Conservative Activist Eduardo Verástegui –Rumored Ex- of Ricky Martin – Hopes to Become Mexico's President

"Eduardo Verástegui, an actor and movie producer once rumored to be romantically linked to Ricky Martin, has taken a surprising turn in his career by going into politics," reports Metro Weekly.

Newsweek published that Verástegui, one of the producers of the conservative indie hit "Sound of Freedom," officially filed the paperwork to run as an independent candidate for Mexico's 2024 presidential race after many people kept telling him he would be perfect for the job.

"If approved as a candidate, he will run on a platform of 'God, Fatherland and Family,' and Verástegui explained he wants to use the momentum from his successful film to enter the world of politics because his 'goal is to put an end to child trafficking' once and for all.

If that rhetoric sounds familiar it is because 'Sound of Freedom' follows "the story of U.S. Homeland Security officer Tim Ballard (Jim Caviezel), who left his government job to form Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.), an anti-child-trafficking organization."

"The most important thing from this film is that we need to leave behind a permanent legacy and change legislation to ensure countries cooperate better in ending child trafficking," he told Newsweek from Vatican City after having a private audience with Pope Francis where he asked the Pontiff to bless his film.

"The 49-year-old Mexican actor and singer was a big hit on soap operas before turning his hand to conservative and Christian activism. First, he used his role as producer to convey the message that "God's children are not for sale" in 'Sound of Freedom' and next is the political stage," adds Newsweek.

While never confirmed, rumors of Verástegui's being gay have circulated for some time. The website Mundo Now writes that "Javier Ceriani, of the gossip show 'Chisme No Like,' claimed that Verástegui had a romance with Ricky Martin in the early 2000's. Ceriani reported on 'Chisme No Like 'that the couple lived together in a luxurious house in Miami Beach. The Argentine reporter stated that the romance between the two stars occurred while Martin was still in the closet."

Verástegui invited controversy this past April when the Spanish edition of E Online reported when he wrote: "Without a doubt, homosexuality is linked to pedophilia."

He was immediately rebuked by the LGBTQ+ community, most prominently by out Mexican actor Polo Morin (featured in the Netflix's "Who Killed Sara?," "High Heat," and "Red, White and Royal Blue."

"Morín quickly jumped in to shut him down," reported Pride.

Morin wrote on X: "If that was YOUR case when you 'were' homosexual, it only remains in that: YOUR CRIMINAL PERSONAL experience. It does not make it a generality," his tweet translates to. "Hopefully one day you will find the peace that you say you have found so you no longer have to keep trying to 'condemn' others."

Morin emphasized Verástegui's long-rumored connection with Martin, wrote Pride. "Morin is referring to his "heyday" in that tweet, when Verástegui was romantically linked to Ricky Martin by Spanish tabloids though he vehemently denied the accusations at the time.

Nonetheless, Verástegui doubled down. "It seems that a lot of people are uncomfortable with the FACTS. More and more boys are abused and sexually trafficked in Mexico and in the world. And now it turns out that those who rape them are not gay and, moreover, pedophiles."

Morín responded. "PEDOPHILIA is a psychiatric DISORDER, sexual orientation is NOT. REAL FACTS: The Catholic Church is the institution with the highest number of sexual abuse of BOYS AND GIRLS... So, by your own logic, YOU are linked to pedophilia, right? COHERENCE."

To which, Pride reported, the wannabe Mexican presidential candidate conceded a point: "After someone else asked Verástegui if he thought all homosexuals were pedophiles, he finally backed down a bit, typing, "Only those who have sex with underage men."