Did Selena Cheat On Chris Perez? The Truth About Their Relationship

Daniel Figaro
Feb 18, 2024
Feb 21, 2024

Hold onto your sequined bustiers, Selena fans! We're diving deep into the love story that rocked the Tejano world: Selena Quintanilla-Perez and her guitarist hubby, Chris Perez. From steamy backstage kisses to facing down family drama, their romance was anything but a quiet cumbia. But wait, there's more! A rumor has been swirling for decades: Did Selena cheat on Chris Perez?

Is the rumor "Selena having an affair" true? And how did Chris and Selena's react to it? In this blog post, we will try to answer these questions.

Key Takeaways:

Allegations of Selena Quintanilla Perez's infidelity with Ricardo Martinez lack substantiation; both her family and Chris Perez have robustly defended her fidelity, emphasizing her deep love and commitment to Chris.
Chris Perez and Selena's relationship, though rumored to have begun amidst personal entanglements, was founded on genuine love and mutual respect, culminating in marriage despite initial familial resistance.
Selena Quintanilla Perez remains an enduring icon in music and culture, celebrated for her groundbreaking contributions to Tejano music and her lasting influence on the Latin music industry and beyond.

Did Selena Cheat On Chris With Ricardo Martinez?

Well, no. The rumor that Selena cheated on Chris Perez with Ricardo Martinez started in 1995, when Martinez claimed that he had an affair with Selena and that he was in love with her. He also said that Selena wanted to divorce Chris and run away with him. Martinez was a doctor who had invested in Selena's clothing boutiques and had a close relationship with Yolanda Saldivar, Selena's fan club president and the person who killed her. Martinez gave an interview to Univision's Primer Impacto in 1995, where he showed some letters and photos that he said were from Selena. He also claimed that he had tapes of their phone conversations, but he never produced them.

However, there is no evidence that Selena ever cheated on Chris with Martinez or anyone else. Selena's family, friends and colleagues have always denied the rumor and defended her reputation. They said that Selena was loyal and faithful to Chris and that she loved him deeply. They also said that Martinez was lying and trying to profit from Selena's death. Chris Perez himself wrote in his memoir, To Selena, With Love, that he never believed the rumor and that he trusted Selena completely. He said that he knew that Selena was not capable of cheating on him and that she was happy with him. He also said that he confronted Martinez once and told him to stop spreading lies about Selena.

In 2024, the rumor has been largely debunked and dismissed by most fans and media outlets. The Netflix show Selena: The Series, which premiered in 2020, portrayed Selena and Chris's relationship as loving and supportive, without any hint of infidelity. The show also depicted Martinez as a shady and manipulative character who tried to interfere with Selena's business and personal life. The show was based on interviews and testimonies from Selena's family and friends, who collaborated with the producers and writers.

How Did Selena and Chris's Relationship Started?

Another rumor that has circulated about Selena and Chris is that their relationship started off as an affair while they were both involved with other people. This rumor is partly true, but it does not mean that they were unfaithful or dishonest. According to Pérez's memoir, he was engaged to a woman named Venessa Villanueva when he joined Selena y Los Dinos in 1990. He said that he was not happy with his relationship and that he felt a strong attraction to Selena from the first time he saw her. He also said that he tried to resist his feelings for her because he did not want to cause any trouble or hurt anyone.

And fans have share their insights into the rumors:

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Selena, on the other hand, was not dating anyone when she met Pérez, but she had a crush on a doctor named Samaniego who worked at a clinic where she volunteered. She also had admirers who pursued her, such as Luis Miguel and Emilio Navaira. However, she did not reciprocate their interest because she only had eyes for Pérez.

Pérez eventually broke up with Villanueva after realizing that he was in love with Selena. He said that he did not cheat on Villanueva physically, but he admitted that he cheated on her emotionally by having feelings for another woman. He also said that he felt guilty for hurting Villanueva and that he apologized to her sincerely.

Selena and Pérez began dating secretly after Pérez became single, but they did not reveal their relationship to anyone for fear of Selena's father's reaction. They eloped in 1992 after Quintanilla found out about them and threatened to fire Pérez from the band. They later reconciled with Quintanilla and continued their marriage until Selena's death.

Who Is Selena Quintanilla Perez?

Selena Quintanilla Perez was born on April 16, 1971, in Lake Jackson, Texas. She was a singer, songwriter, actress, fashion designer and entrepreneur. She started her musical career at a young age, performing with her family band, Selena y Los Dinos. She became one of the most popular and influential Tejano artists of all time, winning several awards and breaking records. She was known for her charismatic stage presence, her powerful voice and her diverse musical styles, which included cumbia, pop, rock, R&B and mariachi. Some of her most famous songs are Como La Flor, Bidi Bidi Bom Bom, Amor Prohibido, Dreaming of You and I Could Fall in Love.

Selena was also a pioneer in the Latin music industry, crossing over to the mainstream market and opening doors for other Latino artists. She was working on her first English-language album when she was shot and killed by Yolanda Saldivar on March 31, 1995, at a motel in Corpus Christi, Texas. She was only 23 years old. Her death shocked the world and sparked a wave of grief and tributes. Her English album, Dreaming of You, was released posthumously in July 1995 and became a huge success, reaching number one on the Billboard 200 chart.

In 2024, Selena is still widely remembered and celebrated as one of the greatest icons of music and culture. Her legacy lives on through her music, her movies (such as the biopic Selena starring Jennifer Lopez), her documentaries (such as Netflix's Selena: The Series), her museum (the Selena Museum in Corpus Christi), her wax figure (at Madame Tussauds Hollywood), her star (on the Hollywood Walk of Fame), her festivals (such as Fiesta de la Flor in Corpus Christi), her products (such as MAC Cosmetics' Selena collection) and her fans (who call themselves Selenistas). Selena is also recognized as a role model and an inspiration for many people, especially young women and Latinos.

Who Is Chris Perez?

Chris Perez was born on August 14, 1969, in San Antonio, Texas. He is a guitarist, songwriter, author and producer. He joined Selena y Los Dinos in 1990 as the lead guitarist and soon fell in love with Selena. They eloped in 1992, despite the initial opposition of Selena's father, Abraham Quintanilla. They remained married until Selena's death in 1995. Chris was devastated by the loss of his wife and struggled to cope with his grief. He wrote a memoir, To Selena, With Love, in 2012, where he shared his memories and feelings about Selena.

Chris also continued his musical career after Selena's death. He formed several bands, such as the Chris Perez Band, the Chris Perez Project and the Last Bandoleros. He won a Grammy Award in 2000 for Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album for his album Resurrection. He also collaborated with other artists, such as A.B. Quintanilla, Kumbia Kings, Ricky Martin and Alejandro Sanz. He released his latest album, La Vida Loca, in 2019.

In 2024, Chris is still active in the music industry and has a loyal fan base. He also maintains a close relationship with Selena's family and friends. He said that he and the Quintanilla family have amicably resolved their legal dispute over his plan to create a miniseries based on his memoir in 2021. He said that he hopes to work together with them to honor and celebrate Selena's legacy. He also said that he is open to finding love again and that he is happy for his two children from his second marriage, Cassie and Noah.