The prominent Cuban comedian Ulises Toirac has sparked a strong wave of reactions on social media after speaking out harshly against the Minister of Labor and Social Security of Cuba, Marta Elena Feitó Cabrera, who this Monday publicly denied the existence of beggars in the country.
Toirac not only limited himself to criticizing the controversial statements of the minister, but he has also gone further by defining himself as just another beggar and has explained why.
The comedian has hit the nail on the head by pointing out that in Cuba there are millions of people who barely manage to avoid begging thanks to the support of family or friends, both inside and outside the country.
"We will have clothes that are not for beggars and hands that are not of beggars, but from our sweat, most of us do not live," he wrote in the comments section of a post where he described himself as such.
And he added: “I must be someone in disguise who evades taxes, but I wouldn't make it to the end of the month without their help. In Cuba, very few can.”
The hashtag #YoSoyMendigo, far from being a self-pitying gesture, was used by the comedian as a label for collective protest.
With him, Toirac issued a social alert by stating that the majority of Cubans live in such precarious conditions that they are on the brink of indigence, even if they don't appear that way at first glance.
His message has been raw and direct because it exposes the Cuban regime's inability to sustain the country economically and to guarantee a dignified life for its citizens.
With irony, but without losing impact, Toirac ridiculed the official attempt to gloss over the reality of the country and denounced the disconnection of the authorities from the everyday life of the average Cuban.
“There is a languor of the soul that borders on something worse than scorn. An absence of contact with reality that goes beyond ignorance. A desire to impose a perspective that shifts from struggle to aberration”, he wrote in another post.
In a sarcastic tone, Toirac dismantled the official narrative with a parody about spies and mercenaries.
"I believe there are many spies from the Empire trying to create a false impression of the country. They eat from garbage containers [...] they beg... But it's a lie. It's an operation by foreign intelligence services to discredit the country through mercenaries," he pointed out
The comedian also questioned the official figures and the comfort from which speeches are delivered that are disconnected from the realities of the streets.
"We need to go to the homes, we need to pencil in the salary-cost of living accounts. We need to reach out to the hands that she says are not those of beggars, we cannot live so damnably at the expense of positions, inventing studies based on self-suggestion," he observed.
In a combative tone – which, rather than calling for her dismissal, almost demanded prison for the minister – the comedian did not overlook the pathetic euphemism that the officials use to refer to things they do not like.
"It's not that it looks ugly. It's that it's legally questionable to speak this way about those they call 'vulnerable,' and they call them that because in Cuba, it's not the same as in other countries. These are make-believe.", he concluded.
“There are phrases that deserve many years in prison: 'the divers are in the water' is a...”, stated the comedian in the comments section of one of his posts.
His statements have gone viral on social media, generating hundreds of reactions from Cubans who fully identify with his perspective and who even embrace the idea of #IAmAStruggler.
Ulises Toirac has not been the only comedian to take a serious stance in recent hours; Luis Silva and Rigoberto Ferrera have also found it impossible to avoid making comments that are on the minds of millions of Cubans from all political sides.
Also outraged is the actor Luis Alberto García, who has emphasized the concern that none of those present in the Commission were able to oppose such a proposal.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Controversy Involving Comedian Ulises Toirac and the Minister of Labor of Cuba
What did Ulises Toirac say about the Minister of Labor of Cuba?
Ulises Toirac harshly criticized Minister Marta Elena Feitó Cabrera, who denied the existence of beggars in Cuba. The comedian defined himself as a beggar and reported that many Cubans survive thanks to the support of family or friends, revealing the precarious economic situation in the country.
What was the response of other Cuban artists to the minister's statements?
Other artists, such as Rigoberto Ferrera and Luis Silva, also lashed out against the minister. Ferrera questioned the truthfulness of the official claims, while Silva used satire to criticize the government's narrative. The overall reaction was one of outrage and rejection of the official's statements.
How has the Cuban government responded to the criticism of the Minister of Labor?
President Miguel Díaz-Canel spoke ambiguously, without directly mentioning the minister, regarding the lack of sensitivity in addressing vulnerability. His response was seen as an attempt to distance himself from the scandal without taking concrete political responsibility.
What impact have the minister's statements had on Cuban society?
Feitó Cabrera's statements have generated a wave of indignation both inside and outside of Cuba. Intellectuals, artists, and citizens have used social media to refute his claims, showcasing the reality of poverty on the island and demanding a more honest and responsible response from the government.
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