Spanish-language media and bloggers have been in a frenzy over the sexual orientation of Daddy Yankee, the reggaeton king. But is there anything to debate?
The swirling gay rumors reached a crescendo Wednesday after photos of a man resembling Daddy Yankee kissing another man surfaced on the web.
The pics were reprinted by various celebrity gossip outlets.
That set off another round of innuendo and confusion.
According to some accounts, Daddy Yankee released a statement acknowledging that he is gay, and asking the media to respect his and his family’s privacy.
“I am a human being like any other, with virtues and defects, and I don’t believe that this is a defect,” he was quoted as saying in a statement to the press and fans.
But according to other news reports, the 36-year-old singer, born Ramon Ayala, used a press conference to castigate the rumor mill for spreading falsehoods.
“Now, again to you ignorant ones: the Internet is where the lies become truth and truth becomes myth. Wake up, bobo!” Daddy Yankee is also quoted as saying.
Finally, a PR agency identifying itself as Daddy Yankee’s publicist refuted online rumors that the Puerto Rican artist had acknowledged he is gay.
Wednesday afternoon, the offices of Nevarez Communications and Perfect Partners in Florida issued a statement that the reports were completely false:
“Online blogs and social media are once again to blame for the spread of false reports, which other media outlets have also shared regarding a public figure.”
“The reports circulating regarding Daddy Yankee’s declaration of homosexuality are false.”
The reports, his PR company says, “were written by an online outlet known for fabricating false information and spreading it through social media sites.”