Ricky Martin joins mass protest against Puerto Rico’s anti-LGBT governor
Ricky Martin rallied against the Puerto Rican governor. (Instagram)
Ricky Martin joined Puerto Rican protestors to demand the resignation of Governor Ricardo Rosselló, who has been accused of degrading women, the LGBT+ community and other disadvantaged groups.
Tens of thousands marched to the Democrat governor’s San Juan residence on Wednesday (July 17), protesting a series of offensive, derogatory messages between him and 11 of his top aides which were leaked on Saturday (July 13).
Martin, who was born in San Juan, told the crowds that he was “tired” of the “corrupt” administration.
“They put down women, they put down the LGBT+ community, people with disabilities,” he said in a video shared to Instagram.
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“Corruption, it is insane. We are tired, we can’t take it anymore.
“I do live in America but I had to come to Puerto Rico let the world know that we will make a change. It’s pretty much barbaric what he’s doing, we’re tired and we’re angry.”
Puerto Rican officials target Ricky Martin in leaked messages
Martin, who came out as gay in 2010, was one of several celebrities and politicians singled out by Rosselló and his aides in the leaked messages.
In one exchange published by CNN, Puerto Rico’s then-chief financial officer Christian Sobrino Vega wrote: “Nothing says patriarchal oppression like Ricky Martin.
“Ricky Martin is such a male chauvinist that he f***s men because women don’t measure up. Pure patriarchy.”
In a separate conversation, Sobrino Vega reportedly said that he was “salivating to shoot” San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz, a frequent critic of Governor Rosselló.
Nothing says patriarchal oppression like Ricky Martin.
“You’d be doing me a grand favour,” the governor responded, according to CNN.
He also is reported to have called her a “tremendous HP,” the Spanish acronym for “son of a b****,” and called two of his critics “c***suckers.”
Puerto Rico governor refuses to resign
Sobrino Vega announced his resignation on Saturday (July 13), along with the US territory’s secretary of state Luis G. Rivera Marín.
Despite admitting that the messages were inappropriate, Rosselló has refused to step down.
Puerto Rico governor Ricardo Rossello is interviewed by a TV channel after a House vote at the Capitol December 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Alex Wong/Getty)
“I’m not proud of what I did,” Rosselló told reporters on Tuesday (July 16), the Guardian reported.
“Those were merely comments—but they were hurtful comments. So, I apologise for what I’ve done but again, I need to move forward and continue on the work we’re doing for Puerto Rico.”
