Nike Inc, the world's largest sportswear maker, said it had ended its contract with Manny Pacquiao after the Filipino boxer described gays as "worse than animals".
- Boxing champ Pacquiao's fall from grace
Nike's decision comes a day after an online petition was launched urging the company to stop Pacquiao endorsing its products. The petition on change.org has garnered more than 3,000 signatures so far.
Pacquiao, revered in the Philippines for winning world boxing titles in eight different weight classes during his 20-year career, suddenly fell from grace after a 30-second interview on local television about same-sex marriage, which he opposes.
"It's just common sense. Do you see any animals of the same sex mating? Animals are better off, they can distinguish between male and female," Pacquiao told TV5 on Monday.
"Now if men are mating with men and women with women, then they are worse than animals," he said.
The 37-year old congressman, among those favoured to win a Senate seat at the May elections based on independent pollsters' surveys, apologised on Tuesday.
"I'm sorry for hurting people by comparing homosexuals to animals. Please forgive me for those I've hurt," Pacquiao said in a video message on his Twitter account. He said he remained against same-sex marriage.
Same-sex marriage is not allowed in the Philippines, where more than 80 percent of the 100 million population is Roman Catholic.
Image: Boxer Manny Pacquiao
Photograph: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
Boxing champ Pacquiao creates a storm, says gays 'worse than animals'!
UEFA Champions League PIX: Wolves overpower nervy Gent
Indian men and women beat Singapore to enter quarters
Champions League PHOTOS: Ronaldo breaks Roma resistance as Real win 2-0
Mother Teresa made a Saint, canonisation to take place in 2016