Valentino Martin, the 17-year-old son of singer Ricky Martin, has publicly asked people to stop comparing him to his famous father, saying he wants to be recognized for who he is as an individual.
In a video shared on social media, Valentino said he is hurt by constantly being identified only as the son of the Grammy-winning artist.
“My name is Valentino Martin, not Ricky Martin,” he said. “Please don’t compare me to my father. Every time I see a story about me online, I’m always referred to as Ricky Martin’s son.”
Valentino acknowledged that he understands people will naturally recognize him as the singer’s son, but said he hopes to build his own identity and be appreciated for his own accomplishments.
“If you’re going to follow me, let it be because I’m Valentino. Just because I’m his son doesn’t mean we’re the same person,” he added.
