Family can be a great source of many things. They can bring us love and support as well as a sense of belonging. Our familias are often our first introduction to relationships and can be a mirror in which we reflect upon ourselves. They can also be a source of some telenovela sized drama. 

Every family has their secrets but some are wilder than others. We asked our FIERCE readers to dig all the family skeletons out of their metaphorical closets and they were quick to spill the tea. Here are some of the most shocking and scandalous family secrets they shared with us. 

1. The hidden family.

“Um, that my father fathered several more children [than what] we were told. I think we now have like 12 half-siblings now, only knew if half of them. He’s in his 80s but still, it’s for sure weird. ????” — @misslopez_if_youre_vasty

2. *Cue the novela music.*

“That my sister almost married our half brother ( not 100% confirm ) and when he found out he went and married another girl with the same name as my sister but different last name he just change the last name at the church.” — @karo056186

3. Romantic entanglements.

 “My husband’s brother left his girlfriend for her sister… who happened to date my husband back in the day. They’re married with a baby now.” — @thahomieguera

4. A grandfather in all but blood.

“That my grandfather (May he Rest In Peace ❤️) wasn’t my biological grandfather. I always wondered why my mom told the doctors that diabetes didn’t run in the family when it was the reason he passed away. ????????‍♀️” — @ivonlabombon

5. A secret straight out of the closet.

“My moms neighbors tea… the wife thought her husband was cheating so she asked my sister to give her a ride to follow him.. turns out he had a male lover ….now the lady blames my sister for giving her a ride like that’s the problem… and her closet gay husband stayed living there like nothing happened.” — @fitmomofdolls

6. Just plain scandalous.

“That my tia stole my abuelita’s will from my moms room in mexico and that she claims she doesn’t have it cause she left more for my mom and wants my abuelito to write another one with more dinero for her!!!!!” — @mishygoldfishy

7. Definitely a premise for a Lifetime Movie of the Week.

“My mom’s cousin had a boy when she was young while still in Central America. When she immigrated over to the states she had to leave him behind temporarily while she got her life together. My aunt met a man in the US and made a life here. They had 3 daughters. During that time her son grew up and I’m sure became super resentful toward my aunt. At some point my aunt put papers in for her son and brought him to the states. Him and the oldest daughter got SUPER close to the point where it got hella weird. She fell for her brother and they tried to run away with each other. I believe there plan was to go back to Central America. Mind you she was still a minor. He ended up ditching her at the border.” — @pessiyerez

8. Throw the whole dad away.

“So 7th grade. My dad looked me in the face on the way inside our apartment and said ‘Hey! Its time for me to go. I’m leaving your mom next week.’ ????‍♀️” — @kelly_a_stackhouse

9. This tia sounds cool af.

“That one of my mother’s older sister’s owned a brothel in Guatemala in the 70s. And would get her military boyfriend to beat the shit out of any of the men that mistreated her ladies. ????????‍♀️” — @pixelatedgum

10. Lost a tio and gained an hermano

“My uncle was actually my brother….he was raised by my grandma and my mom played along. My mom was young so my grandma didn’t want my mom’s reputation to be ruined. One xmas when I was 15 my step-dad told my brother my mom was his mom. We didn’t believe it but then our mom confirmed it. We talk about it all the time, how we use to call him Tio but now it’s bro.” — @arco___iris___

11. Say a rosario after reading this secret.

“That my grandma thought my grandfather was cheating and so she cheated him with their church’s reverend.” — @grestmarie

12. The literal definition of “primo-hermanos.”

“That someone’s prima’s daughter was pregnant by their son’s father????‍♀️ now they’re literally ‘primo-hermanos.’ — @_lilasthebest_

13. Fame doesn’t mean much when you’re a cheater. 

“My grandma dated Freddie Fender back in the 70s, she went to SPI to watch him play.. well she ended up finding him w/ another woman. She was so angry at him she threw his keys in the ocean and left his ass there…men ain’t shit ????????” — @taramdelagarza

In Israel, Idan Matalon is regarded as a gay icon, but in the queer telenovela fandom subculture, Matalon is a superstar. Matalon rose to fame within Israel as an online lipsync star, after he created a YouTube channel dedicated to displaying his pop song lipsyncing skills when he was just 16-years-old. Matalon rose to fame while lipsyncing Korean pop, but, soon, he fell in love with Spanish language telenovelas. The queer Latino community is living for his reenactments of some of the most dramatic moments in telenovela history, this time, with a gay man playing the hypersexualized and distressed female interest. 

Lipsyncing in Spanish soon inspired a passion to learn to speak Spanish, and, now, Matalon nearly exclusively speaks in Spanish on his social media platforms.

Matalon went viral in the Latino community after reenacting the embarazada scene in “Tierra de Pasiones.”

On this year’s International Coming Out Day, Matalon shared his story and how social media and the Internet has helped him come to terms with his sexuality. “For years I thought [homosexuality] was a sin. I didn’t have YouTube or social networks to watch stories, videos and thoughts of other kids who were like me, and that’s why I felt very lonely and scared with my feelings. In school, the word ‘gay’ was like an insult to the boys,” he shared in an Instagram post. While serving in the Israel Defense Force, he came out as gay to his parents. He was 19-years-old and was met with full support. 

Since then, Matalon has become a columnist for Moovz to discuss LGBT issues and has even made an appearance on the cover of Mexico’s Betún Magazine. Today, he’s using his social media to reimagine telenovelas as acted out (and lipsynced) by the gays, and it’s hilarious. Back in 2015, he and his friend Sachin Bhatt lipsynced the novela scene when Gabriela Spanic and Catherine Siachoque got into a physical fight during the moment the fake-pregnancy gig was finally up. When Matalon grabs the pillow out of Bhatt’s shirt, he takes off his shirt to reveal the kind of six-pack that only the gays can create. This is the content we deserve.

Matalon just announced that he’ll be embarking on a comedy tour in Mexico next year.

Matalon learned Spanish for his love of novelas, and that overly emoted passion has landed him an entire comedy career in Latin America. Matalon will be returning to Mexico to deliver his “I Live in a Telenovela” comedy show to nine major cities. Will you be there?

Matalon was born in Rishon LeZion, Israel, but has lived all over the Spanish-speaking world.

Matalon just moved back to his home in Israel, but he spent the last four years appreciating Mexican and American values (and puppies). Matalon moved to Los Angeles about four years ago, and during that time, he spent a year living in Mexico City. In an Instagram post in Spanish, Matalon said, “I already feel like Mexico and LA are my home, but I love my country Israel, I feel relaxed in Tel Aviv, and happy with my family and friends.” While he was living in Mexico, he adopted three adorable chihuahuas and embarked on a two-month process to ensure he would be able to safely bring his beloved babies back to Israel. We love a committed rescue dad!

His telenovela videos are beloved around the world and his Spanish-language skills are pretty remarkable.

View this post on Instagram

CUAL ES LO MAS? 1-12? ???? 12 Maneras De Decir Lárgate !!! (Soy Soraya de María la del Barrio jajajaja) 12 ways to say "Get Out" ('Lárgate' in Spanish, From the soap opera 'María la del Barrio') !! #videotelenovela #idanmatalon @itatic_oficial

A post shared by Idan Matalon ???? עידן (@idanmat) on Sep 6, 2019 at 5:53pm PDT

The gay YouTuber has spent his life traveling around the world and creating videos for social media. He was a YouTube lipsync artist when he was 16 years old then joined the Israeli military. In April 2012, Matalon was named Shalom Life’s 20 hottest of the 50 hottest Jewish men. His impact in the queer community is massive and his growing among the Latino community is quickly catching up.

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