marriage is against the law of God. I’m not against gay people … I have a relative who is also gay. We can’t help it if they were born that way. What I’m critical of are actions that violate the word of God”

Today, Nike and the public are still not too pleased with his statements also. Many even praised Nike for the drop.

Nike drops Manny at a time where it’ll hit the boxer the hardest. Fans of “Pac Man” will know that the boxer has always discussed going into politics after his boxing career winds down.

And in addition, he’s already been a member of the Philippine House of Representatives, representing the province of Sarangani throughout his career.

However, Christian Today reports that the Filipino sportsman-politician has officially announced that he will put down his boxing gloves for a more prominent role in the political ring last October.

“In the coming days, I will be embracing new levels of responsibility. I will be confronting tough challenges,” he told his constituents in Sarangani.

He expects to duke it out in the senate if he wins a seat in the upcoming election set in May, in the Philippines.

It’s hard to gauge how his disparaging comments towards the LGBT community will affect his poll numbers in the Philippine political circuit, but in the United States he faces nothing but backlash, with Nike being the K.O. in round one.

Besides Nike, Forbes reports that Manny is also endorsed by Foot Locker, Wonderful Pistachios, and Nestle’s Butterfinger in the United States.

It wouldn’t be anything out of the ordinary if these big companies drop him as well, following in Nike’s footsteps. And if fundamental economics have anything to say about Nike’s left hook on Pacquiao — then the prices of his paraphernalia should sky-rocket before fading into the abyss as Nike shoppers are already salvaging his gear.

And you won’t find them on Nike’s website because his product page has been removed already.

[Image via AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File & Shutterstock/August 0802]

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