Ricky Martin allegedly could be facing 50 years in prison following domestic violence allegations reportedly filed by his 21-year-old nephew.
Earlier in the month, it was revealed that a judge in Puerto Rico has issued a domestic violence-related restraining order against the Latin pop icon.
The victim’s name was not previously disclosed; however, according to Spanish publication Marca, Martin’s brother, Eric Martin, claimed that the victim is 21-year-old Dennis Yadiel Sanchez — the singer’s nephew.
Under Puerto Rico’s laws for incest charges, the sentence Martin could face is 50 years in prison if the allegations are true.
The publication reported the complaint was made anonymously under Law 54, known as the Domestic Abuse Prevention and Intervention Act.
El Vocero, a Puerto Rico newspaper, reported that the order states Martin and the person who filed the complaint dated for seven months. The person reportedly alleged that Martin didn’t take their break up well and has loitered near the petitioner’s home at least three times, according to the report.
Earlier in the month, Martin was slapped with a $3 million lawsuit from his ex-manager, Rebecca Drucker, for unpaid commissions, and the legal documents reportedly allude to a “potentially career-ending allegation.”
“The allegations against Ricky Martin that lead to a protection order are completely false and fabricated,” a representative for Martin told The Post earlier this month. “We are very confident that when the true facts come out in this matter our client Ricky Martin will be fully vindicated.”
After issuing initial denials of the rumored “career-ending allegation” teased by his ex-manager, representatives for Martin have not responded to The Post’s repeated requests for comment on the Puerto Rican reports, subsequent viral Twitter outrage and TMZ breaking the story in the US market. The Post has also reached out to his brother Eric for comment about the controversy.
“The petitioner fears for his safety,” El Vocero quoted the protection order as saying. The order reportedly bars the “Livin’ la Vida Loca” singer from contacting or calling the person who filed it.
Martin — who released a six-song EP, titled “Play,” on Wednesday — denied the allegations in a post to Twitter on July 3, writing: “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.
“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.”
The legal proceedings are set to begin on July 21.
Martin and his husband, Spanish-born artist Jwan Yosef, have been married since 2017.