Ricky Martin's eldest sons are back home. Valentino and Matteo, the fraternal twins the Grammy winner welcomed via surrogate in 2008, were photographed on August 4 spending the afternoon at Plaza Las Américas in San Juan, grabbing a bite at a well-known restaurant before browsing a fast-fashion store with a small group of friends.
© Alfredo Rolon/The Grosby GroupThis week they celebrate their 18th birthday — a milestone Martin is marking on home turf, having spent the summer settled into Puerto Rico with all four of his children.
The outing came days after Martin shared beach photos of his younger kids, Lucía and Renn, from the island. Now it's the twins' turn in the spotlight, even if they weren't seeking it. Valentino — the more media-facing of the two — kept it casual in black jeans, a sand-colored T-shirt, a black cap and sneakers. Matteo, the quieter twin, opted for blue denim, a white short-sleeve tee, a cap and a shoulder bag.
When the afternoon wrapped, the pair drove off in their own SUV, reportedly keeping a respectful, reserved distance from the cameras throughout.
© Alfredo Rolon/The Grosby GroupValentino Pushes Back on the Comparisons
The twins' appearance takes place a little over two weeks after Valentino took to social media with a message asking to be seen as his own person — not a smaller version of his father.
"My father is my father, I am Valentino," he said in Spanish. "You have to understand that only because I am his son we're not the same person. Please don't compare me to my father and please see me as Valentino, I don't want to be seen as the son of Ricky Martin."
"You say that I have talent because it's in my blood and my father and I have a great teacher that's always with me. Yes, my father will always be with him and I'll love him, but when I dance, all of those dances have nothing to do with talent. I do all of that. I love my dad with my life, but all of the dances you see have nothing to do with him. That's all me," he concluded. The video was taken down within minutes of posting.
© Valentino MartinA New Era, Rooted in Puerto Rico
The twins' mall run also arrives as Ricky Martin gears up for what his team is billing as a fresh chapter — one that starts on the island where he was born. He's reportedly at work on new music tied to an upcoming show.
Sony Music Latin explained the choice of Puerto Rico as the launchpad in a statement: "Choosing Puerto Rico as a starting point of this new era is not limited to performances. It represents an homage to the land that created Martin's artistic identity, the public that believed in him from the start, and the country that continues to inspire one of the most universal careers in Latin music."
For now, though, the spotlight belongs to his two teens, trying to get through a shopping trip as they hope to grow up on their own terms.
© Don Arnold
