London : Filipino Boxer Manny Pacquiao has apologized for his recent controversial remark on gay couples, where he described them as `worse than animals`.
Gay marriage is illegal in the Philippines due to strong resistance from the Catholic Church, with 80 per cent of the country’s total population subscribing to the faith.
Issuing apology for his comments, the eight-time world boxing champion wrote on Twitter, “I’m sorry for hurting people by comparing homosexuals to animals. Please forgive me for those I’ve hurt. God Bless!”
The eight-time world boxing champion said that animals are better than homosexuals because they could distinguish between male and female.
It was not the first time when Pacquiao had expressed such shocking views.
In 2012, the 37-year-old said that God only expects man and woman to be legally married, the Mirror reported.
His comments sparked outrage on social media as various celebrities slammed the boxer for his insensitive remark.
Philippines’ most popular gay comedian Vice Ganda slammed Pacquiao on Twitter by posting #PrayForMannyPacquiao to his 6.7 million followers.
Vice said Pacquiao was not a God and that he had no right to judge people.
He further insisted that the Senate does not require blind prophet like the 37-year-old.
Echoing similar views, popular singer Aiza Seguerra, who recently married her actress girlfriend, described Pacquiao as an ‘ignorant, bigoted hypocrite’ and called on the voters to boycott him.
Pacquiao, who will bid adieu to boxing after his last fight against Timothy Bradley in April, will fight for a senate seat in the May elections. (ANI)