Now, after seven years as a proud gay man, Martin is starring in his first gay role as Antonio D’Amico, fashion designer Gianni Versace’s former lover, in FX’s American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace, premiering in 2018. To him, this means a lot to be able to portray someone who he can identify with in terms of sexuality, and the quiet struggle that comes with it. “We’re going to go mainstream with a story that talks about homophobia, that talks about hate, that talks about indifference,” he explained. “It’s something that I really wanted to be loud about.”

To Martin, the relatability factor is all too real, as he said that he would often get emotional on set while filming. “[Filming] took me back to eight years ago when I was in the closet and it just moved me,” he admitted. Despite the emotional tides he deals with on set, he’s proud of the show and how it will give an insider’s look into Gianni Versace’s life. The murder of Versace on his own front steps rocked the whole world when it occurred back in 1997. D’Amico was the first to run to his lover’s side when he found him shot dead on the steps to his Miami mansion. They had been dating for 15 years before his partner’s life was taken. The show will explore the relationship between D’Amico and Versace, Versace’s personal life, and the events leading up to his murder.

Ricky Martin | THINK Magazine