Justin Bieber Mocks Manny Pacquiao on Instagram; Phillipines' Government Calls for Apology
Justin Bieber outraged the government of the Philippines over Instagram pictures he posted making fun of Manny Pacquiao.
The 18-year-old Canadian pop sensation posted two altered pictures to his Instagram account on Dec. 9 that show the Philipino boxer in the process of being defeated in the ring.
One of the pictures depicts Pacquiao knocked out on the floor with an image of Simba from "The Lion King" reaching out for the fallen boxer. "Dad wake up," wrote Bieber in the images caption which references the scene from the Disney movie when Simba found his dead father. The picture was taken after Pacquiao was defeated in a match with Juan Manuel Marquez in December.
The other picture shows Pacquiao leaning against the rope in the ring with an image of Michael Jackson leaning in a similar position next to the boxer. Bieber captioned the picture: "Pacquiao doing the lean with MJ .. Classic moment."
Some of Bieber's Instagram followers have commented that the singer has gone too far with the insults. But the biggest backlash came from members of the Philippines Congress who want the singer to apologize for his "distasteful comments ... lest he be declared persona non grata," according to The Huffington Post.
Seven government legislators in the Philippines issued a statement: "Mr. Bieber should have known that the Hon. Pacquiao has reached his stature as such as a result of sheer hard work, determination and firm belief in God, and despite such stature best exemplifies humility and grace even in defeat."
The teen pop singer has gotten involved as a vocal boxing fan with his friendship with Floyd Mayweather.
It doesn't look like Bieber will make any apologies any time soon.
In another post on Instagram, Bieber posted an image showing some of the comments made by his followers in response to his previously posted Pacquiao memes. One comment read: "JB hope you feel proud cause you just lost your fans who like MANNY PACQUIAO but even though you like Mayweather posting these pics are just LOW even for a girl like you."
Bieber responded to the comment: "If they were beliebers I know they wouldn't leave my side over a Boxing opinion I have."
The singer has 30 million followers on Twitter and 4.5 million on Instagram.
