RICKY MARTIN SLAMS ‘IGNORANT’ BEAUTY QUEEN

Latino music superstar Ricky Martin has criticised Miss Peru, Cindy Mejia, for claiming that being molested or growing up without a father is what makes kids gay.

In an interview with the Spanish language Peru21, Mejia was asked how she would react to having a child that turned out to be gay.

The beauty queen replied: “In my case, the day that God permits me to have children, it wouldn’t happen because these things happen perhaps because a child grew up without a father or was molested or lived with his mother and sisters became effeminate.”

She went on to say: “I’m not an expert on the subject. The day I have my children I will entrust them to God completely, will raise them with care with a father and mother and support them completely, because there should always be communication.”

Ricky Martin took to Twitter in reaction to the comments, tweeting in Spanish: “What a shame! Such foolish comments. Total ignorance.”

Like many public figures faced with controversy over their comments, Mejia initially claimed that she had been misquoted. When audio of the interview was made public, she then issued an apology.

“Due to my lack of knowledge of this topic, I made an error and it won’t happen again. I apologise if these comments contributed to discrimination or violence against the LGBT community,” said Mejia. “As a representative of Peruvian beauty, I promise to devote myself to fight against homophobia and ‘machismo’.”

When she later learned about Martin’s comments, she in turn tweeted: “Ricky Martin is talking about what I said. I already apologised. Enough.”

Martin, who came out as gay in 2010, is raising two children with his partner Carlos Gonzalez Abell.