A judge decided to not extend a temporary restraining order placed against Ricky Martin this month by his nephew after the relative dropped the case.
The nephew “voluntarily desisted” from moving forward in a virtual court hearing and said he no longer needed the protection order, a court spokesperson told NBC News.
Ricky Martin’s Nephew Drops Allegations Of Sexual Relationship With Him
The order, which was set to expire Thursday, was granted July 1 under Puerto Rico’s Domestic Violence Prevention and Intervention Law, also known as Act 54, after the nephew alleged he sustained a romantic relationship with Martin for seven months and now “fears for his safety,” according to documents obtained by Telemundo and shared with NBC News.
The judge made the decision after a court hearing that was not open to the public or the press since cases brought forward under Act 54 are considered civil and confidential to protect the identity of the person coming forward with the allegations.
Martin and his nephew attended the hearing virtually, according to the court spokesperson.
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Martin said he was unable to defend himself over the past few weeks “because I was following a procedure where the law was obligating me not to talk until I was in front of the judge,” the singer said in a video statement to NBC News after the hearing.
However, now that the case is closed, he is speaking out to start his “healing process,” Martin said. “It has been devastating for me, for my family, for my friends. I don’t wish this upon anybody.”
A lawyer for Martin told NBC News on Wednesday that the singer was prepared to “directly address the judge at the hearing” and deny he had any romantic or sexual relationship with his nephew.
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Martin was also going to challenge accusations that he stalked and harassed his nephew, the lawyer said.
In the protection order filed this month, the nephew also accused Martin of calling him frequently and “hanging around his residence on at least 3 occasions” after they “separated 2 months ago.”
“To the person that was claiming this nonsense, I wish him the best and I wish he finds the help, so he can start a new life filled with love and truth and joy, and he doesn’t hurt anybody else,” Martin said.
One of Martin’s attorneys, Marty Singer, previously said that “the person who made this claim is struggling with deep mental health challenges. Ricky Martin has, of course, never been — and would never be — involved in any kind of sexual or romantic relationship with his nephew.”
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