Puerto Rican superstar Ricky Martin has taken legal action against his nephew who accused him of incest and harassment but later withdrew his claims.
On Wednesday, the 50-year-old singer filed a lawsuit against his nephew, Dennis Sánchez Martin, 21, accusing him of extortion.
In court documents, attorneys for Martin said he is “being persecuted, besieged, harassed, stalked and extorted by a maladjusted person” who is seeking to “obtain an economic benefit” or “assassinate (Martin’s) reputation and integrity.”
Martin’s attorneys further wrote in the documents, “The situation has continued despite the defendant voluntarily withdrawing from an action he had commenced against Plaintiff based on falsehoods, during which he admitted under oath that he had never been sexually assaulted by Plaintiff.”
In July, Sánchez made a complaint under Puerto Rico's Law 54, also known as the Domestic Abuse Prevention and Intervention Act, alleging that he and Martin were romantically involved for seven months. Soon, a judge issued a restraining order against Martine.
Those allegations reportedly cost the singer at least $10 million in lost income as a result of cancelled contracts and projects. The singer is now seeking no less than $20 million in damages.
The lawsuit claimed that from October 2021 to January 2022, Sánchez would constantly send up to 10 messages a day to Martin, the majority of them “meaningless diatribes without any particular purpose.”
It also accused Sánchez of publishing Martin’s private number on Instagram, which forced the singer to change his number. Sánchez allegedly also made an Instagram account for one of his children.
Several months then went by without Sánchez sending a message until he requested the protection order in July against Martin, according to the lawsuit.
It also said Sánchez falsely alleged that he had had a romantic relationship with Martin for seven months and that Martin supposedly did not want the relationship to end and kept calling Sánchez frequently. “Nothing further from the truth,” according to the lawsuit.
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Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire
Rahul Bhatt sparks controversy over 'insensitive' remarks about sisters Alia and Pooja Bhatt
Rahul Bhatt, fitness trainer and son of veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, has found himself at the centre of a social media storm following controversial remarks about his half-sister, Alia Bhatt. In a recent interview, Rahul drew comparisons between Alia and their older sister Pooja Bhatt, calling the latter more talented, attractive, and principled.
The comments, which many have labelled inappropriate and insensitive, have sparked widespread criticism online. During the interview, Rahul stated, “In my opinion, she (Alia) is not even half of what my real sister Pooja is. Not in talent, not in looks, not in terms of being sexy. In front of my sister, she is ‘paani kam chai’ (watery tea). Amongst the siblings, the most talented and the most moralistic is Pooja.”
Social media users reacted strongly, questioning why Rahul would compare his sisters in such personal terms. Several users were particularly disturbed by his reference to their appearance and sex appeal, pointing out that such comparisons within a family cross boundaries of propriety. One comment read, “This is disturbing. Why talk about your sisters like that? It’s not just weird, it’s wrong.” Another post said, “There’s nothing respectful about comparing your siblings’ attractiveness in public.”
The backlash also reignited conversation around a decades-old controversy involving Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt. Rahul was asked about the infamous 1990s magazine cover where the father-daughter duo shared a kiss, which had stirred public outrage at the time. Dismissing the criticism, Rahul said, “It doesn’t make any difference. It’s like water off a duck’s back. We know the truth, and we’ve seen everything since childhood.”
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire, with critics saying it reflects a broader issue of the Bhatt family being insensitive to public perception and boundaries. Many users questioned the need for bringing up old incidents in a bid to defend new and equally questionable statements.
As of now, neither Alia Bhatt nor Pooja Bhatt has issued any public response to Rahul’s remarks. Both actors, known for their significant contributions to Indian cinema, have typically kept family matters private despite living in the public eye.
This episode has also sparked debate over the role of public figures in maintaining respect when discussing family matters in the media. Observers say such comments, especially when involving women’s appearance and personal qualities, reinforce problematic attitudes and fuel unnecessary controversies.
While Rahul Bhatt is not as prominent in the entertainment industry as his father or sisters, his comments have made headlines and placed the Bhatt family in the spotlight for reasons beyond their creative work. For many, this serves as a reminder that public platforms come with responsibility, and that family ties should not be trivialised or dissected for attention or comparison.
The backlash is unlikely to subside soon, especially as fans and followers of Alia and Pooja continue to express disappointment over the way the situation has unfolded. Whether or not Rahul chooses to clarify or apologise remains to be seen.