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Ricky Martin, Bad Bunny & More Ask Governor Ricardo Rosselló to Resign After Leaked Correspondence

Ricky Martin and more artists have taken to social media condemning Puerto Rican Governor Ricardo Rosselló and the territory's government.

Ricky MartinBad Bunny, Residente, Kany Garcia and more artists have taken to social media condemning Puerto Rican Governor Ricardo Rosselló and the territory's government.

During the past weekend, a nearly 900-page private group chat between Rosselló and several associates in his executive team was published, generating a wave of protests and doubts about decisions by the government. 

The 889-page document reveals a list of profanity-laced comments in a sexist, misogynistic and homophobic tone at opposition leaders, public figures and journalists, and showcases strategies in efforts to manipulate different situations from late 2018 to January 2019. The leaders were using the messaging app Telegram to correspond.

Among other instances, in one chat, Rosselló refers to the New York Democratic politician Melissa Mark Viverito as a "bitch," while one of his associates pokes fun at Martin’s sexual orientation, saying "Ricky Martin es tan machista que se folla hombres pq las mujeres no dan la talla. Puro patriarcado." (“Nothing says patriarchal oppression like Ricky Martin. He is such a male chauvinist that he f--ks men because women don’t measure up. Pure patriarchy.”)

Governor Roselló has now agreed to a radio interview with the local station Z93 FM, and reaffirmed that he will not resign from the government or the presidency of the Partido Nuevo Progresista (New Progressive Party).

Meanwhile, many artists are sharing their opinions about the matter on social media. Martin tweeted, “Do an act of true generosity, worth and love for Puerto Rico and give your position to another person with the wisdom and leadership to direct your destiny as a people." He added in another tweet, “Precisely because your comments were made in the privacy is shown of what you are made off. It is in the privacy where you live with the truth and integrity that defines us and yours is far from being a vertical and admirable.”

“The message is simple and clear, all Puerto Ricans who have dignity demand Governor Ricardo Rosselló to resign immediately. We don’t want him in the government one more day,” René Pérez (aka Residente), a longtime activist and defender of Puerto Ricans rights, wrote.

“Sad about everything that is happening in my country,” Kany García said. “I can’t remain aloof and silent, because I am part of the suffering of a people who live in uncertainty, who daily question themselves if their retirement plan is going to be affected, that if their school will receive the funds, that if at last the money will arrive to repair the house after a hurricane that happened almost 2 years ago.”

Bad Bunny tweeted, “I believe faithfully in forgiveness, but one thing is to forgive and another is to let ourselves be trampled and cheated again and again!”

See the messages below.

https://twitter.com/sanbenito/status/1150769894402732033?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1150769894402732033&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.billboard.com%2Farticles%2Fcolumns%2Flatin%2F8519837%2Fpuerto-rican-artists-ask-governor-ricardo-rossello-to-resign
https://twitter.com/sanbenito/status/1150771278736953344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1150771278736953344&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.billboard.com%2Farticles%2Fcolumns%2Flatin%2F8519837%2Fpuerto-rican-artists-ask-governor-ricardo-rossello-to-resign