Nike cuts ties with Manny Pacquiao after the boxing champ said gay people "are worse than animals."

[ian_1983]

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Nike drops Manny Pacquiao after anti-gay comments

Nike just KO'd its endorsement deal with Manny Pacquiao.
Nike (NKE) made the announcement on Wednesday -- days after Pacquiao made comments about how gay people are "worse than animals."

In a statement, Nike said it found 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," the statement read. "We no longer have a relationship with Manny Pacquiao."
The eight-time world boxing champion made the anti-gay comments while campaigning for a seat in the Philippines senate.
"It's common sense. Will you see any animals where male is to male and female is to female," Pacquiao said during an appearance on the Filipino station TV5. "The animals are better. They know how to distinguish male from female. If we approve [of] male on male, female on female, then man is worse than animals."
Nike has been supportive of gay rights and has promoted a "BeTrue" campaign that features products bearing the rainbow flag.
Related: Bill Cosby, Jared Fogle and other pitchmen gone bad
Pacquiao, 37, seemed to reiterate his sentiments about gay people in social media posts on Monday.
I rather obey the Lord's command than obeying the desires of the flesh. Im not condemning anyone, but I'm just telling...
Posted by Manny Pacquiao on Monday, February 15, 2016
On Tuesday, Pacquiao then returned to social media to apologize for his comments.
"I'm sorry for hurting people by comparing homosexuals to animals," the post read. "Please forgive me for those I've hurt. I still stand on my belief that I'm against same-*** 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."
Related: LeBron James gets lifetime Nike deal
Nike's decision to drop Pacquiao is a bold move from a company that has a mixed track record as far as how it handles athletes who are embroiled in scandal.
Nike famously kept its contract with golfer Tiger Woods after accounts of his infidelity made the news. In 2013, Nike even released an ad campaign featuring Woods' comeback with the slogan: "Winning takes care of everything."
When Michael Vick was convicted of dog fighting in 2007, Nike initially dropped him. But, less than five years later, Nike re-signed him, saying he "acknowledged his past mistakes."
And Kobe Bryant kept his deal with Nike even after he was charged with sexual assault in 2003. The charges were eventually dropped, but Bryant did lose deals with other companies.
But not every athlete was spared.
After allegations surfaced in 2014 that Adrian Peterson had harshly disciplined his 4-year-old, Nike cut him loose.
In 2012, Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong was dropped for his involvement in a doping scandal.
And, Nike distanced itself from longtime Penn State football coach Joe Paterno when it became clear he had concealed evidence of child *** abuse by his assistant coach. Paterno's name was scrubbed from a child development center at Nike headquarters in Oregon.

Nike drops Manny Pacquiao after anti-gay comments - Feb. 17, 2016

[jntio]

kay human na nila na pa himuslan

[<SMILE>]

One should have loads of IQ's to make comments against LGBT's and I could say pacman failed in that department.
His not so intellect comment tarnished his image.

[amingb]

Go go manny, daghan me supporta nimo "the truth will set them free" ...

[Wynna]

Serves him right indeed!

[bleedingboi]

To the LGBT community,



Manny was a bit careless on his choice of words, and his statements were irrational and offensive even to non-LGBTs which he deserves to be reprimanded. But that was his opinion, and his right to express which was granted by this constitution to every citizen of this country.

You pipsqueaks are bashing, pounding, whining on the same idea you guys are fighting for ---> The freedom to express, live and not get discriminated.

Doesn't that make you hypocrites?

[totoybibo]

To the LGBT community,



Manny was a bit careless on his choice of words, and his statements were irrational and offensive even to non-LGBTs. But that was his opinion, and his right to express which was granted by this constitution to every citizen of this country.

You pipsqueaks are bashing, pounding, whining on the same idea you guys are fighting for ---> The freedom to express, live and not get discriminated.

Doesn't that make you hypocrites?

nope it doesn't. saying LGBT's worse than animals is not the making of a public figure let alone a public servant.

[Zeratul_]

no more nike for u manny lol

[ptrdeath]

sakit diay musulti sa tinuod

[Lord_Ac]

This gets funnier everyday.

Come on, I understand Pac doesn't support same-*** marriage. And he IS FREE to believe what he believes. But to PUBLICLY say that the LBGT community is WORSE than ANIMALS? That kind of thinking has NO PLACE in the senate. Believe what you want to believe, Manny. But keep the insults to yourself.

Also before all of this, I wasn't going to vote for Manny since he has ZERO track record. He's a boxer. He should retire a boxer.