Pacquiao stands firm after firestorm, apology

IN FULL RETREAT Manny Pacquiao finds himself against the ropes after comparing gays and lesbians to animals. AP

Boxing grreat Manny Pacquiao doubled down on Friday over gay slurs that have tarnished his reputation and could potentially cost him millions in endorsements, insisting God was on his side.

The eight-division world champion smiled and joked through a training session in his hometown of General Santos, then told reporters he had no intention of bowing to his critics.

“What I am saying is right. I mean I am just stating the truth, what the Bible says,” said the 37-year-old Pacquiao, who represents his home province Saranggani in the House of Representatives.

Pacquiao, who converted from Catholicism to an evangelical Protestant faith late in his boxing career, ignited a global controversy this week when he made negative remarks about homosexuals, comparing them to “animals.”

Qualified apology

He also posted an incendiary quote from the Bible on his Instagram account early Thursday. The quote read: “If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable….” The post was quickly deleted, but not before local media outlet ABS-CBN captured and published a screen shot.

Pacquiao issued an apology on social media on Tuesday, shortly after the initial controversy broke.

But Pacquiao, who said he intends to retire after his April fight against American Timothy Bradley to pursue a career in politics, signaled on Friday his apology was qualified.

“I mean, I am just telling what the Bible says. We believe God and then we should honor the word of God.”
He did apologize for making the comparison between gays and animals. But he remained opposed to same-sex marriage.

Pacquiao also said he was unfussed by the controversy, and that it had not affected his training or dampened his morale.

“I’m happy. I’m always happy because God is with me,” he said.

One of Pacquiao’s media handlers told reporters at the training session on Friday that they were not allowed to ask him any questions about the controversy.

However, Pacquiao appeared eager to show he remained firm in his religious convictions, and happily accepted questions on the controversy.

Nike, Pacquiao’s major global sponsor, canceled its endorsement deal with him this week, describing his comments as “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,” the statement said.

Pacquiao, one of the world’s highest-paid athletes for more than a decade, continued to wear his Nike apparel at Friday’s training session.

Many prominent figures in the United States, where same-sex marriage is enshrined in law, also expressed revulsion this week.

Rivals take aim

Jason Collins, the first openly gay athlete in the NBA, dismissed Pacquiao as “bigoted.” “I lost all respect for you,” Collins wrote on Twitter. “Bigoted people like you (and 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,” Mayweather was quoted by TMZ Sports as saying.