Well, Nike Just Did It—dropped wannabe senator Manny Pacquiao like a hot potato following the latter’s tactless comments, calling LGBTQ people “worse than animals” for their sexual preferences. It would have sufficed for Pacquiao to air his opinion regarding same sex-marriage and gay relationships but was there a call for him to be insulting and appear high and mighty? Like, hello, cast the first stone, will you?
Nike said it found Manny Pacquiao’s comments “abhorrent” in light of the brand’s known support for the gay community. We won’t be surprised if Nike finds its share prices going up given the approval from Netizens and the LGBTQ community after the American company announced that it was cutting ties with the boxing champ.
We’re not sure though if the #droppacman petition will gain traction among Filipino voters who, according to recent surveys, has Pacquiao in their list of 12 (senatorial candidates they will vote for), with the Sarangani Congressman currently at the Number 8 spot. As a congressman, Manny has gained notoriety for his absence, only showing up four times in Congress. But who knows, maybe as a senator, his performance will level up and maybe his attendance sheet will show a total of six—or a 50-percent improvement over his record in Congress.
Given the fanaticism that some people have, it’s not unlikely that some Pacman supporters would also start their own online petition to Boycott Nike for dropping their idol. (Shades of celebrity chef Laura Deen, who was dropped by Food Network, Walmart, Novo Nordisk etc. which also found themselves at the receiving end of a boycott movement from Deen’s followers.) As Forrest Gump famously said, “Stupid is as stupid does.”
But if it were left to Walden Bello, the former Akbayan Party List congressman (who resigned in disgust because of the chummy-chummy kind of leadership shown by President BS Aquino that Bello’s erstwhile party mates didn’t seem to mind) who is also running for the Senate this May, Pacquaio should be dropped from the list of senatoriables should the boxer continue with his bout with Bradley in April – a full month before the May 9 elections.
According to Bello, Pacquiao’s bout is tantamount to advertising which would give him undue advantage over the other candidates because of the media mileage. Invoking the Commission on Elections’ 2013 Resolution 9615, Bello explained that political ads also come in the form of spots and appearances on TV shows and radio programs and for sure, the fight with Bradley will be carried by at least one major network and radio station. Comelec’s Resolution 10049’s implementing rules for the 2016 elections also provide the same definition of what constitutes political advertisements.
Pacquiao of all people should understand and espouse the concept of fair play and sportsmanship, Bello commented, reiterating that no one should be allowed to have undue advantage over others.
We are not also sure if Pacquiao is aware of the dissonant message that he is giving people—spewing Bible passages and talking about Christianity and love for fellowmen yet he does not seem to see anything wrong with the sport he continues to engage in —for megabucks naturally. It is rather discomfiting to see him in his boxing trunks, ready to smash his opponent’s face to pieces but wait—can we pray first? For what – that God would give him the punching power to pound his opponent to submission? Lucky for Pacquiao no one has gone under in all those fights he had. But then again, isn’t it all about the money?
We wonder though if, after this “animalistic” flak, Pacquiao would get the same number of endorsements for his last (really?) fight, or if people will knock themselves over trying to get a ringside ticket. Bradley, did you say? Ho-hum…
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