Long before Madonna began dating Akeem Morris, the pop icon reportedly carried on a secret relationship with a much younger New York graffiti artist who may have inspired one of her most recognizable fashion statements. Bobby Martinez rarely appears in documented accounts of Madonna’s romantic history, but insiders now claim he remained part of her life for years, even as she married Sean Penn and later became involved with Warren Beatty. The reported relationship is also raising questions because multiple sources believe Martinez was still in his mid-teens when he first became close to the singer.
Martinez was a Puerto Rican graffiti artist from Manhattan’s Lower East Side who used the name “RP3.” He reportedly met Madonna around 1983 through legendary artist Keith Haring, one of the singer’s closest friends. Gil Vazquez, Haring’s longtime friend and the former executive director of the Keith Haring Foundation, told the Daily Mail that Martinez represented the type of man both Madonna and Haring found attractive.
“Bobby, in his day, was like this absolutely gorgeous poster boy for what Keith’s ideal was,” Vazquez told the outlet. “Madonna’s taste for young men at the time was exactly the same as Keith’s. Young, Puerto Rican, hot, straight boys.”
According to Vazquez, Haring believed Madonna had taken Martinez’s attention away from him. “So what happens? Madonna enters the picture. The way Keith would tell the story is that Madonna ‘stole Bobby’ from Keith,” he claimed. “It’s hard to blame Bobby. It was Madonna. She’s the hottest pop star in the world.”
Questions Remain About Bobby Martinez’s Age
5Madonna was approximately 25 when she reportedly began spending time with Martinez, whose exact age remains disputed. Multiple sources cited by the Daily Mail believe he was likely in his mid-teens.
Vazquez said he could not confirm how old either person was at the beginning of the alleged relationship, but acknowledged that teenagers commonly entered New York City’s nightlife scene during that period. “I can’t say with any certainty about how old anyone was at that point,” he said.
“Going out in the ’80s, we look at it a lot differently now than we did then. These kids were going to, like, nightclubs. Certainly not old enough to drink at that point,” he continued. “That was just sort of par for the course in New York City in the ’80s; it just was.”
Madonna previously made a striking admission while discussing her history of dating younger men during an appearance on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” in 2015. “When I moved to New York, I dated a 16-year-old,” she said before Ellen DeGeneres suggested Madonna had been around 18 at the time, to which the singer responded, “Yeah. Um, anyway.”
Singer Previously Discussed Her Interest In ‘Young Boys’
5An interview Madonna gave to Record Mirror in February 1983 has also resurfaced amid the revelations about Martinez. The then-24-year-old performer spoke openly about being attracted to “effeminate looking men and young boys.”
“There are a lot of very sweet Puerto Rican boys where I live, and if it outrages people when we go out together, that’s fine by me,” she told the publication. “15- or 16-year-old boys are best, and I like smooth thin men who aren’t afraid to show their emotions and cry. I want to caress a nice smooth body, not a hulk.”
The remarks were published as Madonna’s career was gaining momentum through songs including “Borderline” and “Lucky Star.” Neither the interview nor her later comments on “Ellen” identified Martinez as the person she was describing.
Bobby Martinez May Have Inspired Madonna’s ‘Boy Toy’ Belt
5Martinez was reportedly seen accompanying Madonna while she worked on “Desperately Seeking Susan” in 1984. Archival footage allegedly shows him staying close to the singer, entering her trailer and walking through New York City with her between scenes. Martinez did not have a credited role in the movie.
That same year, Madonna incorporated a “Boy Toy” belt into the all-white look associated with her “Like a Virgin” era. New York graffiti artist Cost previously claimed the accessory was connected to Martinez. “If you look at her old videos, she used to wear a belt buckle tag around her waist that said ‘BOY TOY.’ Boy Toy was that guy RP3. He used to write Boy Toy and RP3, and that was her boyfriend at that time,” he told the blog Vandalog.
The claim has not been publicly confirmed by Madonna.
Madonna Reportedly Clashed With Justin Bieber Before World Cup Performance
5The latest revelations about Madonna’s private life come weeks after reports that she clashed with Justin Bieber while preparing for the first-ever World Cup final halftime show.
Although both performers reportedly wanted the historic production to succeed, their competing creative visions allegedly caused tension behind the scenes. Madonna favored a dramatic spectacle, while Bieber reportedly wanted a cleaner, more controlled performance following the criticism surrounding his Coachella comeback.
“Neither wants to walk away feeling like they played second fiddle,” an insider told the Daily Mail. “Their different approaches have created real tension behind the scenes,” the source claimed, leaving Coldplay frontman Chris Martin “trying to figure it out before it gets out of hand.”
The insider emphasized that Madonna respected Bieber but refused to let the performance revolve entirely around him. “Madonna has no intention of being upstaged,” the insider continued. “She respects Justin and wants the show to be a massive success, but she won’t let it become ‘The Justin Show.’ If she feels he’s steering things in a direction that’s too safe, she won’t be (and hasn’t been) shy about pushing back.”
Despite the reported creative disagreement, both stars ultimately received an opportunity to leave their mark on the inaugural halftime show.