Wonderful Pistachios has signified that it is now distancing itself from boxer Manny Pacquiao following the boxer’s comments that LGBT people are “masahol pa sa hayop (worse than animals).”
Pacquiao was in one of the company’s Get Crackin’ commercials in 2012.
“Wonderful Pistachios is not currently affiliated with Manny Pacquiao nor do his views align with ours,” Wonderful Company spokesman Steven Clark was quoted as saying by The Daily Beast. “Wonderful Pistachios stands firmly for diversity and equality, and we proudly support marriage equality and inclusion around the world.”
The Daily Beast also reported that Nestlé, which had a promotion deal with the boxer in 2015, emailed to clarify that the company “is not a current sponsor of Manny Pacquiao.”
“Nike strongly opposes discrimination of any kind and has a long history of supporting and standing up for the rights of the LGBT community. We no longer have a relationship with Manny Pacquiao,” Nike said in a statement, as reported by ESPN.
On February 15, Pacquiao said in a recorded interview that “common sense lang. Makakita ka ba ng any animals na lalaki sa lalaki o babae sa babae? Mabuti pa yung hayop marunong kumikilala kung lalaki o lalaki, babae o babae. Ngayon, kung lalaki sa lalaki o babae sa babae, mas masahol pa sa hayop ang tao (Roughly: It’s just common sense. Do you see animals where a male pairs with another male, or female with female? Animals are better in that they discern if a male is male, or female is female. Now if it’s a man with another man or a woman with another woman, then a human is worse than animals).”
Pacquiao, 37, is currently a member of the House of Representatives and is running for the country’s senate.
Pacquiao is scheduled to face Timothy Bradley for the third time on April 9. Pacquiao says it will be his final fight so he can concentrate on his political career.
