Puerto Rican music star Ozuna has revealed he was the victim of blackmail involving an explicit video filmed when he was 16 years old.
A report by the BBC confirms that Ozuna was the subject of blackmail according to the singer’s management.
“Ozuna was extorted through an intimate video filmed when he was a minor, this video was edited with the objective of causing even more damage.” said a statement from the singer’s label and management firm, Dimelo Vi.
The reggaeton singer is believed to have paid $50,000 to his extorter before approaching the FBI. His label said “all the legal measures” were being pursued “as sending and publishing videos of minors is a state and federal offense”. They added: “We hope that this will serve as an example and message to all teenagers and adults to protect their privacy and avoid these things so as to [avoid] such regrettable situations.”
Reports published by Puerto Rican media and the BBC claimed the person extorting Ozuna was the gay rap artist Kevin Fret who was shot dead in the Puerto Rican capital, San Juan on 10 January. Ozuna’s lawyer confirmed the claims but reiterated that the “Pa Mi” singer is not a suspect. In addition to the statement issued by his label, the singer issued a public apology. “Like many young people, I made a mistake, fuelled by ignorance,” he wrote.
Ozuna, born Juan Carlos Ozuna Rosado, aged 26, had the two biggest-selling Latin albums in America last year and is currently in the UK Top 20 with ‘Taki Taki’ – a collaboration with Cardi B, Selena Gomez, and DJ Snake.
