Pacquiao maintained his opinion, but apologized for the way he expressed himself. Photo: Disclosure
Multi-time boxing champion and one of the sport's biggest stars in recent times, Manny Pacquiao was the center of a huge controversy when he made a statement in which he took a stand against same-sex marriage on TV – not so much for the opinion itself, but for the way he expressed his thoughts.
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“It’s common sense. You see animals interacting with others of the same sex. Animals are better than us because they can distinguish between male and female. If men have relationships with men and women with women, then they are worse than animals,” she said to a TV channel in her home country, the Philippines.
The comparison of homosexuals to animals left many fans angry and generated several responses. Among the most incisive in criticizing Pacquiao was the boxer's fellow countryman, the comedian and fellow Filipino Vice Ganda. “Some people think they can judge others like God, just because they go to Mass and read the Bible. The Senate needs 'experts' in politics and law, not blind prophets”, countered the actor, openly homosexual, in reference to Pacquiao's candidacy for the post of senator in the Philippines.
The repercussion was such, and so negative, that Pacquiao released a video recanting and apologizing for the way he expressed himself. “I'm sorry for hurting people by comparing them to animals. Please forgive those who were offended. I remain firm in my belief that I am against homosexual marriage because of what the Bible says, but I am not condemning LGBTs. I love everyone with the love of God. God bless, I’m praying for you,” he concluded.
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