Latin music star Ricky Martin has expressed his support for Ian Thorpe but has refused to confirm reports that he mentored the champion swimmer through the process of coming out.
“I am extremely happy that he is talking about his happiness, and that is where I would like to leave it,” Martin said when asked about his relationship with Thorpe while in Melbourne on Wednesday.
Entertainment reporter Peter Ford said on Monday that Martin had been “guiding” Ian Thorpe.
Thorpe came out as gay in a TV interview with the iconic Sir Michael Parkinson on Sunday night.
If there is any celebrity who knows the pressure Thorpe must have felt, it would be Martin, who is currently in Australia for The Voice.
The singer stunned his fans when he told the world he was gay 15 years ago.
However, in an interview earlier this year, Martin said he would come out again if he could.
“It felt amazing,” Martin told Kiis FM.
“I wish I could come out again because that moment felt very blissful.
“It really feels amazing and then when it happens you realise all your fears were in your head,” Martin said in May.
In the tell-all interview with Parkinson, Thorpe spoke of his fears and how he could no longer live a lie.
Thorpe issued a brief message on Twitter after the broadcast: “To everyone who has sent a message of support I sincerely thank you”.
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– AAP
