Nike terminates deal with Manny Pacquiao after 'abhorrent' comments against homosexuals

Nike has ended its endorsement ties with six-weight world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao after remarking that homosexuals are worse than animals in an interview with Bilang Pilipino, an election show headed by News5.

Nike described Pacquiao's comments as "abhorrent." The famous sportswear brand has a reputation of opposing any kind of discrimination and supporting LGBT rights.

An online petition that has collected more than 3, 000 signatures on Change.org may have influenced Nike's decision. The petition urged the company to stop using the boxer for product endorsements.

Pacquiao, who is a member of the Philippine House of Representatives, and an aspiring senator, said in the 30-second interview that common sense would dictate that male-to-male or female-to-female relations are absurd. He further stated that humans who engage into such relationships are worse than animals.

After his statement triggered a backlash, he expressed in his Instagram post that he would rather obey the Lord's command than give in to the desires of the flesh. He stated further that he did not condemn anybody but was rather following what the Bible has to say.

However, he went on to offer his apologies in a Facebook video. He asked for forgiveness but added that he would still stand on his beliefs against same-sex marriage, based on what the Bible says. Pacquiao has previously made similar comments against gay people but it is this latest remark that drew particularly strong criticism.

Despite his comments, Pacquiao's boxing career is still on track. He is scheduled to a fight with American Timothy Bradley Jr. in Las Vegas this April.

Boxing promoter Frank Warren said that Pacquiao may certainly lose sponsorships, and that fans might have also been put off by what he has said. This, he added, could be a test as to whether people would still want to see him fight.