Sandro Castro has done it again. In one of his typical sketches on social media, Fidel Castro's unruly grandson has raised the stakes with his ambiguous—if not outright clear—messages toward the Cuban regime.
This time, he has done it with a symbolic gesture disguised as a boozy joke: he has rejected one of his iconic "Cristach" to order, of all things, a Cuba Libre.
In the video, Sandro is shown in a bar, and after an awkward phone conversation – which is quite sexist, to be honest – he appears upset.
A waiter tries to calm him down with a Cristach, the beer brand that has become his greatest attribute, but his reaction comes as a surprise.
“No, I don't want to drink Cristach, what I want is a Cuba libre, brother”, he says with a serious expression.
The waiter replies that they don't have Coca-Cola to make the drink, to which Sandro responds:
"When you have Coca-Cola, let me know, because right now that's my favorite drink."
Upon leaving the establishment, after summarizing the day's misfortunes, he utters another sharp remark: "Better times will come, sir."
The release of the video was accompanied by a phrase written in capital letters that encapsulates the symbolism of the moment:
"I'M NOT UP FOR CHRISTMAS, I WANT TO DRINK CUBA LIBRE."
A simple play on words?
In the Cuban context, the expression “Cuba Libre” goes far beyond rum and cola.
It is a repressed cry, a collective longing that encapsulates decades of struggle, frustration, and a desire for change. That Fidel Castro's grandson would embrace it—even within a light-hearted context—has been interpreted by many as a direct provocation or a coded message.
Sandro is not part of the visible structures of power in Cuba, but his surname inevitably makes him a symbol.
And their videos, which blend humor, absurdity, performance, and social references, are being discussed and followed more than ever.
What was once seen as eccentricity is now being interpreted by some as a narrative cleverly constructed with increasingly clear nods to popular sentiment.
The people react: Applause or strategy?
In recent hours, dozens of internet users have commented on the social media post, divided between hope, mockery, suspicion, and criticism.
“I told you a while ago, this kid is with us, clearer than water. Free”; “We support the drink”; “Couldn’t be clearer. This boy is always sending signals. We all want a free Cuba”; “A free Cuba for all Cubans”; some assert.
Others, on the other hand, are distrustful:
"This child is an enormous piece of work like everyone in his family"; "That's what he wants you to think"; "Don't be naive. That's why you've been doing this your entire life"; "He's guilty too"; "He became rich off what his grandfather Fidel stole"; "That's part of the strategy, to make us believe that the good kid is on our side," others assert.
"One can choose to drop the last name. One can avoid ambiguous messages if one wants to. The people are starving, and he talks about the latest iPhone or drives a $500,000 Mercedes Brabus. That's why Cuba is in this situation, because of people like you who are deceived by these clowns," commented another user.
There have been those who, in defense of Sandro, seek to separate the individual from the burden of the surname.
"Everyone attacks him, and no one has seen him sitting at a party desk, at a round table, or at patriotic events. They only attack a man who, fortunately or unfortunately, was born into the Castro family. He hasn’t taken anything from anyone. Just because of the last name Castro and being a grandson of someone, it’s all against him… Long live a Free Cuba, and what will be will be by God's law. If I were in his position, I would do the same," said a netizen in that regard.
The truth is that the most controversial and media-savvy grandson of the late dictator has once again achieved what he seems to be seeking: to provoke, generate conversation, and keep his name in the public sphere.
However, this time the message has resonated more deeply. To say "I want a Free Cuba" is significant coming from a Castro.
The interpretations are numerous: Irony? Marketing? Venting? Coded message?
What is certain is that gestures matter, and every word spoken—or published—by someone of their lineage resonates beyond the anecdote or the chosen drink.
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