Update: 7/21/2022
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Ricky Martin’s 21-year-old nephew Dennis Yadiel Sanchez asked a court in Puerto Rico to have the restraining order and pending court case against his uncle dismissed, following earlier allegations of harassment and abuse the accuser made against the singer.
“Just as we had anticipated, the temporary protection order was not extended by the Court. 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,” said Martin’s attorneys Joaquín Monserrate Matienzo, Carmelo Dávila and Harry Massanet Pastrana in a joint statement. “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.”
In a Twitter post, Ricky Martin posted the statement by his lawyers with the caption,” Truth prevails.”
Update: 7/16/22
Martin’s lawyer Marty Singer responded to the allegations and denied that the singer had any “sexual or romantic” relationship with his nephew.
“Unfortunately, the person who made this claim is struggling with deep mental health challenges,” said Singer in a statement. “Ricky Martin has, of course, never been — and would never be — involved in any kind of sexual or romantic relationship with his nephew.”
Singer continued, “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.”
These new allegations come two weeks after Martin’s former manager, Rebecca Drucker, sued the singer for more than $3 million in unpaid commissions from deals she said she brokered for Martin, including sponsorship deals, touring and recording contracts, and assisting the artist with a number of personal issues, according to court papers. In the lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on June 29, Drucker also claimed to have once “saved” Martin’s career from a “devastating” scandal and went on to say that he has substance abuse issues and fostered a “toxic” work environment.
On July 15, Martin was seen on the set of the upcoming Apple TV+ comedy series Mrs. American Pie, which also stars Carol Burnett, Kristen Wiig, Josh Lucas, Allison Janney, and Leslie Bibb.
Original Post: 7/15/22
Nearly a week after it was revealed that an unidentified man had allegedly filed a domestic violence restraining order against singer Ricky Martin in Puerto Rico, the artist’s brother Eric Martin has revealed that the accuser is the singer’s nephew, Dennis Yadiel Sanchez, according to a report in the Spanish newspaper Marca.
When the complaint was initially filed, the alleged victim’s name was kept anonymous under Law 54, known as the Domestic Abuse Prevention and Intervention Act. Sanchez, 21, said that after he ended the seven-month relationship with his uncle, Martin did not take it well and continued to loiter outside of his home and consistently reach out to him. He added that there was physical and psychological abuse that occurred during their relationship.
On July 2, Sanchez went directly to police seeking a temporary restraining order and was granted one based on the evidence presented. Authorities reportedly visited an upscale neighborhood in the north coastal town of Dorado where the singer lives to try to serve the order, according to police spokesman Axel Valencia. “Up until now,” said Valencia, “police haven’t been able to find him.”
“The allegations against Ricky Martin that lead to a protection order are completely false and fabricated,” said a representative for Martin in a statement. “We are very confident that when the true facts come out in this matter our client Ricky Martin will be fully vindicated.”
On July 4, Martin, 50, took to Twitter to say that the allegations against him were false. “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,” said Martin in his statement. “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.”
Under Puerto Rican law, allegations of incest are taken seriously, and if proven guilty, Martin could face up to 50 years in prison.
A court hearing is reportedly scheduled for both parties on July 21.
(Photo by John Phillips/amfAR/Getty Images for amfAR)
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