Manny Pacquiao: Nike terminates deal with boxing great

Nike ends endorsement contract with Manny Pacquiao

Nike terminated its endorsement contract with boxer Manny Pacquiao on Wednesday after he made derogatory remarks about same-sex couples.

 "We find Manny Pacquiao's comments abhorrent," the company said in a statement. "Nike strongly opposes discrimination of any kind and has a long history of supporting and standing up for the rights of the LGBT community.

" Based on Pacquiao's comments, a spokesman confirmed that he is no longer on the company's endorsement roster. Pacquiao, 37, had endorsed Nike for a little more than eight years. He made his remarks on a Filipino television station earlier this week. 

"Have you seen any animal having male-to-male or female-to-female relations?" Pacquiao said. "If you have male-to-male or female-to-female [relationships], then people are worse than animals." 

Pacquiao apologized on Twitter within hours. "I'm sorry for hurting people by comparing homosexuals to animals," Pacquiao tweeted.

"Please forgive me for those I hurt. God bless!" In the tweet, Pacquiao had a video message in Filipino wearing a Nike shirt with the special logo the company has for him. read more