Television’s ongoing music chronicle Behind the Music continues, this time centering on the gay, heartthrob pop star Ricky Martin. The new episode airs July 29 on Paramount+.
For anyone unfamiliar, Martin had a meteoric rise back in 1999 with a breakout performance of his song “Livin’ Da Vida Loca” on the Grammy Awards. He became an overnight sensation and sex symbol, with the likes of Madonna and Christina Aguilera calling to record with him. Martin looked to a bright future ahead, though questions immediately rose about his sexuality. In 1999, prevailing thought held that if a pop star or sex symbol came out as queer, it would signal the end of his career.
Related: Ricky Martin lost followers after posting these photos and has something to say about it
In this exclusive clip from the show, Martin recalls the intense pressure to keep his personal life a total secret, and the psychological toll that secrecy–along with tabloid scrutiny–took on his mental health. He also remembers the rapture and joy when he finally came out in a blog post in 2010.
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“It felt like high-fiving God,” he sighs.
Since then, we’re happy to report Martin has enjoyed further success on television, recording and as a Broadway performer.
Relive Ricky Martin’s epic story when Behind the Music returns to Paramount+ on July 29. Martin’s episode kicks off a whole new season, which will also see chronicles of Brett Michaels, New Kids on the Block, LL Cool J and Duran Duran.
Cam
Any time there is an article on a celeb coming out the same old right wing troll comes on under multiple screenames to attack the celeb for any other reason they can find.
They hate famous people coming out.
Good for Ricky Martin, glad he’s happy now and he’s setting an example to other celebs that he is happier now that he is out of the closet!
Fahd
He’s a great talent, and I’ve been a fan for years. His book was an interesting read.
dhmonarch89
EVERY story about Ricky these days are about not coming out on Barbara Walters and now coming out on Behind the Music… he’s been re living coming out or not for 20 years…it’s getting to be all he has.
cuteguy
The reason he came out was bc his career was on the downhill and he had nothing to lose at that point. There was no way he was going to come out during his La Vida Loca days bc that would’ve ended his career sooner. It’s not rocket science. He just needs to stop with this spin
Cam
Thank you for confirming that this is another one of the troll screennames. You literally did exactly what I said you would in the first post.
ArentYou Just
“For anyone unfailiar,” Ricky Martn’s “breakout” 1999 Grammy performance was of “The Cup of Life,” not “Livin Da (sic) Vida Loca.”
It would take all of 30 seconds to do research before posting. Are facts completely unimportant in our post-Trump world?