AceShowbiz - In a recent interview with SiriusXM's 'Andy Cohen Live', Ricky Martin revealed that his decision to come out as gay was heavily influenced by his father, former psychologist Enrique Morales.

Martin admitted that his professional team had initially advised him to keep his sexuality a secret, warning him that it could damage his career. However, his father urged him to embrace honesty for the sake of his children.

Morales emphasized that Martin could not teach his children to lie about his true self. He said, "What are you gonna teach your kids to lie? You gotta be open...You gotta go out...I want to help you."

Martin's mother, Dona Nereida Morales, initially expressed concern about his coming out, fearing for his well-being. However, Martin made sure to inform her of his decision while she was on an airplane on her way to visit him.

Martin made his sexuality public in 2010 through a letter shared on his official website. He described the experience as liberating and expressed gratitude for his father's support.

"I wish I could come out 20 times. It felt amazing. Of course, I started crying like a baby," he recalled.

Prior to his father's encouragement, Martin had come out to his mother at age 18. He shared that it took her some time to fully accept his decision, but she eventually became supportive.

Martin believes that his decision to come out was crucial not only for his personal well-being but also as a spokesperson for the LGBTQ+ community. "I understood before they did how important it is," he said, referring to his former team.

Today, Martin is the father of four children, twin sons Matteo and Valentino, daughter Lucia, and son Renn. He shares these children with his former husband, Jwan Yosef.