Where is Ralphy Rodriguez? Menudo singer had first accused Edgardo Diaz of horrifying abuse in 1991
Menudo was one of the most popular boy bands in Latin America. A new docuseries entitled 'Menudo: Forever Young' charts the outfit's history from its inception to its end, focusing on some of the former members who open up about a pattern of abuse at the hands of Edgardo Diaz, their manager. Ralphy Rodriguez, who was part of Menudo for a couple of years during the 1980s, also spoke about his experience.
The disturbing four-part mini-series, which was released on Thursday, June 23 on HBO Max, shows the former band members talking to the camera about the alleged abuse. The docuseries about the band that consisted of around 40 members over the decades it was active uncovers the dark underside of the boy band business. The number of members in the band, which released its last studio album in 2009, increased with time because as the boys turned 16 and hit puberty, they were replaced with new, younger members, keeping the boy band forever young. Hence the docuseries title 'Menudo: Forever Young'.
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When Rodriguez was nine or ten years old, he was notably struck by how the Menudo boys always seemed to have a good time together. Speaking to HBO producers, he said he was dealing with a physically and verbally abusive father at the time and hoped to join the band someday and share their happiness. His dreams would materialize shortly after, as he went on to become a part of the boy band in 1986.
However, Rodriguez soon realized it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows behind the scenes. On the show, he revealed that he didn't feel protected while working and performing with Menudo. The singer recalled how the new guy was constantly picked on and hazed. After a two-year stint with the band, Rodriguez's parents decided it was time for him to leave. Their decision was cemented after the group's keyboardist died from a drug overdose.
Several Menudo members had spoken out about their mistreatment by mid-1991. In a TV interview, Rodriguez accused Diaz of physically abusing him. He appeared in another TV segment with his father in June 1991. According to The Cinemaholic, this feature also had Diaz on stage, and Rodriguez accused the former of hitting him with his fists. The manager attempted to discredit Rodriguez by saying it was only a rumor and accused him of trying to profit off of him.
Where is Ralphy Rodriguez today?
Responding to Diaz's defense, Rodriguez asserted that he did not benefit from going public with his story and that he only hoped to protect other kids from the dangers of show business. The performer said he has since healed from everything he went through and is doing a lot better. He is married to his beloved wife Carrie and the pair has three children together.
Rodriguez, who is currently a vlogger and real estate investor, is also the singer and bassist of the band 2080 VEINTE/OCHENTA, a Latin pop-rock trio that recently released the third song from their Pandemic EP. Rodriguez currently lives with his family in North Carolina but often travels to Puerto Rico.
As noted by Popsugar's Cristina Escobar, 'Menudo: Forever Young' lays a "damning case against Díaz and spotlights how the media responded at the time." Major outlets largely took Díaz's side and painted those who came forward as "greedy and ungrateful liars." The boys were silenced and shamed, whereas Díaz was never investigated for his alleged crimes.