Ricky Martin joins protests against Puerto Rico’s homophobic governor

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An emotional Ricky Martin has thrown his weight behind efforts to force Puerto Rico’s governor to resign over a series of homophobic text messages.

The 900 pages of leaked private messages between Governor Ricardo Rosselló and top aides and cabinet members feature offensive sexist and homophobic comments.

They include crude jokes and insults, such as describing a female politician as a “whore” and targeting Puerto Rico-born star Ricky Martin’s sexuality.

“Nothing says patriarchal oppression like Ricky Martin,” Rosselló wrote. “Ricky Martin is such a male chauvinist that he f—- men because women don’t measure up. Pure patriarchy.”

The text messages, which also include callous jokes about dead victims of Hurricane Maria in 2017, have led to a political crisis and sparked heated protests in the capital and largest city, San Juan.

Angry citizens are demanding that Rosselló resign but while he has apologised he has refused to step down.

In a series of videos posted on Instagram, the openly gay singer called on Puerto Ricans to march against the governor and for the disgraced politician to resign.

Martin said he would join protesters to “walk with my people, with the community… We’re going to let Ricardo Rosselló see that we don’t want him in power.”

“They mocked our dead bodies, they mocked women, they mocked the LGBT community, they made fun of people with physical and mental disabilities, they made fun of obesity,” he said.

A later video showed a visibly angry Martin taking part in the street protests. “We’re tired of the cynicism. It is insane, we are tired, we can’t take it anymore,” he said. “I do live in America but I had to come to Puerto Rico to let the world know that we will make a change.”

 

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