HBO calls Manny Pacquiao’s anti-gay statements ‘deplorable’

HBO released a statement condemning Manny Pacquiao’s anti-gay comments.

HBO, which will air Manny Pacquiao’s upcoming fight against Timothy Bradley Jr., released a statement Wednesday condemning Pacquiao’s anti-gay comments from last month.

Pacquiao, 37, made the comments while campaigning for the Phillippine Senate, saying same-sex relationships are “worse than animals.” Pacquiao has a history of making anti-gay comments.

“Next month Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley Jr. are scheduled to meet in a Pay-Per-View bout.  We have an obligation to both fighters and, therefore, will proceed to produce and distribute that event,” HBO said in a statement. “However, we felt it important to leave no uncertainty about our position on Mr. Pacquiao's recent comments toward the LGBTQ community. We consider them insensitive, offensive and deplorable. HBO has been a proud home to many LGBTQ stories and couldn't approach this event without clearly voicing our opinion.”

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Pacquiao and Bradley will fight for a third time in Las Vegas on April 9.