Ricky Martin is a Puerto Rican singer, songwriter, and actor who has been accused of incest and domestic violence in 2022 by his nephew. He is known for his musical versatility, as his discography spans multiple genres, including Latin pop, pop, dance, reggaeton, and salsa. Dubbed the “King of Latin Pop”, the “King of Latin Music”, and the “Latin Pop God”, he is regarded as one of the most influential artists in the world.
Ricky Martin was born in San Juan, he began appearing in television commercials at the age of 9 and began his musical career at age 12, as a member of the Puerto Rican boy band Menudo.
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He started his solo career in 1991 while in Sony Music Mexico, gaining recognition in Latin America with the release of his first two studio albums, Ricky Martin (1991) and Me Amaras (1993), both of which were focused on ballads.
In 2022, Ricky Martin has been accused of incest by his 21-year-old nephew and could face up to 50 years in prison if convicted. The singer, 50, was hit with a restraining order stemming from a domestic violence incident in Puerto Rico earlier this month but the victim’s identity had been withheld until now.
Ricky Martin’s brother, Eric Martin, has since identified the alleged victim as the singer’s nephew, Dennis Yadiel Sanchez, Spanish news outlet Marca reported on Saturday.
The singer is accused of “exercising physical and psychological attacks” on Sanchez during their seven-month relationship, which ended about two months ago. A representative for Martin has previously called the abuse allegations “completely false and fabricated”.
Ricky Martin is expected in Puerto Rican court on July 21, 2022, for his trial. The singer’s accuser filed a restraining order against the singer on July 1 under Puerto Rico’s domestic violence law.
It prohibited Martin from contacting or calling the petitioner who allegedly “fears for his safety”. The order, reviewed by Puerto Rican newspaper El Vocero, says Martin and Sanchez broke up two months ago after dating for seven months.
The 21-year-old is the son of Martin’s stepsister, according to The Latin Post. Sanchez suffers “mental problems”, Eric Martin told The Latin Post, adding he was “very sure that his young relative was not telling the truth”.
Puerto Rican law takes allegations of incest very seriously and if the alleged romance between Ricky Martin and his nephew is confirmed the singer could face up to half a century in prison.
Martin addressed the accusations on Twitter on July 3, 2022, saying: “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 characterize me.
“Because it is an ongoing legal matter, I cannot make detailed statements at this time. I am grateful for the countless messages of solidarity, and I receive them with all my heart.”
Ricky Martin has made no additional statements regarding the allegations. Martin is the most awarded male Latin artist with over 200 awards, including two Grammys, five Latin Grammys, five MTV Video Music Awards and three Billboard Music Awards.