UPDATE 7/21/22
Ricky Martin’s case against his nephew has been dropped after the 21-year-old withdrew his claims of harassment and having a sexual relationship with the singer in a July 21 court appearance. Ricky had appeared virtually in a Puerto Rico court to address the allegations. The judge dismissed the temporary restraining order as well. Taking to his Instagram, Ricky celebrated the news with a post of his legal team’s statement, captioning it “Truth prevails.”
“Just as we had anticipated, the temporary protection order was not extended by the Court,” the statement reads. “The accuser confirmed to the court that his decision to dismiss the matter was his alone, without any outside influence or pressure, and the accuser confirmed he was satisfied with his legal representation in the matter.”
“The request came from the accuser asking to dismiss the case,” the statement continued. “This was never anything more than a troubled individual making false allegations with absolutely nothing to substantiate them. We are glad that our client saw justice done and can now move forward with his life and his career.”
ORIGINAL STORY 7/15/22
The brother of Ricky Martin has come forward to identify Ricky’s accuser and deny the allegations of incest and domestic violence against him. A restraining order was issued in Puerto Rico earlier in July against the “Livin’ La Vida Loca” singer, but the accuser had remained unnamed. Per El Universo, Ricky’s brother Eric Martin reportedly showed up in a Facebook Live video posted to news outlet El Vocero de Puerto Rico on Sunday, June 26. He claimed that the person who filed the order of protection was a nephew who hasn’t been in contact with the family, who has mental health problems.
Ricky’s attorney Marty Singer echoed that sentiment with a statement provided to HollywoodLife on Friday. “Unfortunately, the person who made this claim is struggling with deep mental health challenges. 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. 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,” he told HL.
Eric Martin’s statement spoke to the same concerns. “I don’t put my hand on the hot table for anyone,” he said in the Facebook Live video, as reported by El Universo. “What I’m talking about is my experiences, my family experiences. I don’t think my older brother is capable. Nephew dear. That I’m not going to say the name. If anyone has seen my dear nephew who has been missing from the family for a long time, because they have to know that too (…). This is a message to my dear nephew that I love him in the soul and his family loves him. That he has mental problems that is another 20 pesos, that we have been fighting all our lives with that, but that is not known because he keeps quiet, but I am tired of being quiet,” he said.
According to El Vocero, the order of protection against Ricky stated that he and his accuser were in a seven-month long relationship, and that after a volatile breakup the accuser feared for his safety because of harassment by Ricky. TMZ further reported on Friday, July 15, that the nephew is Dennis Yadiel Sanchez and that the familial ties introduce incest.
Ricky, 50, has categorically denied the allegations. “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,” the singer wrote via Twitter on July 3, before the accuser was identified. “Because it is an ongoing legal matter I cannot make statements at this time. I am grateful for the countless messages of solidarity, and I receive them with all my heart.”