Ricky Martin to Testify about Nephew's Romantic Relationship Claims

Ricky Martin was set to appear in court today via Zoom in order to offer testimony rebutting claims by his 21-year-old nephew, Dennis Yadiel Sanchez, that the two of them had a seven-month intimate relationship, and that the 50-year-old recording artist stalked and threatened the younger man when he ended things, NBC News reported.

Martin's testimony was slated to be transmitted to the court "after a Puerto Rico judge granted a restraining order against the singer earlier this month," the article recounted.

An attorney for Martin told the news outlet that the singer "will directly address the judge at the hearing".

NBC added that "Martin will deny he had any romantic or sexual relationship with his nephew and will challenge accusations that he stalked and harassed his nephew."

Sanchez had claimed that he and Martin had "sustained a romantic relationship" for more than half a year. He also claimed that though the alleged affair was over, Martin "does not accept the separation" and that the pop star "calls him frequently," NBC detailed.

Saying he "feared for his safety," Sanchez accused his uncle of "hanging around his residence on at least 3 occasions."

UK newspaper the Daily Mail recalled that attorney Marty Singer, in speaking previously with the press, had called the claims "disgusting" and told the Mail, "Unfortunately, the person who made this claim is struggling with deep mental health challenges."

Added Singer: "Ricky Martin has, of course, never been – and would never be – involved in any kind of sexual or romantic relationship with his nephew."

Sanchez is the son of Martin's half-sister, Vanessa Martin.

The Daily Mail noted that Sanchez has "recently been denounced by a woman after he allegedly harassed her and 'threatened to destroy her life,'" and reported that Martin's brother, Eric Martin, said on a Facebook Live video "that his nephew 'has a mental problem'" and that Sanchez "had hurt other relatives."

Eric Martin "added that the family had been struggling to cope with Sanchez's deteriorating mental health issues but that he was 'tired of being quiet' about them," the Mail went on to say.

The Daily Mail recalled that Ricky Martin posted a message on Twitter earlier this month in which he said, "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."

The article went on to note that "Martin was hit with the restraining order just days after his ex-business manager Rebecca Drucker announced she was suing him for shorting her $3 million for the services she provided," including, Drucker claimed, helping the entertainer handle "an unspecified career-ending allegation" dating from September of 2020.