Posted on 05/15/2012 9:13:33 PM PDT by Beaten Valve
Update, 8:30 p.m.: Pacquiao is "not welcome at The Grove and will not be interviewed here now or in the future." Full statement at the bottom.
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Update, 6:50 p.m.: "We're canceling the event," says Grove spokesman Bill Reich. "Manny Pacquiao is not coming to the Grove." And thus the backlash begins.
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Professional boxer Manny Pacquiao and "Extra" host Mario Lopez were blowing up Twitter today about their 3/3:30 p.m. interview at the Grove on Wednesday.
But mall executives tell LA Weekly that the event may be called off.
Pacquiao told the National Conservative Examiner over the weekend that gay men should be "put to death" for their sexual crimes. Yes, he was quoting Leviticus 20:13, but he hasn't backed down from his harsh stance during the negative media storm that has followed. And a post on the boxer's blog says that these are indeed "Manny Pacquiao's official feelings on the subject."
Meanwhile, mayoral candidate Rick Caruso, who owns the Grove, wants nothing to do with the bigotry.
When we called his corporate offices today, Caruso's people hadn't seen the Pacquiao quote. But when we read it back to Galit Shokrian, head of marketing and communications, she said that the Grove likely "wouldn't allow" Pacquiao to be interviewed on premises if he had indeed said such a thing.
Bill Reich, VP of corporate affairs for Caruso (and manager of the Extra account), called us immediately afterward. When we told him what Pacquiao said, Reich replied: "I got to figure this out. That's not good."
There was also some confusion over Extra's official schedule. "We weren't even aware that he's showing up," said Shokrian. Extra's website has Lisa Marie Presley in the 3 p.m. slot.
Although Pacquiao hails from the very religious, conservative Phillipines, he lives and trains in Los Angeles -- an urban, forward-thinking haven for the gay community. For the sports star to announce that he thinks thousands of gay Angelenos should be "put to death" for loving a same-sex partner should hugely alienate him to the locals. Not to mention alienate him politically to President Obama and the United States, whose official gay-marriage stance recently switched to a big fat thumbs up.
One sarcastic Twitter user replied to Mario Lopez: "Since @MannyPacquiao likes to talk politics, might as well ask him why he thinks gay men should be killed."
Rick Jacobs, founder and chair of the Courage Campaign, told LA Weekly earlier today that "American sponsors are going to have to look very carefully about whether they can continue to pour money into his apparently rather empty soul. Not only does [Pacquiao] live in L.A., he makes a lot of money thanks the United States and sponsors here in particular."
We'll post an update as soon as we know the official status of Pacquiao's interview at the Grove tomorrow. Will Caruso take a stand?
If the boxer does show up, we're thinking a mob of TV news cameras and angry LGBT activists may be there to greet him.
Update: According to the Grove's official statement, Pacquiao is also barred from all future interviews at the L.A. mall.
"Based on news reports of statements made by Mr. Pacquiao we have made it be known that he is not welcome at The Grove and will not be interviewed here now or in the future. The Grove is a gathering place for all Angelenos and not a place for intolerance."
That’s funny; a Filipino (American) friend went to Japan on business with some Americans, and the Japanese just assumed he was their driver/porter.
I don’t know they are left-wing, though; they are family- and faith-oriented, which puts them on the right side in many issues.
I don't think so, if for no other reason that the constituents back home won't like it:
“In May 2010, Pacquiao was elected to the House of Representatives in the 15th Congress of the Philippines, representing the province of Sarangani.” (from Wiki)
I know you’re a local Freeper as I’ve read your posts before :) I am even “walking distance” to where he trains, the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood.
Yeah, I know how you feel. Everywhere I drive in my neck of the woods, you can’t miss these sickening billboards about AIDS/HIV testing..even tourists are assuming we’re all trannies and assmunchers in L.A. The only reason why I pass by the Grove is it’s close to CBS TV, where I have some “involvement” (to avoid the DU trolls, less info)
It’s complicated. They are 100% anti-abortion, pro-gun/defense etc, pro-family. Even the thought of seniors homes in North America where you just dump your parents and have them taken cared of by strangers is sickening to them. Yet based solely on what he told me, they’ll vote in majority for Klownie the Kenyan.
I haven’t been there in years, and now I’ll definately keep avoiding the place.
I am actually much closer to the Beverly Center but since they are both within walking distance(Since they are both a few blocks apart from each other) when I go there I just walk home, SO much easier then spending 1.50 for the bus. Been to Hollywood a few times, actually passed by a La Raza on Virgil(Sucks that this city is controlled by them and SEIU)
The only good thing about LA, is that MAYBE just MAYBE the LA Kings will win it all(They won again tonight), and God willing the Lakers somehow get their heads out of their asses and advance to the next round, other then that the local media here is run by liberal freaks who whenever they say Obama’s name they get all giddy
I like Packy even more now!
I like The Gumbo Pot. The beignets are pretty good, too.
I live in Hancock Park- the belly of the beast.
I guess they’re “compassionate conservatives”...
Pacquiao just bought a house there..and got robbed, but miraculously, the cops were there at the right moment. You must have hated it when they hosted a fundraiser there for p-resident Jarjar.
I have never eaten there, but I went to their web site, food looks good, will have to go check it out. The only time Ive ever eaten at Farmers Market is when I had Johnny Rockets, thats about it
Doesn’t our dumb ass of a mayor live in Hancock Park too? I wonder if he’s still banging that news reporter from KTLA LOL.
way to piss off the Filipinos!! they love manny
...and yet, libs defend Sharia law....
Was that him that had his safe broken into? Wondering about that. No one knew who’s house it was. I’ve seen Obama driving down 6th ST. for a fundraiser in 2008. He’s a creepy looking, skinny little fruit.
You live in L.A. without a car ??????
I lived there eight years - you need a car to get to the bathroom. How do you go anywhere?
Manny could have been more discreet by just saying he wanted gays to be given the same treatment as given in the Bible about Sodom and Gomorrah. Of course the biblical history about gay relationships is not appropriate for the likes of many/most Hollywood/TV people and apparently many others like Obama.
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