Why did Nike drop Pacquiao?

MANILA, Philippines – Reactions flooded social media after Nike announced it would terminate its sponsorship deal with boxer Manny Pacquiao.

He earlier said people in same-sex unions were “mas masahol pa sa hayop” (worse than animals) in a viral video. (READ: Pacquiao: Couples in same-sex unions ‘worse than animals’)

The sports company described Pacquiao’s comments as “abhorrent,” and said they opposed discrimination and stood up for equal rights. They then revealed they were no longer in the business with the boxer turned legislator. 

But why did Nike make this kind of call? 

Nike has been one of the more outspoken companies in promoting the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) community. 

In 2013, they launched their #BeTrue collection, which featured colorful designs, to reflect “both the diversity found within sports and Nike’s support for the LGBT community,” according to their website. The company also donated $200,000 to the LGBT Sports Coalition in the same year. 

Nike’s CEO, Mark Parker, also spoke out in support of the LGBT community after the state of Indiana passed an anti-LGBT law. He told Human Rights Campaign, an LGBT civil rights advocacy group: “Nike proudly stands for inclusion for all. We believe laws should treat people equally and prevent discrimination.” 

Outside their stand on gender rights, Nike has also dropped athletes who were involved in major scandals.

Some of the biggest names were Lance Armstrong who was found to have taken performance-enhancing drugs; Oscar Pistorius, who was charged with murdering his girlfriend; and Ray Rice, the National Football League player who punched his girlfriend. 

Nike and Pacman

On Pacquiao, LGBT and gender rights advocates have pressured them in the past for their sponsorship deal. 

Gay Marriage USA, a group advocating gender rights, started a petition calling on Nike to end its sponsorship deal with Pacquiao. When the petition closed, it nearly gathered 5,000 signatures.

“Nike is a multi-billion dollar industry and LGBT people contribute billions to this company. It is completely unacceptable that such a high-profile company should be sponsoring a boxer who is encouraging violence towards LGBT people,” according to the petition. 

This was over Pacquiao’s reaction over US President Barack Obama’s support for same-sex marriage in 2012. (READ: Gays slam ‘homophobic’ Pacquiao)

He supposedly quoted Leviticus 20:13: “If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.”

Although Granville Ampong, the article’s writer, said Pacquiao did not actually say the quote, the boxer did reiterate his belief that gay marriage is a sin, which was also his position after his latest comments on same-sex unions. (WATCH: Pacquiao apologizes for calling gay couples more disgusting than animals)

Nike has let Pacquiao go after a poor performance in 2012. They then took him back in 2013, after two straight wins. 

Now that they have condemned his words, it remains to be seen if this is really the end of the line for Nike’s relationship with Pacquiao.

What do you think about Pacquiao’s comments? What about Nike’s decision? Write about it on X!– Rappler.com