Ricky Martin admits he 'internalized homophobia' before coming out in 2010

Ricky Martin is admitting in a new interview that he used to bully people that he knew were gay before he came out in 2010.

Martin, 41, now a father of 5-year-old twins Matteo and Valentino, says he was “very angry, very rebellious” growing up, and was completely in denial of his sexual orientation.

He told GQ Australia’s September issue, "I used to look at gay men and think, I'm not like that, I don't want to be like that, that's not me. I was ashamed. When you're told you're wrong by everyone, from society, from your faith—my self-esteem was crushed. I took my anger out on those around me."

He went on to say, “I look back now and realize I would bully people who I knew were gay," he continues. "I had internalized homophobia. To realize that was confronting to me. I wanted to get away from that."

E! Online reports that when Martin talked to Oprah Winfrey about coming out, he said he had already made peace with it before welcoming his sons. He admits once he had them, he finally felt it was time to “tell the world.”

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