At 51, Mayte Garcia Reveals the Shocking Truth About Prince

At 51, Mayte Garcia, Prince’s first wife, has revealed a side of the legendary musician few ever saw. While the world celebrated Prince as an androgynous, sexual icon who blurred gender lines, Mayte lived with a man whose private struggles and contradictions ran much deeper than his flamboyant public persona.

Mayte met Prince at just 16, after her mother managed to get a video of her dancing into his hands. Instantly captivated, Prince invited her backstage, and a unique relationship began—first as friends and pen pals, then as muse and mentor. Despite the 16-year age gap, Mayte’s parents were supportive, viewing the connection as a professional opportunity.

When Mayte turned 18, she moved into Paisley Park, Prince’s home and studio, where she became both an employee and intimate companion. Prince kept their relationship platonic for years, maintaining boundaries and treating her as a confidant. Their romance only became physical when she was 19, an event that felt more like a calculated decision than a passionate turning point.

They married on Valentine’s Day 1996, a lavish event that seemed a fairy tale. But even on their wedding day, Prince’s detachment was clear—he was more concerned with appearances than emotion. Their marriage quickly revealed Prince’s unusual approach to intimacy and domestic life. He favored high heels at home for confidence, and their relationship felt more like a carefully scheduled performance than a spontaneous romance.

Mayte began to realize that Prince’s understanding of intimacy and masculinity was complicated. He was fascinated by fashion and beauty, with a deep knowledge of makeup and women’s aesthetics—much more than simple artistic curiosity. He seemed most comfortable with women or men who, like himself, existed outside traditional gender roles. With “macho” men, Prince often appeared defensive or uncomfortable.

Tragedy struck when their son Amir was born with a rare genetic disorder and died within days. Prince’s response was emotional withdrawal and denial. He convinced Mayte to appear on Oprah and pretend their son was alive, forcing her to hide her grief. When she later suffered a miscarriage, Prince’s reaction was cold and distant, as he prioritized his work over their shared pain.

The loss of their children exposed Prince’s inability to process emotional pain, and Mayte saw that he might never be capable of true intimacy. As their marriage unraveled, Prince’s sudden conversion to Jehovah’s Witnesses brought more distance. He demanded that old friends denounce their sexuality to remain close, even as his new faith condemned the very gender fluidity he once celebrated.

Mayte describes Prince’s later years as a double life: outwardly a confident icon, inwardly battling insecurities about his identity. His legendary sexual persona was, in private, more performance than reality. His obsession with appearance, secretive behaviors, and emotional distance suggested deep internal conflict.

Prince ended their marriage suddenly and publicly, seeking an annulment that erased their shared history. Mayte was devastated, realizing he’d already begun a relationship with someone who fit his new religious ideals.

After Prince’s death, Mayte chose to break her silence, publishing her memoir and sharing the truth: Prince’s genius was fueled by internal contradictions he could never fully resolve. Her story sheds new light on the man behind the myth—a creative force haunted by the struggle to accept his true self.

—