Daddy Yankee is a Puerto Rican rapper, singer, and songwriter who is also known as the “King of Reggaeton.” He was born on February 3, 1976, in San Juan, Puerto Rico as Ramon Luis Ayala Rodriguez. When he was younger, Ayala dreamed of becoming a baseball player, that is, until a stray bullet literally changed the course of his life.
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In the early 1990s, Ayala was taking a break from a studio recording session when he was hit in the hip by a stray AK-47 rifle bullet. Unfortunately, the doctors were unable to remove the bullet and the aspiring rapper had to recover for more than a year. Ayala chose to look at the more optimistic side though. According to the singer, the incident allowed him to focus on his music career full-time.
Ayala adopted the professional name, “Daddy Yankee,” during his debut in 1994. It wasn’t until 2004 that he achieved international success with his hit single, “Gasolina.” Critics also credit the rapper’s sophomore album “Barrio Fino” for introducing reggaeton to mainstream media and international audiences. The album made history as well when it became the top-selling Latin music album of the decade.
Since then, Yankee has been hailed as the “King of Reggaeton” with incredible hits such as “Despacito” in 2017. The single became the most viewed video on YouTube, adding more interest to the already famous rapper. Fans are dying to know: is he the same as his public persona? And more importantly, is Daddy Yankee gay? Let’s address the rumors below.
VOTE: What is Daddy Yankee’s Sexuality?
Daddy Yankee’s Relationships
Daddy Yankee is notoriously private when it comes to his personal life. According to the rapper, he prefers keeping this part away from the spotlight and refers to his family as his “little treasure.”
Contrary to entertainment stereotypes, Yankee has only been in one relationship his entire life. The rapper is currently married to his wife of more than 20 years, Mireddys Gonzales.
The pair first met in high school and have been married since 1995. They have three children together; Yamilet, Jesaaelys, and Jeremy. In an interview with Billboard in 2017, the Despacito singer gushed about his wife.
Once you become a superstar, it’s very difficult to find a real, real woman. I met her before I was Daddy Yankee so she’s the right one. She loves Raymond Ayala. She’s not in love with DY.”
Daddy Yankee to Billboard, 2017
The 2013 Nightclub Incident
In April 2013, several Spanish news and gossip blogs reported that Daddy Yankee came out as gay at a nightclub and was snapped in a compromising photograph with another man. Social media platforms erupted with the news, causing Yankee’s name to trend worldwide. Although the reports were met with positive comments, the rapper’s management strongly denied the claims.
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Once again social networks are the protagonists in spreading false news, which have been replicated by other media involving a public figure. The story that is circulating about Daddy Yankee’s homosexuality declaration is a false story written by an Internet portal as many others, dedicated to fabricate and disseminate news through social networks.”
Helga Garcia to Huffington Post, 2013
Although Yankee and his management squashed the rumors, the rapper maintained his respect for the LGBTQ community and even shared that he has gay employees on his team.
Is Daddy Yankee Gay?
No, Daddy Yankee is not gay. Rumors regarding his sexuality surfaced in 2013 when it was alleged that the rapper came out as gay. However, these claims were denied by Yankee’s manager, implying that the singer is straight. The Despacito star still supports the LGBTQ movement though. He is also currently married to his high school sweetheart, Mireddys Gonzales.