Lifted na ang ban ng The Grove management sa Filipino boxing champ at Saranggani congressman na si Manny Pacquiao.

Ang The Grove ang isa sa mga favorite shopping places ni Pacquiao sa Los Angeles, Califonia, at dito rin ang taping venue ng Extra, ang entertainment news TV show ni Mario Lopez.

Noong Martes ng gabi, May 15, naglabas ng statement ang The Grove LA sa Twitter account nito na hindi welcome sa nabanggit na lugar si Pacquiao dahil sa mga pahayag daw nito laban sa mga gay na agad namang pinabulaanan ng sikat na Filipino boxer.

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Nakasaad sa tweet ang sumusunod: “Boxer Manny Pacquiao is not welcome @TheGroveLA. @TheGroveLA is a gathering place for all Angelenos, not a place for intolerance."

Headline sa Los Angeles Times ang bagong kontrobersiya na kinasasangkutan ng Filipino boxing champ na mariin na pinabulaanan ang maling akusasyon sa kanya na naging basehan ng The Grove para i-ban siya

Ayon din sa report ng LA Times, hindi na matutuloy ang interview ni Mario Lopez kay Pacquiao dahil sa desisyon ng management ng The Grove.

“Pacquiao was scheduled to do an interview on Extra on Wednesday, which is shot at the outdoor mall in the Fairfax district next to Farmers Market.

“The source said Grove officials feared that allowing Pacquiao’s interview to go forward ultimately could prove disruptive to the Grove and its patrons. The same source stressed that Pacquiao was free to express his views and that the decision to have him interviewed elsewhere “was in everybody’s best interest.”

Pero natuloy ang interview ni Mario Lopez kay Pacquiao at ebidensiya ang litrato na naka-post sa Twitter account ng sikat na American TV host.

Nakalagay rin sa website ng Extra TV ang announcement tungkol sa exclusive interview ni Mario kay Pacquiao na mapapanood sa Huwebes (Friday morning sa Pilipinas).

Sa naturang interview, humingi ng paumanhin si Pacquiao at nilinaw nito na wala siyang sinasabi na dapat patayin ang mga gay.

“I want to clarify that I didn’t say I wanted all gays put to death. The reporter asked me a question. He said, ‘Obama is in favor of legalizing gay marriage and what’s your opinion?’

“He asked me about my opinion and I told him my opinion that I don’t agree, and I’m against same-sex marriage, but I didn’t say that I’m condemning the gays because, you know, I have relatives. I have gay relatives and friends. That’s all I said to the reporter.”

What would the fighter like to say to the gay community now?