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Ricky Martin, known as “The King of Latin Pop,” is facing serious legal troubles. A former coach on both the Australian and Mexican versions of “The Voice,” Martin also is known as “The Seducer,” according to News.com.au. But that moniker seems less playful now that, according to a July 16 Us Weekly report, Martin has been “accused of having a sexual and incestuous relationship with his nephew.” The 50-year-old singer and actor denied all allegations.
It Started With a Restraining Order
According to The Associated Press, a restraining order was issued against Martin on July 1, 2022. A police spokesperson told the AP that the name of the person who filed it was not available because Puerto Rico’s domestic violence law prohibits the public release of restraining orders.
However, the Spanish newspaper Marca reported on July 13 that Martin’s brother Eric named the victim as 21-year-old Dennis Yadiel Sanchez, Ricky Martin’s nephew.
Martin’s representatives told TODAY on Sunday, July 3, “The allegations against Ricky Martin that lead to a protection order are completely false and fabricated. We are very confident that when the true facts come out in this matter our client Ricky Martin will be fully vindicated.”
Martin also posted a statement on Twitter on July 3, writing, “The protection order entered against me is based on completely false allegations, so I will respond through the judicial process with the facts and the dignity that characterizes me. Because it is an ongoing legal matter I cannot make statements at this time. I am grateful for the countless messages of solidarity, and I receive them with all my heart.”
According to the Puerto Rican newspaper El Vocero, the petition for the restraining order indicates “the parties were related for 7 months. They separated 2 months ago, but the petitioner does not accept the separation. He calls him frequently. In addition, the petitioner has seen him hanging around his residence on at least 3 occasions. The petitioner fears for his safety.” The petitioner’s name was not made publicly available in the documents because of privacy laws, according to El Vocero.
The case is scheduled for a hearing on July 21, when the restraining order expires, according to the outlet. The order requires Martin “to refrain from approaching, harassing, intimidating, threatening or in any other way interfering with the petitioning party” and “to refrain from making phone calls and sending text or voice messages to the personal, work, family, or friend phone numbers of the petitioner” as well as email and social media, El Vocero reported.
“If Martin is found guilty on charges of domestic abuse with a relative, he could face up to 50 years in prison,” according to Us Weekly.
Martin Denies All Allegations
Marty Singer, an attorney for Martin, told People, “Ricky Martin has, of course, never been — and would never be — involved in any kind of sexual or romantic relationship with his nephew.” The attorney additionally said, “Unfortunately, the person who made this claim is struggling with deep mental health challenges.”
Singer said, “The idea is not only untrue, it is disgusting. We all hope that this man gets the help he so urgently needs. But, most of all, we look forward to this awful case being dismissed as soon as a judge gets to look at the facts.”
Martin was a coach on “The Voice Australia” for three seasons. When that show wasn’t filming, he appeared as a coach on “La Voz,” the Mexican version of “The Voice,” reported Entertainment Weekly.
His career began to take off at age 12 as a member of the boy band Menudo. His 1999 hit ‘Livin’ la Vida Loca’ was a worldwide hit and “is generally seen as the song that began the Latin pop explosion of 1999 and made the transition easier for other Spanish-speaking artists to move into the English-speaking market,” according to Awards & Winners.
Martin has won numerous awards, including The World Music Award for World’s Best Selling Latin Male Artist in 2001 and the Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year in 2006, the outlet reported.