Pacquiao banned from LA shopping centre over gays ‘worse than animals’ comments
Boxing champ Manny Pacquiao has been banned from a popular LA shopping centre over comments he made comparing gay people to animals.
Eight-time world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao sparked criticism across the world last month, after describing gay couples as “worse than animals”.
“It’s common sense. Do you see animals mating with the same sex?” Pacquiao told local broadcaster TV5.
Despite the controversy, it has been reported that voters in the mainly Catholic Philippines, may still vote for Pacquiao for one of 12 vacant Senatorial seats there.
But he will be said to hear that he has been banned from LA shopping centre The Grove, according to TMZ.
The centre’s owner Rick Caruso, said: “These are 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.”
The boxer had reportedly been seen on the property, but after he left Caruso decided to ban him.
A feud between the two started in 2012, when Pacquiao was apparently misquoted when using bible verse to condemn homosexuality.
Pacquiao has since gone on to say that he was not bothered about the backlash – despite losing millions in sponsorship after being dropped by Nike, which described his views as “abhorrent”.
HBO, which is set to broadcast a fight between the boxer and Timothy Bradley later this year, described the comments as “insensitive, offensive and deplorable”.
One of Pacquiao’s media handlers initially told reporters at that they were not allowed to ask him any questions about the controversy.
However, the sports star appeared eager to show he remained firm in his religious convictions.
And it seems the Filipino electorate are happy too – after it was revealed that the boxer is poised to win one of 12 vacant Senatorial seats in the country’s upcoming elections.
The boxer has recently reinvented himself as a conservative politician – attempting to appeal to the country’s strong Catholic population after years of womanising and hard partying.
Although same-sex sexual activity is not a crime in the Philippines, same-sex marriage is not recognised, and gay couples are unable to adopt.
