Ricky Martin Defends Obscene Gesture
Ricky Martin has a message for the American commander in chief about war.
At a recent concert, the 35-year-old singer stuck up his middle finger when he sang the president's name in his song "Asignatura Pendiente," which includes the words, "a photo with Bush." The gesture last Friday prompted cheers from thousands of fans in the San Juan stadium.
Martin, like many other artists, has been highly critical of the war in Iraq.
On Thursday, the Puerto Rican heartthrob repeated his criticism of the Iraq war and explained his changed position on Bush.
"My convictions of peace and life go beyond any government and political agenda and as long as I have a voice onstage and offstage, I will always condemn war and those who promulgate it," Martin said about his action in an e-mail statement sent to The Associated Press via a spokesman.
Martin was a headliner at Bush's 2001 inaugural ball, but he did not see it as an endorsement of the president's policies.
Photos: Ricky Martin
"He played the first inaugural at the request at his record label; in fact, there were several Sony acts who performed," a spokesman for Martin told The Showbuzz. "It was in honor of the office of the presidency, and before Bush set his policy and entered into a war."
Through his foundation, Martin has been a leader in the fight against the exploitation of children and is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. Martin was recently honored as the Latin Recording Academy's "Person of the Year" for his humanitarian work.
The Puerto Rico concert marked the launch of Martin's worldwide "Black and White" tour which continues through June. He'll be on the Latin American leg of the tour through the end of March and will hit the U.S. in April.
Best known to international audiences for his smash hit "Livin' la Vida Loca," Martin is a huge star in Puerto Rico, where symbols of national identity such as the Puerto Rican flag and anthem are widely esteemed and residents have complicated feelings about Washington.
The United States seized Puerto Rico in 1898 at the end of the Spanish-American War.
Puerto Rico's 4 million people are U.S. citizens and can be inducted into the military but cannot vote for president and have no voting representation in Congress. They also do not pay federal taxes.