Gloria Forgives her 'Phantom Hugger'
August 17, 2004

For the very first time, Gloria Estefan is talking about the fan who broke through her security and grabbed her during a performance. "The 'Phantom Hugger' I call him," Estefan told us. "I said at the beginning of the show that I have no rules. He took it to heart."

Police arrested the man who jumped up on stage at Estefan's Houston concert last week, but as Gloria's tour rolled through Los Angeles this week, she told "Extra" she doesn't think the fan wanted to hurt her.

"I hope they don't do anything, I certainly didn't press charges," Estefan revealed. "This guy, I guess the rhythm got him, because it was during 'The Rhythm's Gonna Get You.' He wanted to hug me, I guess, or dance with me or something."

Estefan continued: "But right when he passed, one of the guys in the crew grabbed him as he grabbed me, so he spun me around and we were doing a backwards conga on stage. Then they danced him off stage."

Gloria is touring in support of her newest album, "Unwrapped." "It's my last tour," she told us, explaining that she wants to spend more time with her family.

But right now, Gloria's thoughts are back home in Florida, with the victims of Hurricane Charley. Estefan helped the people of Florida pick up the pieces after Hurricane Andrew blew through in 1992, and she's made donations to help Charley's victims as well.

"Our hearts are there," Gloria said. "We've been through it in South Florida with Andrew, and we're doing our best to try to help out."

Meanwhile, Gloria's "Phantom Hugger" goes to court on trespassing charges later this month, and Estefan's tour continues through the end of September.


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