As you might or might not know, World of Wonder has optioned Victor Gutierrez’ excellent book, Michael Jackson Was My Lover, the well-documented account (a “secret diary”) of Jackson’s relationship with his first known accuser and the accuser’s family who sued Jackson. The Spanish-language version of the book has an extra chapter not appearing in the US version, all about former Menudo star, Ricky Martin, who was then appearing in the soap General Hospital. Here’s a rough-around-the-edges translation of some of that chapter:
Amongst the photographs confiscated by the Police during the raid, the detectives found some of an unidentifiable Hispanic boy. Later they discovered that they were of the singer, and ex-member of the band Menudo, Ricky Martin. Who is now an actor on the North American soap opera “General Hospital”. Even though the Photographs of the now actor were taken from magazines & promotional stills. They sufficiently indicate a liking towards the ex member of Menudo.
In any case, the police knew that the then minor, never reached the point of knowing Jackson. In an interview with Ricky Martin, Martin was asked about the photographs found on Jackson ranch, he was surprised, he had always thought that the king of pop had a platonic liking towards him. ” When Jackson invited the group ‘Menudo’ for some photographs, I wasn’t a member of the group yet, when I did join the group I was fully aware that Jackson liked ‘Menudo’. But I never would have thought that this man would have kept photographs of me when I was a young boy. The Police have never contacted me, because I never knew Jackson.”
The preoccupation of the Police over Ricky Martin was understandable, they knew of incidents involving this now young man of 22. The records show 2 incidents where he was a victim of sexual abuse by famous personalities. The first time Ricky Martin heard the phrase ” Sexual Abuse”, was when he was the new member of the group “Menudo”. The ex-photographer of the group, Bolivar Arellano, accused the Manager of the group, Edgardo Diaz, of being a pedophile. He accused him of sexually abusing various members of the group, one of the them being Ricky. Even though charges were never filed, it was now recognized that there were problems in the group involving sex & drugs. Ricky states that he has never been aware of any such activities and claims, for the record that he no sexual abuse occurred between him & his ex-manager. Regardless, Bolivar Arellano, claims that he has seen Ricky Martin (when he was a young boy) & Diaz in the same bed. Ricky claims this to be the truth, they were in the same bed, but there was no sexual activity involved. ” I don’t know about the other member of the group, he has never made any type of sexual advance towards me, add to that I’ve never seen him make any sexual advance towards the other members of the group either”
The other incident the Police have involving Ricky Martin, is the report that Ricky Martin was the sexual victim of Jose Menendez. Father of the brothers Menendez, who are now on trial for killing their parents. When Ricky was 12 years old, Jose Menedez was the president of RCA, Menudo’s record label.
Even though Ricky finds it hard to remember Jose Menedez, he states that nothing happened between the two of them. ” I was a kid & I met many people, but I really don’t remember this man much” , states Ricky. ” When I saw his photograph in the press that he was murdered, his face looked familiar, and it was my assistant that told me that I knew the guy when he was President of RCA. But to say that I had any type of relationship with this man, and add to that ,any type of abuse, I would remember that, I would definitely remember that, nothing like that ever happened”
In total there a re 3 people the police believe abused Ricky involuntary: Jackson, Jose Menendez & his ex-manager. It’s difficult for Ricky to understand ” I don’t know what it is about me that they involve me in the sexual abuse charges when I was a boy. It’s incredible that I’m involved in these stories, “Menendez & now Jackson”. People sure do have a lot of Imagination” Ricky stated in a surprised manner. Strangely a close friend of Ricky’s who wish to remain anonymous, states that the idea of Jose having a romantic relationship with one of the members of the group Menudo is not new. ” We all knew it & many others new it, the problem was that it was with a minor, it wasn’t Ricky Martin, it was with another member of the group”