Nike has dropped boxer Manny Pacquiao for homophobic comments he made on a video that has since gone viral on social media. Pacquiao called same-sex couples as ‘Worse than animals’.
Nike said in a statement that his comments were abhorrent, and that the US sports equipment giant had severed ties.
“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.”
Nike’s move was welcomed by gay rights campaigners in the Philippines on Thursday.
“Philippine LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) and allied groups plus Nike’s enlightened stand has struck down the fundamentalist posturing of a bigot who wants to be a senator of the land,” said Danton Remoto, head of Ang Ladlad (the Unfurled), a gay rights political party.