Manny Pacquiao’s anti-gay comments have created a firestorm over the past few days, and he has continued to make matters worse. He’s sticking by what he said, and why he said it.
At least we know he’s being honest to himself — rather than publicly apologizing as a PR move while still believing he had been right. So he’s authentically being Pacquiao, and unfortunately, the authentic Pacquiao that we’re hearing from now has terrible things to say about same sex couples.
In the above-linked article, Pacquiao said:
“What I am saying is right. I mean I am just stating the truth, what the Bible says.”
He then backed away just a bit from the comments…
“What I did wrong was just comparing the people to animals, but you know what I am telling is the truth.
“I mean I am just telling what the Bible says. We believe God and then we should honor the word of God.”
That’s in response to his original remarks to TV5 in the Phillipines:
“It’s common sense. Do you see animals mating with the same sex? Animals are better because they can distinguish male from female.
“If men mate with men and women mate with women, they are worse than animals.”
Pacquiao also posted a Biblical passage to his Instagram account, but has since deleted it. It read:
“If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads”.
Keep in mind folks, that’s in the Bible, that’s not Pacquiao’s own creation.
The comments and Pacquiao’s stance sticking with them has cost him his endorsement deal with Nike.
Pacquiao has always been seen as the “good guy” – humble beginnings, friendly and open, ambitious politician helping his community. That was particularly true in the run-up to his fight with Floyd Mayweather. Then it was Mayweather painted as the villain, for various comments over the years, and a checkered legal past including multiple domestic violence issues. While Pacquiao has never been involved with anything like that, the comments here certainly do tinge his reputation.
Mayweather happily took the opportunity to chime in, telling TMZ Sports:
“We should let people live their lives the way they want to live their lives. To each his own.”
To his credit, Bob Arum came out strongly against Pacquiao’s comments. Speaking to RingTV.com, he said:
“I think it’s reprehensible. I’m in favor of same-sex marriage. I’m in favor of gay rights. A lot of my friends are gays, particularly in California and Hollywood, so it’s very offensive to them and that’s what I’m most concerned about.”
“The only way you do damage control is he apologized and we move away from the possibility that anybody would think we or Bradley or anyone connected to the fight believes in what he did say.
“And if [Pacquiao] believes it, it’s unfortunate but that’s his belief. You can’t really affect somebody who is saying things that you don’t believe in but is part of their religious beliefs.”
