The sexuality of the Puerto Rican singer, who got his start as a child in the teen group Menudo and rose to international fame with hits such as Livin' La Vida Loca, She Bangs and Shake Your Bon Bon, has long been the subject of speculation. Martin never directly addressed it and was usually photographed at events – and in his film clips - with beautiful women on his arm.
In 2000, US television journalist Barbara Walters grilled him about whether he was gay, but he refused to disclose it.
Ricky Martin with his sons Valentino and Matteo who inspired him to come out
With one short statement yesterday, Latin pop star Ricky Martin finally confirmed what has been widely rumoured for years: he is gay.
“I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man,” Martin, 38, said in a blog posting written in both Spanish and English on his website. “I am very blessed to be who I am.”
In his posting yesterday, Martin said a few months ago he had decided to write a memoir and doing so brought him closer to what he called "an amazing turning point in my life."
"Writing this account of my life, I got very close to my truth. And this is something worth celebrating," he wrote.
The singer said one of the reasons why he kept his homosexuality hidden was because he was told by some in his entourage that it would hurt his career.
While his US career peaked after the release of his 1999 self-titled English album, a multiplatinum success that sold over 15 million copies, he is still a hugely successful Latin artist.
“Because all this advice came from people who I love dearly, I decided to move on with my life not sharing with the world my entire truth,” he said. “Allowing myself to be seduced by fear and insecurity became a self-fulfilling prophecy of sabotage. Today I take full responsibility for my decisions and my actions.”
The singer also said his two sons inspired him to come out. Martin is raising Matteo and Valentino, who were born via surrogacy in 2008, on his own at his home in Puerto Rico.
Last December rugby player Gareth Thomas, the former British Lions captain, announced he is gay after years of being tormented by the issue and being anxious about people's reactions.
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