#I don't think he's slept since October 1983

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Broke: Reviving a dead love triangle 💔 Woke: Reviving a teen monster hunting trio 💕

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Born in Puerto Rico to a Roman Catholic family, Ricky Martin began singing at the age of 6, using a wooden spoon as his “microphone”. By the age of 9 he was auditioning for commercials and in less that 2 years, performed in 11 of them.

At the age of 12 (1983), Martin joined the Puerto Rican Boy Band Menudo. It was famous for its rotating membership - as singers grew older, they were phased out and new younger boys added.

Martin said he enjoyed traveling and performing with Menudo, but the band's strict management was exhausting. Reflecting on it years later, he said the experience "cost" him his childhood.

He next embarked on a solo career. And he pursued acting opportunities. Martin's agent encouraged him try out acting and move to Hollywood. He soon earned a recurring role on the soap opera “General Hospital” where he played a singing bartender. Although Martin has expressed frustration with his experience, it was during this time that he began a relationship with another man. He said he “stopped fearing his sexuality", and came out to his mother, who was supportive.

A more successful acting experience came in 1996 when he was offered a role in “Les Misérables” on Broadway. He played the role of Marius Pontmercy for 11 weeks.

Martin continue to tour and release solo albums. He quickly become a hit in Spanish speaking countries. Martin became one of the best-selling Latin music artists of all time with over 70 million records worldwide. His song "Livin' la Vida Loca" helped him to reach success worldwide including the English-speaking market.

During this time Martin began a 14 year relationship with Mexican model Rebecca de Alba. They talked of marriage and one day having children together but ultimately the relationship was platonic.

His 1999 self-titled album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and sold 661,000 copies in its first week. It became the most successful album debut on the Billboard by a Hispanic artist.

With the success of the album, journalists began describing him as a "Latin Heartthrob". But rumors that Martin might be gay surfaced. In 2000, a British magazine asked to comment. He replied:

"I don't think I should have to tell anyone if I am gay or not, or who I've slept with or not."

The same year, while being interviewed by Barbara Walters, she pressured him to talk about his sexuality. Later Martin said he suffered PTSD as a result of the interview. (Walters has since apologies to Martin).

In 2007, Martin decided to become a father. He arranged for a private surrogate and his sons, Matteo and Valentino, were born in August 2008.

By 2010 Martin felt free enough to come out as Gay. It was a risk as he was the first mainstream Latin music star to come out.

“I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man. I am very blessed to be who I am… these years in silence and reflection made me stronger and reminded me that acceptance has to come from within, and that this kind of truth gives me the power to conquer emotions I didn't even know existed."

Martin has been in several long term partners, including Carlos González Abella (2010 to 2014).

In 2016, he began dating Jwan Yosef, a Syrian-Swedish painter. The two were married January 2018. The couple welcomed their daughter Lucía Martin-Yosef to the family (born in December 2019). The next year son Renn Martin-Yosef was born (October 2019).