The `She Bangs` singer admits he was overwhelmed with relief when he finally ended years of speculation about his sexuality in a twitter posting in March this year.

He said: "When I realised, okay, I just pressed send, whoo ? I was alone. I was in my studio alone for a minute. My assistant walked in and I just started crying like a little baby. I started crying."

The 38-year-old star - who has two-year-old twin sons Valentino and Matteo with a surrogate mother - made the decision to reveal his sexuality for the sake of his children, saying he didn`t feel he could sidestep it any more.

He adds in the interview with Oprah Winfrey, which will be shown on US TV on 02.11.10: "I couldn`t take it anymore. It was too painful. But I guess the most important thing is my children.

"When I was holding them in my arms I was like, `What? Am I gonna teach them how to lie?` Whoa, that is my blessing right there. Then, when I was holding my children I said, `Okay, it`s time to tell the world.`"

Ricky explains in more detail his sexuality in his new autobiography `Me`, which is released this week.

He wrote in the book: "Since I can remember, I have felt a very strong attraction to other men and, although I can say that I have also come to feel a lot of attraction and a lot of chemistry towards women, it is men who ultimately awaken what is instinctive, the animal in me."
sections: Celebrities