The Grove bans Manny Pacquiao after recent anti-gay remarks

(FOX 11) - Manny Pacquiao was banned from the popular Los Angeles shopping center The Grove because of his "statements of hatred" against gay people, TMZ reported.

Pacquiao recently went to The Grove with a 16-person group to see a movie -- which is located 10 minutes away from his gym, according to FOX Sports.

However, his appearance did not go over well with the mall's owner, Rick Caruso, who said he does not want Pacquiao to return due to Pacquiao's recent anti-gay comments.

In February, the Filipino boxer was asked about his stance on gay marriage during a local television interview in the Philippines and said he believed people involved in gay relationships were "worse than animals."

Pacquiao has made anti-gay remarks before, and although he apologized for his statement comparing gay people to animals, he did not back down from his opposition to gay marriage.

Nike dropped its endorsement of Pacquiao after the comments.

"These are statements of hatred," Grove owner Rick Caruso told TMZ this week. "A lot of people from the gay community come to The Grove and they have a right not to feel uncomfortable."

Caruso added that Pacquiao "is no longer welcome."

Pacquiao was originally banned from The Grove in 2012 over an interview in which he reportedly quoted a Bible verse that called for the death penalty for gays.

The Grove later dropped the ban when it learned Manny had been misquoted.

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