Sandro Castro, grandson of the late dictator Fidel Castro, has once again found himself at the center of controversy following the release of a new reel on Instagram.
Although the video seemed to focus on the presentation of his eccentric "pet", what generated the most discussion was the conclusion, when Sandro dropped a line that many users interpreted as a mocking reference to the Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
In the recording, made on the Habanero waterfront, Sandro introduced "Magnolia," a silicone hand inspired by Thing, the iconic character from 'The Addams Family.' With his usual irreverent tone, he presented it as if it were a living being that will accompany him from now on and embodies the projections of his unconscious: aporophobia and froteurism.
The reel, however, took an unexpected turn at the end. With a sly smile, Sandro looked at the camera and exclaimed: "I'm so hungry! Aren't you? Let's go eat some fried ripe plantains!"
The incident, beyond the childish humor, was interpreted by many as a satire aimed at Maduro, in a context where the Venezuelan regime is facing a deep political and economic crisis, and under increasing pressure from the United States.
Castro's statement quickly went viral, sparking comments that ranged from mockery to criticism, with users pointing out that the influencer resorted to a double-edged humor: pretending to be light-hearted while throwing a jab at a historical ally of the Cuban regime.
Between satire and veiled criticism
It is not the first time that Sandro Castro has used his social media to send ambiguous messages with double meanings. His style combines exhibitionism with political satire and, although he never openly declares himself as an opponent, his posts have hinted at veiled criticisms of the Cuban regime.
In recent months, he has mocked the power outages, the high prices of ETECSA, and the figure of Miguel Díaz-Canel. In one reel, he even took a direct jab at the Cuban president amid the energy crisis; in another, he joked about getting the telecommunications company drunk so it would "give away data."
These attitudes turned him into a symbol of the disconnection between the Castro elite and the reality of the people, as noted by the international press.
The official response was swift. Regime-aligned spokespersons labeled him an “idiot” and Gerardo Hernández Nordelo himself applauded the counterattack by the state media against the regime’s "grandson," considering that his messages undermine the legacy of his grandfather, the dictator.
Despite this, Sandro keeps his platform open. Each reel generates both followers who celebrate him and detractors who see him as the grotesque caricature of power and inequality in today's Cuba.
Nicolás Maduro in the crosshairs
The phrase from Sandro takes on a different dimension as it comes at a time when Maduro is facing one of his most delicate moments. The United States accuses him of leading the Cartel de los Soles, has placed him on the list of "global terrorist organizations," and is offering a reward of 50 million dollars for his capture.
At the same time, the Trump administration deployed a powerful naval contingent off the coast of Venezuela with destroyers and amphibious ships capable of landing marines on South American shores, presented as a drug operation. From Caracas, Maduro responded by mobilizing 4.5 million militia members and denouncing a direct threat to national sovereignty.
En ese contexto, Sandro's “ripe banana fried-fried” did not go unnoticed: fue leído como un dardo satírico que, bajo la apariencia de un chiste banal, se suma al coro de burlas sobre el gobernante venezolano y, de paso, conecta con el descontento popular por la escasez de alimentos y el hambre.
The Uncomfortable Jester of the Elite
Sandro Castro has become an uncomfortable figure: on one hand, he represents the ostentation and privilege of the Castro elite; on the other, he makes remarks that, although expressed with a "anal phase" humor, point to the crisis of the Cuban regime and now also that of his ally in Caracas.
His latest reel confirms that the grandson of the dictator Castro walks a thin line: that of the court jester of power which, with sarcasm, reflects what many think but do not dare to say.
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