Ricky Martin has said he wants people to accept open relationships as normal and healthy.
The 46-year-old gay icon is currently starring in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, as Versace’s partner Antonio D’Amico.
Versace and D’Amico were together for 15 years, in an open relationship that allowed them to have sex with other people without it damaging them as a couple.
Ricky said he wanted his and Édgar Ramírez’s portrayal on the show to remove some of the misapprehensions people have about open relationships.
The Puerto Rican actor said: “I want to normalise relationships like this,” according to NewNowNext.
“It’s good for the world; it’s good for me as a gay man with kids.
“It’s important that we shed some light on power couples like this.”
Ricky said that a scene in the season’s first episode, in which the FBI interrogates D’Amico about his relationship with Versace, was particularly difficult to film.
“It was a very excruciating scene for me,” said the Livin’ La Vida Loca star.
“I mean, this guy was opening every door that was a secret from Gianni’s and Antonio’s relationship.
“I’m talking about bringing men into our lives. I’m talking about bringing escorts.
“That exposure is very heavy,” Ricky added.
But, he said, “the story, once again, needs to be told, for people to see the level of unity between these two. The level of commitment after 15 years.
“The level of security… and trust between them is so solid.”
The actor enjoyed how the program showed how an open relationship could bring joy to both people.
He said Versace and D’Amico were displayed as “two very self-secure men that are completely in love with each other, that trust each other to the maximum level.”
Ricky married his partner Jwan Yosef earlier this year, in a secret wedding which was only revealed to the public when a reporter questioned Ricky on the red carpet for the TV show.
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The two haven’t spoken publicly about whether they are monogamous or polyamorous.
Last month, Ricky revealed that friends had told him not to reveal his sexuality, for fear that it would destroy his career.
The singer and actor said that it had been a long, excruciating process.
“It took me a while, it took me – look, I was surrounded by friends who were telling me: “Don’t! Don’t come out; that will be the end of your career,'” he said.
Ricky said that they were “people who love me, people who mean well, people who were just victims of homophobia.
“I grew up in this culture which told me that my feelings were horrible, that my feelings were evil.
“And if you add to that the fact that I was like, a heartthrob, a sex symbol…everybody was telling me: ‘It’s going to be the end of your career.'”