Update: Ricky Martin to appear in court over incest claims made by nephew, 21, who alleged they had a 7-month relationship
Singer, Ricky Martin is to appear in court to address incest claims made by his 21-year-old nephew who said the pair were intimate.
Martin, 50, will appear today, July 21, on Zoom before a judge in Puerto Rico to deny the allegations that he was in a sexual relationship with his nephew for seven months, according to TMZ.
Unfortunately, the person who made this claim is struggling with deep mental health challenges,’ Martin’s attorney, Marty Singer, previously told DailyMail.com. ‘Ricky Martin has, of course, never been and would never be involved in any kind of sexual or romantic relationship with his nephew.’
‘The idea is not only untrue, it is disgusting,’ he added. ‘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.’
Accuser Dennis Yadiel Sanchez, the son of the pop singer’s half-sister, Vanessa Martin, made the claims against his uncle.
Sanchez had reportedly filed a temporary restraining order against Martin earlier this month to limit the contact with the singer.
According to the order – which was reviewed by El Vocero, a Puerto Rican newspaper – Martin and Sanchez broke up two months ago after dating for seven months.
Martin didn’t have a chance to appear in court on the matter, but the judge will decide on Thursday whether the order needs to be extended.
Sanchez alleged Martin didn’t accept the separation and has been seen loitering near his house on at least three occasions, according to the order reviewed by El Vocero, a Puerto Rican newspaper.
He also alleged Martin had been ‘consuming large amounts of alcohol and drugs.’
The singer’s attorneys have denied the allegations and are preparing their defense against Sanchez, who reportedly was recently been denounced by a woman after he allegedly harassed her and ‘threatened to destroy her life.’
Martin’s legal team told DailyMail.com the accuser is ‘struggling with deep mental health challenges’ and outright dismissed the ‘disgusting’ allegations.
The singers brother, Eric Martin, claimed in a Facebook Live video that his nephew ‘has a mental problem.’
The Latin singer’s older brother said that the 21-year-old, who is now estranged from the family, had hurt other relatives.
He added that the family had been struggling to cope with Sanchez’s deteriorating mental health issues but that he was ‘tired of being quiet’ about them, though he said that he and his family still loved their troubled nephew.
If the alleged romance between Martin and Sanchez is confirmed, the singer could face up to 50 years in prison for incest charges under Puerto Rico law.
Martin addressed the accusations on Twitter on July 3, 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.’
He has not made any additional statements regarding the accusations.
Martin was hit with the restraining order just days after his ex-business manager Rebecca Drucker announced she was suing him for shorting her $3 million for the services she provided.
Drucker said she initially worked for the entertainer between the years of 2014-2018, TMZ reported.
Drucker’s legal team claims Martin ‘completely and maliciously refused to pay Rebecca the millions of dollars in commissions that he owes her,’ Billboard reported, citing court docs in the case filed in Los Angeles Central District Court.
Martin was hit with the restraining order just days after his ex-business manager Rebecca Drucker announced she was suing him for shorting her $3 million for the services she provided.
Drucker said she initially worked for the entertainer between the years of 2014-2018, TMZ reported.
Drucker’s legal team claims Martin ‘completely and maliciously refused to pay Rebecca the millions of dollars in commissions that he owes her,’ Billboard reported, citing court docs in the case filed in Los Angeles Central District Court.
The San Juan, Puerto Rico, native subsequently contacted Drucker in May of 2020 during a timeframe when his ‘personal and professional life [were] in absolute turmoil,’ and she effectively got his career back on track, Drucker alleged.
Drucker said in court docs she provided ‘invaluable services as his manager and top advisor’ in assisting Martin in regards to deals involving recording contracts, tours and sponsorships, assisting him in making millions via a North American tour he was on with Enrique Iglesias last year. The tour grossed $19 million, Billboard reported, citing its 2021 Year-End Boxscore chart.
Drucker also alleged she helped navigate the singer through a potential career crisis in September of 2020 when she linked him with with an effective legal team amid purported threats of ‘an unspecified career-ending allegation.’
The ‘Shake Your Bon-Bon’ singer ’emerged unscathed and proceeded with his professional resurgence’ with Drucker’s help, she told the court.
Drucker also told the court Martin was dishonest and manipulative in his dealing with her, and she resigned from working with him this past April.
She said that Martin had threatened her to not speak about their business together and unsuccessfully asked her to sign a nondisclosure agreement.
Drucker, who wants a trial by jury, is requesting $3 million and punitive damages in her case against the musical artist.
The Puerto Rican singer has been married to Syrian-born Swedish painter, Jwan Yosef, since 2017.
The couple shares four children: 13-year-old twins, Valentino and Matteo, as well as Lucia, three and Renn, also three.
