Emilio Frías, director of the orchestra El Niño y La Verdad, demanded respect for the artists residing in the U.S. who wish to sing in Cuba and was unequivocal about the controversy surrounding El Micha after he left a set in Miami following questions about his trips to the island.
"Men should not have to live under any kind of pressure, neither from here nor from there. Those who know what they give, tell you The Truth, rise up and leave," Frías wrote on his social media alongside a ten-minute video in which he explained his stance.
The artist clarified that personally, he will not go to sing in Cuba until the government changes, but he demanded respect for those who do decide to do so.
"Until when? Why does someone with a microphone in front of them have the power to sanction, to force someone to do something they don’t want to do? For what reason? Why should you have to say 'Down with the dictatorship' if you don’t want to say it?” questioned El Niño y La Verdad, who specified that he has been friends with El Micha (Michael Fernández Sierra Miranda) for many years, although he says they haven't seen each other in a long time.
"Is El Micha a communist now because he wants to go perform in Cuba? El Micha misses Cuba because Cuba is carried in the heart. There is no other audience like that one over there, it doesn't exist, and that has nothing to do with the government, that has nothing to do with the dictatorship," added the musician, who insisted that "Michael is not a communist" and that he "just wants to perform for his people."
"How long will the witch hunt against artists continue?" he questioned next.
"I am not the one to judge him. I am not going to judge him. I am not going to touch anything while that government is in power. I am not going to go, but that’s me, and I am not going to go because of everything they did to me and the way I had to leave," he explained regarding his particular case.
The musician referred to El Taiger, Dani Ome, and other artists who have decided to return to perform on the island and emphasized that this should be the will of each individual and not dictated by third parties.
"Whoever wants to go to Cuba should go to Cuba, and whoever wants to sacrifice themselves for this cause, as many great people have done, like Celia [Cruz] and like Willy [Chirino], should do it, that's what I plan to do, but if someone doesn't want to do it, then they shouldn't, gentleman. Enough already, stop the madness, we are becoming more and more divided," he stressed.
Emilio Frías took the opportunity to refer -in general- to many people who now live in Miami and who benefited from government perks while they were on the island.
"Even in this city, there are people who have businesses over there, and people who live over there who have businesses in Miami, and I'm talking about big players," he hinted without mentioning names.
According to Frías, what cannot be allowed for an artist living in Miami is to shout "Long live the revolution!"
"The artist who wants to be impartial can be so; what they cannot do is shout 'Long live Fidel!' or say that there is no dictatorship in Cuba, but El Micha made a song against that. If he needs to perform in Cuba, he should go and perform in Cuba," added the interpreter, who urged Cubans not to play along with those who have caused so much division and pain in the community.
"Here is a bunch of people who have been living off this pain for many years. This business of the two shores has been going on for many years, even the politicians are exploiting it. Don't be fooled anymore. Don't attack the artists anymore, let the artists make art," he reiterated.
"That is democracy and that is freedom. With so many years they have been here, many have not understood it. Why should I say what you want me to say and when you want? Those who push do not strike," added the singer, who took the opportunity to clarify that in his case he will not sing in Cuba but that he will visit his family as soon as he can.
"Respect, if you are in a country of freedom, respect that everyone can do what they want," he concluded.
In recent hours, the moment when El Micha left the recording set of the show El Toro Loco Show went viral on social media after he clarified that he comes and goes to Cuba because he wants to.
"There are programs and little shows, there are professionals like Tony Dandrades and Enrique Santos, and there are others, a bunch of clowns, acting more patriotic to get a like and profit from the same topic," wrote El Micha on Instagram while sharing a snippet of the moment in question.
In recent months, the singer has been in the spotlight of controversy, not only due to his frequent trips to Cuba to sing but also for stances that many have interpreted as a way of turning his back on the Cuban exile community in Miami.
In a recent interview for Tony Dandrades, the reggaeton artist made it clear that he intends to continue living in Miami and traveling to the island to sing for his audience, especially after his latest album, for which he recorded several music videos in Cuba.
The reggaeton artist has explained why his stance on Cuba has changed: "I realized who I am, where I come from; when you look back, you have to recognize everything you have achieved on your own."
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