Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao has said he is fine with Nike ending their contract with him after his personal comments about the issue of gay marriage. He apologized for hurting the LGBT community, but said that he favors biblical definition of marriage.
The company's annual endorsement for Pacquiao was around $1 million annually, according to Total Sportek.
"We find Manny 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. We no longer have a relationship with Manny Pacquiao," the company said in a statement.
Pacquiao told USA Today Sports that he accepted Nike's decision.
"Whatever decision Nike makes is its decision and I respect that. Its sponsorship of me now only involves my clothes for my fight. Our contract had already ended aside from sponsoring the boxing."
"I am not condemning the LGBT (community)," he added. "What I am condemning is the act. I'm happier because I'm telling the truth ... It's worse if we will hide the truth. I'm happier that a lot of people were alarmed by the truth."
In an interview with TV5, a local station, he said, "It's common sense. Will you see any animals where male is to male and female is to female? 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."
He apologized on his Facebook page for earlier saying that in approving same-sex marriage, mankind has become worse than animals. But he wrote, "I still stand on my belief that I'm against same-sex marriage because of what the Bible says, but I'm not condemning LGBT. I love you all with the love of the Lord."
Bob Arum, the boxer's long-time promoter defended Pacquiao by noting the context behind his statements, and said that the statement was "inarticulate," and was meant for the Filipino public where homosexuality is not legal.
"Look, there is a portion in the Bible, both in the Old Testament and New Testament, against homosexuality. Modern thinking is that this is prohibition in an ancient time. Many people feel that way. Other people think differently," Arum said.
Pacquiao is currently Congressman in the Philippines, and wants to run for a senator seat in the May 2016 elections. To dedicate himself towards his work in the public office, he will retire from the boxing world after his last April 9 fight with Timothy Bradley Jr.
