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."
The intolerant left amazes me
I always liked Manny Pacquiao..I see Extra being taped at The Grove all the time could care less about it, but I see the oh so intolerant left is against anyone who doesn’t agree with their homo loving ways
Got news for ya, Simone.......no, we don’t think gays should be “put to death” by any means, but if you think being against Obambi’s “thumbs up” to gay “marriage” puts this kid squarely against America.........think again, you airheaded wench.
“Pacquiao is “not welcome at The Grove and will not be interviewed here now or in the future.”
For those not from here in faggot L.A., the Grove is an overrated, tourist trap aka it’s a glorified shopping mall. This is like being banned from your local 7-11, and there are countless convenience stores around you.
The moneyed gay mafia will have this guy apologizing by the end of the week.
They want progressive boxers, like those that want to eat your children (Tyson was priceless for entertainment alone).
Filipinos are among the most devout Catholic left (and I’m not Filipino); they still have the fire, probably because they are at open war with Islam in their own country (Mindanao).
Sarah, the left hates ANYONE who goes against them on ANYTHING..........period.
“Pacquiao told the National Conservative Examiner over the weekend that gay men should be “put to death” for their sexual crimes.”
There are too few people like Pacquiao that are willing to speak-up a state what the majority believe.
Of course..that is their mentality, attack and trash anyone who doesn’t agree with their politics. Bristol Palin wrote something on her blog about being against homo marriage and she has received death threats..oh the left, so darn tolerant
I live 10 min from The Grove and agree with you, its basically a huge tourist spot, the movie theater is nice, but other then that not much else to see. The Beverly Center used to be a big hang out spot but but anymore
Any boycott of Pacquiao would fall apart the second he signs to fight Mayweather. The they will be falling over themselves to get in on the action.
[Boxer Manny] Pacquiao rips Obama’s views on gays
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2883822/posts
It’s the same driving distance for us too. My GF and I prefer the Americana or Fashion Island/newport Beach etc. I can go on and on. Sheesh, this is L.A. The fudgepackers can’t ban anyone from entering a mall, and there are tons of malls in the LAC alone.
One of my best buds is a right-wing Filipino, a rarity. I even made a thread about him going ballistic at Union Station when a black woman clerk asked him if he spoke Spanish to assist the mexican lady at the counter who could not speak any English..he just hates it when people think/assume he’s a mexican LOL.
Ahh tolerance.
I believe that Rick Caruso also owns/runs the Americana (if it's the mall in Glendale that you're talking about...)
Its nice meeting someone locally :-) Never been to Fashion Island(I dont have a car so that makes everything difficult) Century City is a nice mall, so is the Westside Pavilion..and your right, the homo lovers can’t ban anyone from going to the mall. I have a new respect for Pacquiao for speaking his mind, about damn time someone say what we have all been thinking
Its hard being a Conservative in LA, everywhere you look you see the hippie freaks driving their Prius’s with their Obama stickers, whenever I see one I want to gag
Yes, right across the Galleria. I actually like the Galleria but it’s like 1980’s in there LOL
I seriously doubt it..he's a Filipino and one of the best fighter's in the world don't think gays have much influence on him or his Filipino sponsors...
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