NIKE HAS TERMINATED its contract with eight-time world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao following comments he made about gay couples.
Pacquiao later apologised for describing gay couples as “worse than animals” on local television in the Phillipines.
But the sports manufacturing giant has not accepted the Filipino star’s apology and ended its agreement with the 37-year-old.
“We find Manny Pacquiao’s comments abhorrent,” a Nike statement said.
“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.”
Pacquaio has been a Nike athlete since 2005 and all of his merchandise has already been removed from the company’s website.
The former pound-for-pound best boxer in the world is currently running for a senate seat in the Phillipines. And he has been reinventing himself in recent years as a Bible-bearing politician ahead of the country’s May elections.
