- The Grove mall in Los Angeles bans Manny Pacquiao
- The boxer says the mall is a public place
- He will still go there despite being banned
The Grove, a popular outdoor mall in Los Angeles, California decided to ban Manny Pacquiao more than a month ago after the Filipino boxing icon earned the ire of the LGBT ((lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) community when he said in an interview that same-sex couples are worse than animals. However, Pacquiao isn’t worried about it at all and said he’ll still visit the place.
The “Pambansang Kamao” told TMZ Sports when he was asked for his reaction over being banned from The Grove, that the outdoor mall is a public place and he will still go there.
“I love everyone,” he added.
Pacquiao was reportedly seen around the mall’s premises last March and when he left, the management decided they don’t want him to come back.
The mall’s owner, Rick Caruso said that Pacquiao’s remarks against the LGBT community were statements of hatred.
“A lot of people from the gay community come to The Grove and they have a right not to feel uncomfortable. Manny Pacquiao is no longer welcome,” he emphasized.
This is the second time Pacquiao was banned from The Grove.
Back in 2012 when he also made a statement against same-sex marriage, Caruso posted a statement on Twitter saying Pacquiao is not allowed to come anymore.
According to an article published by Los Angeles Times, the tweet read: “Boxer Manny Pacquiao is not welcome at @TheGroveLA. @TheGroveLA is a gathering place for all Angelenos, not a place for intolerance.”
The ban was reversed later on when they learned that Pacquiao was misquoted that time.
Pacquiao had already apologized for hurting people by comparing homosexuals to animals.
He said: “I’m sorry for everyone who got hurt due to my comparison of gay people (homosexuals) to animals. It was my mistake. Please forgive me for those who I’ve hurt. But this does not change my position against same-sex marriage. That’s what I believe. My only mistake is comparing gay people to animals.”
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