Twenty-five years after he became a hip-swiveling sensation with his No. 1 smash “Livin’ La Vida Loca” — which translates to “Living the Crazy Life” — Ricky Martin is feeling a different kind of “loca” these days.
Now 52, the Puerto Rican star — who became Latin pop’s hottest sex symbol after he released the first single from his English-language debut, “Ricky Martin,” in March 1999 — has revealed what he’s really wild for: feet.
“I love feet. I have a foot thing,” Martin told GQ in a new profile. “I love foot massages, and I would kiss your feet like crazy for hours.”
And there is no shame in his foot game: “We all have something,” added Martin. “Some have a fetish of armpits … Let’s open up the conversation!”
In fact, Martin’s particular passion is on well-heeled display on his Instagram, with the singer proudly posting his barefoot pics.
And his 18.5 million followers have been seduced by all that toe temptation.
“I have fans that can draw my feet like a piece of art,” said Martin. “They write to me: ‘Ricky, I can recognize your feet a mile away.’ ”
But the “She Bangs” stud is used to making his fans muy caliente.
Reflecting on the “Livin’ La Vida Loca” phenomenon that launched the Latin-pop movement in the US, he said it was all about “the power of the hips, right? Those leather pants, man.
“I was testosteronic, and that triggers fantasies.”
But the former Menudo member was also in the closet, with close friends telling him, “This is the end of your career if you come out,” he said. “I was the man of the moment with my ‘Livin’ La Vida Loca’ and shaking hips. I was expected to be something … I was scared.”
And even after Barbara Walters controversially asked him if he was gay in a 2000 interview, Martin remained in the closet.
“There’s no light in the closet,” he said. “Every time I see an adolescent coming out, I’m like, ‘You’re so lucky, because you don’t have to deal with this ever again.’ ”
And after the birth of twin sons Matteo and Valentino in 2008, Martin embraced his truth, for all the world to know, in a 2010 letter published on his website: “I’m proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man.”
“It felt amazing,” said the now father of four, who co-stars with Kristen Wiig, Laura Dern and Allison Janney in the upcoming Apple TV+ series “Palm Royale,” which premieres March 20.
“Can you come out twice, three times? I wish I had done it before.”
