The controversial statement made by the officialist journalist Arleen Rodríguez Derivet regarding José Martí and electricity continues to provoke strong reactions both inside and outside of Cuba. This time, it was Luis Silva, the Cuban actor who portrayed the popular character Pánfilo in Vivir del Cuento, who raised his voice sharply from exile.
"When you want to justify the unjustifiable, you end up in that kind of ridiculousness," Silva wrote on his social media, referring directly to Arleen's comment during an interview with former Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa, where she attempted to downplay the blackouts by stating that "José Martí did not know electric light."
The actor, remembered for his critical humor, accompanied his post with mockery of Correa's facial expression during the exchange. “Correa's face deserves an Oscar. Oh, Arleen. We're in the 21st century,” he added, referencing the phrase with which the former president abruptly silenced the journalist during the interview.
Silva's words did not go unnoticed. His reaction carries a special symbolic weight: for years he portrayed in national television a retired Havana resident who, through humor, depicted scarcity, blackouts, bureaucracy, and the contradictions of the system. That same humor ultimately made those in power uncomfortable. The program was taken off the air, and Silva eventually emigrated to the United States.
That's why their criticism resonates with a widespread sentiment among Cubans. It's not just a mockery of an unfortunate phrase, but a direct rejection of the logic of justifying hardship by appealing to historical sacrifice. In a country where power outages exceed 40 consecutive hours in several provinces, downplaying the crisis from a well-lit study has been seen as a provocation.
Luis Silva's reaction adds to a wave of indignation that has included intellectuals, broadcasters, psychologists, and ordinary citizens. For many, the issue was not solely the historical mistake—Martí was indeed familiar with and wrote about electricity—but rather the attempt to normalize darkness as a destiny.
While official voices have come forward to defend Arleen Rodríguez in the name of friendship or the Revolution, other public figures have set clear ethical boundaries. From Laritza Camacho to thousands of users on social media, the message is the same: Martí should not be used to justify the collapse.
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