- HBO: Pacquiao’s anti-LGBT remarks are insensitive, offensive and deplorable
- Pacquiao respects HBO’s stand
- The network will air Pacquiao’s fight on April 9 against Timothy Bradley
MANILA, Philippines – Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao said he respects the stand of HBO, the premium network that will air his fight on April 9 against Timothy Bradley, on the controversial statement he made against the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) community last February.
Pacquiao told GMA News‘ Mark Zambrano: “Walang problema.” [No problem.]
He emphasized that he doesn’t condemn the LGBTs as people and he believes we should love each other.
Pacquiao earned the ire of the LGBT community for his statement in an interview with Bilang Pilipino, wherein he said same-sex couples are worse than animals.
He said: “Common sense lang. Makakita ka ba ng any animals na lalaki sa lalaki o babae sa babae? Mas mabuti pa yung hayop. Marunong kumikilala, kung lalaki o lalaki, babae babae .”
[It’s just common sense. Do you see animals where the male mates with another male, and the female with another female? The animals are better off because they can distinguish between a male and a female], “
“Ngayon kung lalaki sa lalaki, babae sa babae, mas masahol pa sa hayop ang tao.”
[Now, if we have male on male and female on female relationships, then humans are really worse than animals.]
Here is HBO’s official statement on the issue: “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 (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Queer) 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.”
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