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Ricky Martin addresses his nephew’s allegations of sexual abuse

Ricky Martin has spoken out for the first time about his nephew’s false sexual abuse allegations.

The singer’s nephew, Dennis Yadiel Sánchez Martin, had claimed the two had a seven-month relationship before filing for a protection order against the star.

Ricky, 52, has always vigorously denied the claims, and the protective order was dismissed after Dennis, now 23, withdrew his request during a court hearing in 2022.

“It’s the worst. The most painful thing I’ve ever experienced,” the Living La Vida Loca singer told GQ magazine. “Thank God it was unfounded.”

At the trial, the judge said: “This was never anything more than a concerned person making false claims for which there was no evidence.”

Dennis is the son of Ricky’s half-sister Vanessa Martin.

In September 2022, Ricky filed a lawsuit against Dennis for $20 million (£15.79 million), accusing him of extortion, malicious prosecution, abuse of rights and damages based on false allegations of sexual abuse.