Ricky Martin — Latin pop icon, Grammy winner, and upcoming star of Apple TV’s Palm Royale — knows firsthand that coming out in 2025 still feels like stepping backward in time. Not in a cute retro way — but in a “why are we still dealing with this?” kind of way. For many queer people, coming out remains a negotiation between fear, safety, timing, and identity.
A Role That Hits Close to Home
In Palm Royale, Martin plays a closeted gay man navigating life in the late 1960s. What should feel like a long-gone era instead feels painfully recognizable. Speaking to USA Today, Martin explained why the character’s journey hits so close to home for queer viewers — even more than half a century later.
“This is a story of a man, a gay man in the late ’60s,” he said, “but unfortunately, we’re dealing with the same fears and the uncertainty and the rejection today.”
The Backlash Against Progress
And he’s right. In a time when queer books are banned, queer teachers are targeted, drag performers are harassed, and LGBTQ+ visibility is twisted into political talking points, the sense of stepping back into the shadows is real. Martin knows it. We know it. The industry knows it — even if it doesn’t always admit it.
Coming Out: A Personal Risk
Martin, who publicly came out in 2010, knows firsthand what those fears cost. Before he did, he was advised repeatedly that being honest about himself would end his career. A Latin heartthrob? A global pop star? “Too risky,” they told him. And more than a decade after his coming out, that same pressure still echoes for queer artists today. Not because we haven’t progressed — but because progress often comes with backlash.
“We can say, yeah, it’s [a problem] in other countries,” Martin told USA Today. “No, here in America, we’re having to hide again. And it’s really sad… It’s crazy that we’re talking about this story of the ’60s, but it’s so relevant.”
Why Martin Chose Palm Royale
That relevance is what drew him to Palm Royale. When the role was offered to him, Martin said his first thought was,
“How are we going to create a social impact and tell the story of Robert, which could be the story of many men nowadays struggling with fear?”
That responsibility — to reflect truthfully, not sensationally — made the project meaningful.
@ricky__martin Is this a dream? . #PalmRoyale November 12th on @Apple TV
Season 1: Drama, Secrets, and Safety
In Season 1, Martin’s character Robert was introduced as the caretaker of Norma (played by Carol Burnett) and a bartender at the glamorous Palm Royale. The finale revealed both shocking twists and emotional depth, culminating in Robert being accidentally shot at a high-society event. Yet despite the chaos of Palm Beach’s elite, Robert found an unexpected sense of peace — a calm that queer viewers recognize instantly. Safety doesn’t always come from the world around you; sometimes it comes from the people who see you without judgment.
But even in that safety, Martin says, Robert still has layers of secrets. “They keep popping up,” he explained. “Very deep, and very heavy.” Because that’s the reality of the closet — even when the door finally cracks open.
A Flashback to 2003: The Pressure of Public Curiosity
To understand why this story resonates, you only need to look back at one infamous moment in 2003: when Access Hollywood’s Billy Bush asked Martin point-blank about his sexuality. In an era obsessed with outing celebrities, it was a moment millions remember — a moment that felt violating then and feels even more uncomfortable now.
RELATED: Ricky Martin Wasn’t Ready. Billy Bush Didn’t Care — Until It Was Too Late
Martin’s distress was immediate. He snapped, furious and cornered, ripping off his mic. But the aftermath is what lingers: Bush apologized sincerely, admitting he had crossed a line. And Martin responded with grace, explaining,
“There will be a time. There will be a place. It will not be here… It is deeply personal to me.”
It would take seven more years — seven years of pressure, silence, and reflection — before Martin shared his truth publicly, writing:
“I am a fortunate homosexual man… acceptance has to come from within.”
Coming Out is a Personal Journey
His story is a reminder that coming out is not entertainment. It’s not a headline. It’s not an obligation. It’s an internal journey that belongs only to the person walking it.
@pophistorybook Ricky Martin, in 2000, appeared in an interview with Barbara Walters at the height of his fame. During their talk, the host asked point blank if the rumors regarding Martin’s sexuality were true, encouraging him multiple times to come out and put the rumors to rest. “When she dropped the question, I felt violated because I was just not ready to come out. I was very afraid,” Martin told PEOPLE. “There’s a little PTSD with that.” #2000s #throwback #rickymartin #barbarawalters #interview #fypp #fyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy #fy #fypage #fyppppppppppppppppppppppp #foryoupage #foryourpage #fyp
Looking Ahead to Palm Royale Season 2
As we look toward the premiere of Palm Royale Season 2 — arriving November 12, 2025, with weekly episodes through January 14 — the show’s queer themes will likely hit even harder. Because while the costumes are vintage, the fear isn’t. And neither is the hope.
A Timeless Message from Ricky Martin
The world may still be catching up, but Ricky Martin’s message is timeless:
Every queer person deserves to come out when they’re ready. Not when someone else decides the moment for them.
REFERENCE: USA Today