PAC-MAN IN GAY STORM
Boxer apologises for ‘animals’ slur
MAnnY Pacquiao issued a weak apology yesterday after causing a storm by calling homosexuals ‘worse than animals’.
The multiple world champion made the astonishing comments in a television interview in the Philippines, where he is running for a senate seat in the May elections.
The 37-year-old said: ‘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, who lost the richest fight in boxing history to Floyd Mayweather last year, faced a public backlash for the comments.
Filipino gay comedian Vice Ganda tweeted his 6.7million followers: ‘Some people think they can judge people like God just because they’ve attended a prayer meeting and read the Bible. The senate needs experts on politics and law, not blind prophets.’
Born-again Christian Pacquiao has been campaigning on the back of conservative views in his homeland, where same- sex marriage is outlawed due to strong opposition from the Catholic church.
The Pac-Man has generally been seen as a champion for the lower classes, vowing to be ‘the fists for the poor’, although he opposed a bill to give them free condoms.
He apologised for his controversial opinions yesterday, though he reiterated his anti-gay views. He took to his Facebook page to write: ‘ I’m sorry for hurting people by comparing homosexuals to animals. Please forgive me for those I’ve hurt.
‘I still stand on my belief that I’m against same sex marriage because of what the Bible says, but I’m not condemning LGBT.
‘I love you all with the love of the Lord. God bless you all and I’m praying for you.’
The comments follow the furore caused by Tyson Fury, who equated homosexuality and abortion with paedophilia before winning the world heavyweight title last year.
Fury was not punished by the British Boxing Board of Control for his remarks but was reminded of his ‘heavy responsibilities’.
Pacquiao is set to retire from boxing and says his bout against Timothy Bradley on April 9 in Las Vegas will be his last. Whether his comments will have any effect on his career in politics remains to be seen.