Nike has ended its sponsorship agreement with Manny Pacquiao after the boxer and Philippine Senate candidates stated in a television interview that LGBT people are “worse than animals.”
“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.
After initially seeming to double down on his comments, Pacquiao later apologized over social media, clarifying that while he opposed same-sex marriage he was “not condemning LGBT.” He is widely expected to win a senate seat the Phillipines’ May elections, and currently serves as a member of the House of Representatives.