In a new interview with Attitude, Ricky Martin opens up about how staying closeted in the beginning of his career affected not just on him but the guys he dated.
âI was a closeted gay man who was making my partners hide,â he says. âI had relationships with other men who were in the closet, and I had other relationships with men who were not in the closet, but because of me went back into the closet.â
Sounds stressful.
Related:Â Ricky Martin opens up about open relationships
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
46-year-old Martin adds that it wasnât just his romantic relationships that suffered either. Pretty much all of his relationships were affectedâpersonal and professional.
âI submitted myself to my career completely,â he says.  âI didnât open doors to new relationships, and Iâm not talking about romantic relationships, Iâm talking about any relationship, because I didnât want people to know me too much.â
He continues, âI wouldnât even sit down and have a cool relationship with amazing producers or great film directors because I was afraid that if they spent more than two hours sitting with me they would know my nature.â
Related:Â Ricky Martin is exploring his kinky side, and weâre all for it
Of course, Martin finally came out publicly in 2010, after years of speculation. Looking back, he says he âwasted so much energyâ simply trying to âmanipulate my sexualityâ rather than just be himself.
Comparing it the oppressive atmosphere of homophobia that bubbles not far below the surface in American Crime Story: Versace, he adds, âThe level of injustice that we as a community were dealing with back then was heavy. I played every role before I even started working on this project.â
Juanjo
I do not remember the year but I recall going to Buenos Aires once for work. I stayed at the Hilton downtown in the old port area. It was a relatively new Hilton property. Ricky Martin was staying there and doing some concerts, at Luna Park if I recall correctly. He came back one night late about the same time I did, he had a gentleman with him and let’s just say he was a bit drunk and there was a lot of display of public affection. My now husband, who is an Italian who lived most of his childhood in BA, commented at the time how if we had had a camera with us, we could have retired by selling the photos to the Hispanic press.
Brian
When I was about 16 we went to Hawaii, this was around 1985. When we were leaving, there was a huge mob of teenage girls at the airport. Menudo was on our flight. I knew the name, but that was about it, I really had no idea they were that popular. As they were working their way down the aisle, my mom, ever the classy one yelled “get together for a picture”, and they were nice enough to strike a group pose for a minute.
abel_bonillaayala
And in the process ruin someones life….if it were you, would you be ok / cool someone doing that to you?
Juanjo
Miss Abel – nice bit of drivel. Now go suck a lemon.
girldownunder
Actually glad you can say you didn’t. Great story, btw.
ProfessorMoriarty
Hey, thatâs the Hilton that my partner and I will be staying at in December at the end of our transatlantic cruise. If we see Ricky there will be sure to say hi for you đ
Giuseppe
A journalist friend of mine from Paris interviewed Martin nearly 20yrs ago and told me and my then bf that “Martin is gay 100%”. She had plenty of gay friends and knew within 5 minutes of sitting down with him.
Kangol
I hope he doesn’t feel bad about being in the closet because it was a different time 25-30 years ago, and he was a member of a music group that was very popular with teenage girls, so a façade of heterosexuality was keep to maintaining that support. I also remember people saying that he was probably gay, so I wasn’t surprised when he finally did come out. He’s done so much good just by doing that, and in all the work he’s done as an out gay man.
Kangol
“was key to maintaining that support”
Juanjo
It was the most loosely kept secret ever in the Hispanic community. Especially Puerto Rico. I can still remember a buddy of mine who was from San Juan explaining to a friend in San Francisco how Ricky was gay. It was a different time period and he would have had agents, handlers, music industry execs and everyone else telling him that coming out would destroy his career. Lot’s of money was involved both for him and his family, as well as, the people who worked for him. I understand why he did it.
harryleemartin
I’m so happy Ricky Martin’s out now. Been a fan since he broke out as a single, to which I will add my story. My friend Jeff and his boyfriend at the time went to see Ricky in LA, right after La Vida Loca came out. His boyfriend’s only comment was “No straight man can move his hips like that.” … Thank God. đ
Daniel-Reader
It’s adorable he thinks other people thought he was straight.
chris33133
ooo, snap!
dinard38
Snarky comment, but totally true. LOL!!!
girldownunder
His being out won’t end his female audience– not at ALL. Lol.
I have many friends who’ve said, “so what?”– he’s still hot AF!
đ
crowebobby
I wonder if the Menudo group he was in knew he was gay.
ProfessorMoriarty
How could they not? They practically lived together while they were a band. Teenage boys can be oblivious, but not THAT oblivious.