Nicky Jam revealed in an interview with the podcast MoluscoTV that he never had a real friendship with Enrique Iglesias, despite having recorded together one of the biggest hits of Latin reggaeton: "El Perdón" (2015).
The Puerto Rican singer was emphatic in describing the nature of his relationship with the Spanish artist: "He was never my friend. Never, never, never, never, never, never. It was just that the guy was really complicated. I don’t know if he was very much like a loner."
The most striking anecdote she shared occurred during the recording of the video for the English version of the song, titled "Forgiveness."
Nicky Jam gifted a watch to Iglesias during that shoot, but the Spanish singer declined outright: “No, no, no. Thank you, thank you. I don’t want the watch.”
The impact of the rejection was such that the reggaeton artist was left stunned: "I was stuck there with the watch for about half an hour. I couldn't believe what I was turning down."
Despite the incident, Nicky Jam clarified that he holds no grudge: "I have no friendship with that guy, nor do I wish him any ill. The guy was very reserved, very much in his own world. My respect goes out to him."
He even acknowledged the importance of Iglesias in his journey: "He was very key in my career, very key. It was also very good for him because he needed that other boost after 'Bailando'. It was an exchange, it was a cool exchange."
And he concluded with a professional compliment: "The kind of person who is a good artist has a good ear for what is a hit. He knows what’s what. We are not friends, but I respect him and send my regards wherever he may be. God bless you, Enrique Iglesias."
The statements were made in the context of Nicky Jam's triumphant return to Puerto Rico for his concert "El Regreso a Casa" at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico, scheduled for this Saturday.
The first performance sold out in less than an hour, prompting the announcement of a second show at El Choli, confirming that the affection of the Puerto Rican audience for the artist remains strong.
In the same interview, Nicky Jam also spoke about his personal struggle with alcohol —"I have been battling with alcohol for several years and I admit it"— and recalled a phrase that deeply impacted him: the one that Daddy Yankee said to him during a baseball game: "Nicky, I refuse to be a slave to the industry."
"I sang at the World Cup. I have six or seven songs with over a billion views each. What more can I do?" the artist reflected on a career that, with or without a friendship with Enrique Iglesias, has made him one of the essential names in the urban genre.
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