Ricky Martin has become a symbol of empowerment for many in the LGBTQ+ community, but years before he publicly came out in 2010, the pop icon had a tense and emotional moment on set—thanks to an intrusive interview by Billy Bush.
In a story recently retold by Bush on Rob Lowe’s podcast Literally!, the former Access Hollywood reporter recalled a painful encounter from the early 2000s, when he nearly outed Martin during an interview.
Billy, then a rising TV personality and cousin of U.S. President George W. Bush, recounted how, the night before filming, he asked a group of women in a hotel bar what they wanted to know about Ricky.
They all responded: “Is he gay?”
Feeling pressure to chase a sensational headline, Billy floated the question to Ricky the next day during their interview—resulting in an explosive reaction.
According to Bush, Ricky lashed out with fury, tore off his microphone, called him a “motherf***er,” and stormed off the set.
Ricky later explained that he had long struggled with his sexuality and didn’t feel ready to talk about it—especially while promoting an album.
“There will be a time and a place,” Ricky told Billy after a private apology. “It will not be here on this program.”
In the emotional exchange, Ricky expressed how deeply personal the subject was and how painful the pressure to answer it in public had been.
Backlash against Billy was swift, with producers calling him minutes after the blow-up and social media users criticizing him harshly for his lack of sensitivity.
Some critics also referenced Bush’s past controversy involving Donald Trump, accusing him of a pattern of disrespectful behavior.
Despite the heated confrontation, Ricky and Billy managed to reconcile over time.
Billy issued a heartfelt apology on the podcast, calling the question “a cowboy move” and promising Ricky the footage would never see the light of day.
“I let my ambition overshadow my sensitivity,” he later admitted on air. “I went for the big question. I didn’t realize it would come at the expense of Ricky’s deepest feelings.”
Ricky, for his part, graciously accepted the apology and reflected on the difficulty of being asked about his sexuality before he was ready.
He later came out as a “fortunate homosexual man” in 2010 and has since become a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights.
The incident remains a lesson in boundaries and respect for personal journeys—even for those in the public eye.
Thankfully, the two appear to be on good terms today, with Ricky even granting Billy an interview on the red carpet at the Emmys this past September.