Cubavisión censors Julio González Pagés for addressing violence, drugs, and inequality on national television

Dr. Julio César González Pagés, a Cuban historian and researcher, and founder of the Ibero-American and African Network of Masculinities, announced this Wednesday the end of his participation in the program "Alerta en Series" on Cubavisión after being informed by the program's management that his proposals "are not of interest."

The news was confirmed by González himself in a post on his Facebook profile, where he explained that the topics he proposed, related to violence, drugs, inequality, adolescence, and sports, were dismissed by the program's management.

Instead, for the summer, a new series of "political topics" has been selected to be presented by someone else, emphasized the doctor of sciences.

Among the rejected proposals were series such as "La edad de la ira," scheduled for December 2024 and focused on violence among teenagers in school and family environments, as well as "La Academia," projected for the summer of 2025, which addressed issues like individualism, drug use, cyberbullying, and gender inequalities in sports.

The controversial series "Adolescencia", which was scheduled to air in December, is also off the air.

"We present opinions, objectives, thematic lines, and guest lists with knowledgeable individuals on the subject from various fields and sectors," González explained.

However, the proposals did not qualify, marking the end of their participation in the television space.

"The investment of professional and labor time has the limit of the usefulness for those of us involved in these 'woke' issues with national television, and we do not do it for money, as the payment we receive is symbolic," emphasized the academic and promoter of social and gender projects.

Despite the rejection, González stated that he will continue to work on the issues he considers urgent for today's Cuba, such as juvenile delinquency, violence, drugs, and emigration, through his two YouTube channels, where the series and materials will be shared independently.

"There are always alternatives," he stated, thanking the production team of the program and those who accompanied him in the previous two seasons.

“We’ll see each other in the summer on YouTube in an independent presentation with a different name and production team. Thank you,” he concluded.

In another post, González Pagés expressed gratitude for the messages of solidarity received following his departure from the program and reminded that this practice of censorship is not new.

He detailed that in 2021, following the success of the program "Cosas de hombres," with 13 episodes recorded at his home during the pandemic and at no cost to the television station, he was informed by the then director of the channel, Rafael Pérez Ínsua, and by the chief advisor —the same person who is now censoring his content— that, despite the program's good results, there would be no second season.

According to what was communicated to them, despite the fact that the program had reached an estimated audience of six million people and a 90% approval rating, its continuation would not be allowed "to avoid saturating the channel with that topic."

In his message, he emphasized that this would be his last publication on the matter and that he does not seek to reverse decisions or demand a review of criteria.

On the verge of turning 60, he confessed that he will not return to hosting on television due to the stress it causes him, and clarified that he only did it out of commitment to urgent issues such as youth crime, drug use, prostitution, gender-based violence, homophobia, and racism.

"Our commitment is to Cuba, to everyone, and for the good of all," he concluded, reaffirming his willingness to continue working for equity and the rights of vulnerable groups from other avenues, with the support of professionals who distance themselves from macho, misogynistic, or discriminatory views.

At the beginning of 2025, several episodes of censorship have been recorded in official Cuban media, reflecting a growing trend to silence critical or social content.

One of the first controversies arose following the unexpected withdrawal of the telenovela Violetas de Agua from the Cubavisión lineup, a decision made without explanation that generated criticism due to a lack of transparency and respect for its creators.

In February, filmmaker Pavel Giroud reported that his documentary The Padilla Case had been banned from institutional screenings. He explained that cultural authorities prevented its dissemination despite the interest it had generated, highlighting the regime's fear of uncomfortable historical reviews or independent narratives.

In March, there was a warning about new legal tools that further threaten alternative creation. The so-called "gag laws" enable seizures and penalties against those who produce audiovisual materials outside the state system, placing journalists, artists, and cultural promoters who work independently at risk.

Recently, a new case came to light during a live broadcast, when baseball player Omar Ajete was censored while participating in a sports tribute. When he mentioned figures from the exile community and thanked family members abroad, the audio was interrupted, confirming direct censorship even in public, non-political events.

Frequently Asked Questions about Censorship on Cubavisión and Social Issues in Cuba