Trainer and sports giant NIKE have pulled their sponsorship of boxing champion Manny Pacquiao after he called gay people “worse than animals”.
In a NIKE statement they said, “We find Manny Pacquiao’s comments abhorrent”, adding, “NIKE strongly opposes discrimination of any kind and has a long history of supporting and standing up for the rights of the LGBT community”.
Manny is currently a member of the house of representatives and, described as a conservative Christian, is running for a Senate seat in the Philippines.
Homosexuality is legal in the Philippines but LGBTI rights are poor. There are no recognitions for same-sex couples and no provisions made for those discriminated against because of their sexuality.