Ricky Martin has spoken for the first time about the false allegations of sexual abuse by his nephew.
The singer’s nephew, Dennis Yadiel Sánchez Martin, had alleged that the two had a seven-month long relationship before seeking a protective order against the star.
Ricky, 52, always staunchly denied the claims, and the protective order was dismissed after Dennis, now 23, withdrew his request during a court hearing in 2022.
“It’s the worst. The most painful thing I’ve ever experienced,” the Living La Vida Loca singer told GQ magazine. “Thank God it was baseless.”
At the court hearing, the judge said, “This was never anything more than a troubled individual making false allegations with absolutely nothing to substantiate them.”
Dennis is the son of Ricky’s half-sister, Vanessa Martin.
In September 2022, Ricky filed a lawsuit against Dennis for $20 million (£15.79 million), accusing him of extortion, malicious persecution, abuse of law and damages stemming from false allegations of sexual abuse.
