Ricky Martin & Ian Thorpe: Did Singer Help Swimmer Announce He Was Gay?
Ian Thorpe announced he was gay recently, and if Australian tabloids are right, then Ricky Martin played a role in it.
In an interview with Michael Parkinson that aired on July 13, Thorpe came out, noted The Independent. Ricky Martin has been asked if he actually influenced Thorpe, but the singer has refused to confirm if the rumors are true.
"I am extremely happy that he is talking about his happiness, and that is where I would like to leave it," Martin said to a Daily Mail reporter.
The singer, who has been working in Australia, did take to social media to show support for Thorpe.
Congrats @IanThorpe! Brave man! Happy for you! Millions appreciate what you've done! Proud of you! #SelfLove
— Ricky Martin (@ricky_martin) July 13, 2014
Thorpe had denied he was gay previously, and the trailer for the interview showed that the swimmer was going to talk about his sexuality.
"I've thought about this for a long time," he said in the interview that aired on Sunday. "I'm not straight. And this is only something that very recently -- in the past two weeks -- I've been comfortable telling the closest people around me exactly that."
It was just two years ago when Thorpe used his autobiography, "This Is Me," to deny being gay.
"I am not gay and all my sexual experiences have been straight," he said in his book. "The thing that I find hurtful about it is that people are questioning my integrity and what I say. That's the only part I find hurtful, that this is something I would be embarrassed about and that I would hide. ... I try to explain it but I don't know either, but I think it's because I don't fit into the stereotype of what a straight athlete would be in the past."
It seems the gold-medal-winning Olympian's revelation has been met with plenty of support.
To Everyone who has sent a message of support I sincerely Thank you! — Ian Thorpe (@IanThorpe) July 13, 2014
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