Ricky Martin makes emotional plea to Ellen DeGeneres over Puerto Rico
Puerto Rican native Ricky Martin has made an emotional plea for help on The Ellen Show.
The popstar told DeGeneres that his brother and father are trapped in Puerto Rico after it was damaged by Hurricane Maria.
Hospitals, roads, airports and other key infrastructure have all been destroyed by the extreme weather conditions.
The Trump administration has denied the island is struggling, despite pleas from residents.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – MAY 09: Ricky Martin during a promotion for his Greatest hits release at Westfield Paramatta on May 9, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Marianna Massey/Getty Images)
Martin pleaded with audience members to donate, saying: “Ladies and gentlemen, I am from Puerto Rico and right now Puerto Rico is suffering.
“We were destroyed by a hurricane and it’s been very difficult right now.
“There is no water, there is no electricity, there is no food. There is no medicine.
“There is no diesel for the generators that will make the hospital work.
“People are dying. So, as a Puerto Rican, as the American that I am, I’m here to ask for your help.”
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He added that the situation was now “very scary.”
Ellen presented him with a cheque for $80,000 from Cheerios, and asked for people to donate what they can.
On Tuesday, Trump repeatedly boasted during a news conference that his team was doing a “great job” and said how “nicely” he had been treated by the island’s governor, who he said had praised the administration’s work.
Despite these claims the island remains in a dire situation, with many asking for more help.
