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Topics: Money, World News, Music
Poppy Bilderbeck
Topics: Money, World News, Music
Singer songwriter Ricky Martin has filed a $20 million lawsuit against his nephew following claims of incest.
In July, Martin's 21-year-old nephew Dennis Yadiel Sanchez was reported as having put a restraining order out on the 'La Copa de la Vida' singer.
The 50-year-old - real name Enrique Martin Morales - was accused of domestic violence and incest - both of which he denied.
Despite the allegations having since been withdrawn by Martin's nephew and officials having confirmed the case had been dropped, Martin filed a $20 million (£17,371,340) lawsuit in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Wednesday 7 September against Sanchez.
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In the lawsuit, Martin describes the accusations made by his nephew as being completely false.
The lawsuit alleges the accusations have caused him to 'have multimillion dollar-contracts and present and future artistic projects cancelled'.
The singer also claims Sanchez has tried to make more money from him by 'harass[ing]' him.
The lawsuit states that Martin, a 'world-famous artist' has been 'persecuted, besieged, harassed, stalked and extorted by a maladjusted person'.
It claims Sanchez's 'interest is to obtain an economic benefit or, in the alternative, will continue his eagerness to assassinate the reputation and integrity of the artist'.
"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," it continues.
Martin claims that a month after the restraining order was dropped, Sanchez sent threatening messages via Instagram, telling the singer he wanted money or he would 'continue with his campaign to assassinate his reputation and integrity, through false and malicious imputations,' as per TMZ.
Martin also alleged his nephew created a fake Instagram 'page' for one of his children and even put his mobile phone number out online.
Sanchez is also accused of having sent Martin as many as 10 messages a day for fourth months prior to filing the restraining order.
The singer viewed such alleged actions 'as an act of retaliation for the silence and lack of attention from Plaintiff'.
The lawsuit states: "The reckless, malicious and culpable actions by defendant Sánchez were motivated by the desire to expose plaintiff to hatred and disdain from his fanbase, to threaten his business opportunities and to destroy his reputation.
"In addition, such culpable actions have also caused damage to plaintiff's reputation, who, until the protective order became public knowledge, enjoyed an impeccable reputation earned through his long artistic and altruistic career for the last almost 40 years of his life."
Martin has resolved that he and his family - his wife, Jwan Yosef and four children, Lucia Martin-Yosef, Valentino Marin-Yosef, Renn Martin-Yosef and Matteo Martin-Yosef - have been left feeling 'unsafe'.
He is seeking $20 million in damages.
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