'I'm Gay': Ricky Martin

KOMPAS.com - Ricky Martin is no longer denying the rumours: He has confirmed that he is gay.

In a statement on his website, Martin says: "I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man. I am very blessed to be who I am."

The Livin' La Vida Loca singer's sexuality has been speculated about for years, but he's never directly addressed it and has often been seen with beautiful women.

But the 38-year-old singer says that writing his memoirs helped him realise that he had to be free with himself, and not keep any more secrets. His book hasn't been published yet.

The Puerto Rican wrote about the advice others gave him to hide his sexuality.

"Many people told me: 'Ricky it's not important', 'it's not worth it', 'all the years you've worked and everything you've built will collapse', 'many people in the world are not ready to accept your truth, your reality, your nature'.

"Because all this advice came from people who I love dearly, I decided to move on with my life not sharing with the world my entire truth. Allowing myself to be seduced by fear and insecurity became a self-fulfilling prophecy of sabotage.

"Today I take full responsibility for my decisions and my actions."

The singer, born on December 24, 1971, has been in the public spotlight since the tender age of six, when he starred in commericals in Puerto Rico.

He spent five years singing with teen group Menudo from 1984, before moving to New York and releasing his first album in 1988.