HBO has issued a statement denouncing champion boxer Manny Pacquiao as they prepare to air his next bout. Via Outsports:
“Next month Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley Jr. are scheduled to meet in a Pay-Per-View bout,” HBO said in a statement. “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 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.”
Pacquiao earned international headlines last month when he said that gay people are “worse than animals” and posted a bible verse calling for gays to be executed. He is running for a seat in the Philippines Senate.