Vivid details of abuse denounced by ex-members of Ricky Martin’s mates Menuto

A decade later “Menutomania” set off a whole movement Boy band Mostly, why From Ricky Martin, One of its former members, Angelo García, has denounced sexual abuse. In addition to talking about “predators,” he pointed to a man responsible, the band’s manager, Edgardo Díaz, who he accused of exposing him and some of his bandmates to illegal substances.

In an HBO documentary Menuto: Forever young Complaints from former members of the band came to light. His success in the 80s and 90s had a dark shadow. Angelo said they faced sexual assault and other abuse while their cell doors were locked. He joined the band in 1988 at the age of 11. After two years, he decided to leave through an experience he will never forget.

According to Angelo’s account, she was abused for the first time in a hotel room and she did not reveal the identity of the aggressor. Even when this person was a minor, he had alcohol until he passed out.

“When I woke up I was bleeding naked., That’s when I knew they were abusing me. He had carpet burns on his face. I was so confused and didn’t understand it,” he said in the documentary.

Angelo isn’t the only one exposed to abuse. During the documentary, other former members, such as Ralphy Rodríguez and Andy Blázquez, described a nightmare they experienced with the band’s manager, who at age 75 denied the allegations. The group has grown to over 30 members over time, between entrances and exits. One of them is famous singer Ricky Martin.

As the documentary shows Menuto: Forever youngThe The band’s fountain of youth strategy was also controversial: if someone got old enough to notice, they were replaced, That’s why they’ve been so successful over the years. They also alleged that there was no security there Accused producers and promoters exposed them to illegal substances, neglect, exploitation and harassment.

Sergio Blass, who joined Menuto in 1986, said that once they were in Colombia with Ruben Gomez, when they arrived at the hotel and his room, a random man walked in, who took “what must have been illegal substances.” This scared the two youths They never saw the man who was supposed to be one of their promoters.

In total, the group has released 34 studio albums over the years, starred in a miniseries, three different movies, sold out world tours and had huge hits. This phenomenon got its own name: “menutomania”. The idea for this band began in 1979, in the small town of Caguas, Puerto Rico. Edgardo Diaz laid the foundation to create a system of one Boy band It still lives on in memory and is a reference in Hispanic music, while it launched the careers of important figures as soloists in the future.