Ricky Martin ‘knew he’d marry husband Jwan Yosef the moment he saw him’
The American Crime Story: Versace star opens up about his relationship in our new May issue.
By Will Stroude
Ricky Martin might have dated his husband Jwan Yosef for two years before tying the knot at the end of last year, but the American Crime Story: Versace star says he knew he’d marry the Swedish artist from the moment he met him.
46-year-old Ricky, who revealed in January that he’d wed Syran-born Jwan, 33, in a secret ceremony, says that he hopes making the relationship visible can help improve LGBT+ acceptance around the world after previously forcing his partners to hide from the public gaze during his time in the closet.
In a world-exclusive interview in Attitude’s May Issue – available to download, in shops from now and with a second special cover featuring Kylie Minogue – Ricky opens up about the early days of his relationship with Jwan, who he first met via Instagram.
“I contacted him and we talked for six months. We were just sending messages, talking about life and existential issues,” he recalls. “Nothing sexy, nothing sexual. It’s not that he was sending me sexy pictures and vice versa, I swear…”
The ‘Livin’ La Vida Loca’ singer continues: “But when I first saw him I said, ‘I am marrying this guy’. And apparently he said exactly the same thing. Obviously he only told me this later on, you have to keep it to yourself at first!
“But I lost my breath when I saw him. Six months’ build-up and it was very romantic.”
Ricky adds that he’s proud to allow the media spotlight to shine on his marriage to help normalise LGBT+ relationships for his 9-year-old twin sons, Matteo and Valentino.
“We love it! It’s not even for us; it’s for our kids,” the Puerto Rican pop icon explains.
“It’s for my kids to look at us on that red carpet and say, ‘Ah, those are my daddies, how cool!’ And to boost my children with self-esteem and let them understand how amazing it is to be part of a modern family…
“We know that we carry this flag and if we’re going to carry this flag, let’s sway this flag really loudly. Because at the end of the day, we’re proud of who we are…
“Just being visible is a lot of help. That’s my activism. Every time I post a picture of me and my husband on Instagram, that’s my activism. And we’ll keep fighting.”
Check out Ricky’s full shoot and read his world-exclusive interview in Attitude’s May Issue, which also comes with second cover featuring Kylie Minogue. Buy in print, subscribe or download.
