Ricky Martin ‘threatened’ manager amid ‘career-ending allegation’

The ex-manager of Ricky Martin has slapped the star with a $4m lawsuit alleging he “fostered a toxic work environment” and “mistreated, manipulated and lied to her”.

Puerto Rican superstar Ricky Martin has been hit with a $4 million lawsuit from his ex-manager who has accused him of “flagrant” breach of contract, while alleging she protected him from “a potentially career-ending allegation” in 2020.

Rebecca Drucker — who worked with the 50-year-old singer from 2014 to 2018 and then again from 2020 to 2022 — is suing Martin for unpaid commissions, according to legal documents, filed in a Los Angeles court, reports the New York Post.

Ricky Martin has been hit with a lawsuit by his former manager. Picture: AFP

Ms Drucker stated that she worked with Martin on two separate occasions due to his “personal and professional life [being] in absolute turmoil” and allegedly helped him navigate the world of “recording contracts, touring and sponsorship deals, and other professional endeavours.”

“Rebecca Drucker saved Ricky Martin’s career,” the 15-page lawsuit alleged. “There is just one problem: Martin completely and maliciously refused to pay Rebecca the millions of dollars in commissions that he owes her under their management agreement.”

“With Rebecca at his side, Martin made millions of dollars and therefore owes Rebecca substantial commissions,” the complaint claimed.

Ms Drucker also claimed in the suit that Martin was threatened and intimidated with a “potentially career-ending allegation” in September 2020.

Ricky Martin performs in Perth in 2015. Picture: Faith Morgan

“Rebecca has also fiercely protected Martin,” she alleged in the suit, noting that she “advised him and brought in top litigation counsel to handle the matter”.

Due to her help and knowledge of the music industry, she noted, Martin reportedly “emerged unscathed and proceeded with his professional resurgence”.

“Now set to play a lead role in the highly anticipated Apple TV+ series Mr and Mrs American Pie, Martin is once again primed to reach the heights of fame and fortune,” Ms Drucker claimed.

The lawsuit also accuses Martin of having “a toxic work environment” and discussed “a particularly ugly incident in Dubai involving Martin and his representative José Vega” in 2018.

Ricky Martin pictured with his son, Matteo, in 2019. Picture: Getty Images

Ms Drucker also claimed in the lawsuit that although “Martin’s career flourished since he rehired Rebecca as his manager in May 2020,” she was “forced to deal with a litany of Martin’s personal issues, such as problems with the nanny he hired to care for his children, Martin’s non-payment of taxes and his substance abuse”.

The document then alleged that there was a “forced” ending of their business relationship and claimed the singer manipulated and lied to her, which led to her departure earlier this year.

Ms Drucker also alleged that Martin has “threatened” her to keep her mouth shut and stay silent with a nondisclosure agreement. She has refused to sign the NDA and has requested a trial by jury and causes of action in her file.

– with the New York Post

Originally published as Ricky Martin ‘threatened’ manager amid ‘career-ending allegation’