Ricky Martin: I was taught that being gay is ‘evil and ungodly’
Ricky Martin has opened up about why he spent so many years in the closet.
The Livin’ La Vida Loca singer, who has two twin sons born to a surrogate mother, came out in an emotional letter to fans in 2010, after many years of denials and speculation.
Martin, who is now happily engaged to Syrian-born artist Jwan Yosef, reflected on why he spent most of his career in the closet in an interview with CBS Sunday Morning.
He said: “I struggled so much… it was extremely painful.”
Asked why he didn’t come out sooner, the former altar boy added: “I was afraid… I was afraid of rejection, unfortunately.
“For many years, a lot of people told me that my feelings were evil. What you’re feeling is not godly, that I’m not a good person if I’m feeling this.
“No more of that, I’m a good person, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with me. I’ve been the happiest man ever since.”
Asked if Martin’s younger self would be proud of him now, he said: “Now he is proud. He wasn’t that proud a few years ago, but now he is proud.”
Martin added that his sons Matteo and Valentino now drive his life.
The Puerto Rican singer added: “The decisions that I make today, even for my career, are based on the wellbeing of my children.
“Everything changes [when you become a parent]. It’s not about you anymore.
“There’s no more sleeping late. And I’m only starting – I want a big family. I like the noise of children running around the house.
“I want daddy’s little girl next. We are making plans for that – now it’s ‘we’. We are making plans for that.”
Of his life with Mr Yosef, who he met online, he said: “We talked for like six months about art, about life. Nothing sexy.
“Then I saw him, and it was love at first sight. I said, that’s it, it’s him.
“We don’t know the [wedding date] yet, but we’re engaged and having a really good time. Maybe this year… I want a big wedding.”
It was recently announced that Martin will be joining the cast of an upcoming season of American Crime Story, as Gianni Versace’s same-sex partner.
The role will be the first gay acting role for Martin since he came out as gay in real life.
