Eight-time world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao is in hot water for comparing the gays to animals.
The 37-year-old Filipino boxing champ is preparing for life outside of the boxing ring by running for public office as a bible-thumping politician.
In a rare television appearance that aired this week, Pacquiao called the gays “worse than animals.”
“It’s common sense. Do you see animals mating with the same sex? Animals are better because they can distinguish male from female,” he told local broadcaster TV5.
“If men mate with men and women mate with women they are worse than animals,” he added.
The eight-division world champion later took to Instagram.com to apologize for his poor choice of words.
“I’m sorry for hurting people by comparing homosexuals to animals,” he wrote on Instagram.
“Please forgive me for those I’ve hurt. I still stand on my belief that I’m against same-sex marriage because of what the Bible says, but I’m not condemning LGBT. I love you all with the love of the Lord. God Bless you all and I’m praying for you.”
The reactions to Pacquiao’s apology were mixed.
Some sided with Pacquiao, saying he was right to come for the gays. But others strongly disagreed with Pacquiao’s views, saying they would never vote for one so narrow minded.
“The Senate needs experts on politics and law, not blind prophets,” wrote gay comedian Vice Ganda on Instagram.
Singer Aiza Seguerra, who is “married” to her actress-girlfriend, called for a boycott of Pacquiao, whom she called an “ignorant, bigoted hypocrite.”
“You might have done our country proud but with your statement, you just showed the whole country why we shouldn’t vote for you,’ Seguerra said in an Instagram post.
Gay marriage is illegal in the Philippines. Civil gay marriages are performed in local churches but the unions are not recognized by the government there.
