HBO released a statement on the now infamous Manny Pacquiao comments. And while the network is continuing on with the Timothy Bradley fight and pay-per-view telecast, they don’t exactly seem to love idea, saying they’re still showing the PPV because they have “an obligation to both fighters”.
Here’s the full statement from HBO on Pacquiao’s anti-gay comments:
“Next month Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley Jr. are scheduled to meet in a Pay-Per-View bout. We have an obligation to both fighters and, therefore, will proceed to produce and distribute that event.
“However, we felt it important to leave no uncertainty about our position on Mr. Pacquiao’s recent comments toward the LGBTQ community. We consider them insensitive, offensive and deplorable.
“HBO has been a proud home to many LGBTQ stories and couldn’t approach this event without clearly voicing our opinion.”
Interesting choices of word from the HBO hierarchy. Of course, it’s easy to have tough rhetoric while continuing on with the plan as is to offer Pacquiao a platform to earn tens of millions of dollars, not to mention themselves an opportunity to reap the rewards of plenty of revenue.
