Ricky, 38, came out of the closet on his blog saying, “I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man. I am very blessed to be who I am.”
Ricky continues, “These years in silence and reflection made me stronger and reminded me that acceptance has to come from within and that this kind of truth gives me the power to conquer emotions I didn’t even know existed.”
FYI: Ricky is the proud father of twin sons, Matteo and Valentino.
Now that you have the facts, which I am sure is old news by now, I just wanted to congratulate Ricky on finally feeling secure enough to share with the world. Not that it is even anyone's business, but I am sure Ricky knew that it wouldn't be that big of shock to everyone.
When asked recently, Barbara Walters admitted in an interview with the Toronto Star that the one thing she regrets about her long career was pushing Ricky to answer questions about his sexuality in an interview she did with him in 2000 saying, "In 2000, I pushed Ricky Martin very hard to admit if he was gay or not, and the way he refused to do it made everyone decide that he was. A lot of people say that destroyed his career, and when I think back on it now I feel it was an inappropriate question."
At the time, I do think that Mama Walters did push just a little bit too hard and it was like she wanted him to basically come out of the closet right then and there. And his answer wasn't one that denied it, so the World believed that Ricky Martin was in fact gay. And it did ruin his career some say, but if he had come out of the closet that night on the Barbara Walters Special would things have been any different? A lot of people believe certain actors and actresses are gay but they still go and see them.
Ricky Martin ruled the radio in his heyday and I really doubt that him coming out of the closet would have done anything for his career. Everything happens for a reason and Ricky had an amazing career when you look at the facts and he is now living an amazing life. I wish him the best and I am very proud of him.
8 comments:
He deserve the personal freedom. Each and every should be allowed to live the life which he/she chose to be happy.
I’ve known Ricky Martin for ages. First time I heard of him was in 1984. His was one of the most memorable voices in Menudo. Really sweet kid. At the time, he was a total rockstar fo me... His solo career never meant as much but I still kept a soft spot for him in my heart. Now what follows will seem like a rant but I might be one of the few Latin Americans (if not the only) commenting on this blog today and we Latin Americans and Ricky Martin go way back so...
Of course I thought he was gay and I disliked the way he tried to hide it. He seemed totally uncomfortable around the issue and you –well, I- think he shouldn’t have been.
I don’t think I ever heard about the Barbara Walters incident. Might have hit the news here back then. But if that was the case, people probably didn’t remember any of it the following day. Not here. Where I live, Ricky Martin is still quite popular. If they announced a gig tomorrow, people would rush to get their tickets. But it’s not the “Living la vida loca” thing that made him famous among us –or in any other part of Latin America. It was the lovesongs. Those he used to sing in Spanish before going global... Lots of guys listen to Ricky Martin here. You get on a bus, specially at night, and it’s not that unlikely the bus driver will be playing Ricky Martin lovesongs.
It’s all entangled, I guess. His insecurities, the bad advice he got: “You can be huge and coming out will ruin it”. That’s what damaged his career. Going so far inside the iron closet he even lost touch with his audience. Pretending you’re living in a party 24/7 while thinking, deep down, that that’s not where you really want to be or that they might throw you out of that party if they really knew you... That’s got to cause some damage.
When I think of Ricky Martin these days, I think of bus drivers... and girls like my neighbour –whom I also know from childhood. In her 30’s now, married, with husband and kids... She plays the same songs bus drivers play. It’s the only music she listens to.
And when I listen to her singing along in her backyard, I don’t think she’s fantasizing about running away with Ricky. I think she feels the same longing he shows in those songs and sharing that feeling makes her feel happier... As if Ricky was a friend of hers and today may be about him just like tomorrow will be about her, you know?
He will never lose those fans. Who are the most valuable if you ask me. Quiet in their devotion. Not there for the parties only and the frenzy, but always there. I don’t know. They might feel a bit awkward today when they push “play” again after the news yesterday. But I bet the feeling will go away quickly and later they will feel closer to him. Like they haven’t felt in a long time.
That’s the best thing about this news. That it gives a lot of people the chance to show (even to themselves) that they are not strangers to be feared or misjudged or resented. That they are –can be- indeed understanding and loving and caring. I would thank anybody that gives me a chance to know myself better or improve even.
And, hey, maybe his best songs are still to come. I would put my money on that, actually.
*Was that unnecessarily long? Hope not*
Would you be interested, GB, in comparing what you believe might happen to you and your career if you were to come out within the next month or so with what might have happened to Ricky Martin had he come out sometime in spring or summer of 2000, around the time of the Barbara Walters interview, when his 1999 ultrasuccess was fading but he still had respectably-charting singles like "She Bangs"? Is it still worth it to you, as it was once apparently worth it to him on some level, to live out a public illusion?
I applaud Ricky for his decision. Not that I ever doubted he was gay. Where there is smoke, there is fire. Good luck to him and his boys!
Maybe he can take up with Keanu.
I have fantastic gaydar. Could pick up the scent of Ricki back in his Menudo days.
Here's what ticks me off.
I'm fine that he may have felt pressured to stay closeted and be vague about answering questions about his sexuality.
What ticks me off is on that VH1 Behind the Music where he parades out that chick (name escapes me) who he claims to have dated on and off (and she's on screen, basically vouching for his straightness).
Now why? Why was this necessary?
^I know, Mary, I know. In some cases, the bearding may work -you know, communicating straightness to the masses. But in Ricky's case, it never did. Although truth be told, he never gave it a serious try either. I never saw many pictures around of him parading with a woman. There was never a big story about him dating anybody, right? Not that I remember at least, but you can correct me if I'm wrong...
same anon
Thought I'd add... there's a difference between singers/musicians and actors. Obvious but... anyway... Just saying it was quite pointless for Ricky to beard. But no so pointless for an actor. Sadly...
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