Today, Ricky Martin announced what many had suspected for years – he is homosexual.
Martin came into the spotlight as a teen when he joined Menudo, a boys band that replaced members when they turned 16, their voice changed, they grew facial hair, or grew too tall – whatever came first.
Martin made a comeback in the early ‘90s with the hit “Livin’ La Vida Loca,” but even then, many question his sexuality, despite a 14 year on-again/off-again relationship with TV host Rebecca de Alba. He avoided the topic, choosing instead to talk about his music rather than his personal life.
In 2000, Barbara Walters pressured him to open up about his sexuality on one of her televised specials. He refused, saying he didn’t feel like confirming or denying the rumors. Walters said last month that she regretted that moment most in her long journalism career. “A lot of people said that destroyed his career, and when I think back on it now I feel it was an inappropriate question,” Walters told the Toronto Star.
Martin decided to make the announcement on his web site. He said, “I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man.” He went on to say he was “very blessed to be who I am.” He said his years of silence had made him stronger and given him “the power to conquer emotions I didn’t even know existed.”
Martin said he didn’t make this announcement earlier because loved ones told him it would ruin his career. He said that fear turned into a “self-fulfilling prophecy of sabotage.”
Another factor in coming out now was the fact that Martin, the father of infant twins from a gestational surrogate, is writing his memoirs. He said writing the book helped him “free myself from things I was carrying within me for a long time.”
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