Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello is facing calls to resign after conversations from a private chat group administrated by Rossello revealed misogynistic, homophobic, and profane comments.
The group chat, on the messenger app Telegram, include 11 political figures close to Rossello, including Christian Sobrino, the government's chief financial officer, and Luis Gerardo Rivera Marín, the State secretary and interim governor.
The NYT reports: ‘Mr. Rosselló, 40, apologized on Thursday after an excerpt from the chat was first published by local media showing he had referred to Melissa Mark-Viverito, the former speaker of the New York City Council, who was born in Puerto Rico, using the Spanish word for “whore.” In English, he also used a profane expression in reference to the oversight board that controls Puerto Rico's finances, followed by emojis of a raised middle finger.'
Among the homophobic remarks were repeated references to Popular Democratic Party senator Eduardo Bhatia using the Spanish word for c**ksucker,'
There were also remarks about Ricky Martin, according to El Nuevo Dia: ‘Sobrino says homophobic comments about singer and actor Ricky Martin. “Nothing says patriarchal oppression like Ricky Martin”, he wrote, later saying, “Ricky Martin is such a male chauvinist that he f**ks men because women don't measure up. Pure patriarchy.”'
More on the contents of the leaked texts here.
Ricky Martin denounced Rossello after the chat leaked, tweeting ” We CAN NOT allow our Puerto Rico to be in the hands of such ‘leaders.' … Do an act of true generosity, worth and love for Puerto Rico and give your position to another person with the wisdom and leadership to direct your destiny as a people.”
