Cuban announcer Rolando Zaldívar publicly acknowledged that he is facing an addiction problem, in statements made to the project Conducta Dade, which has been following his situation in Miami.
In the released material, he spoke about the videos that have circulated about him recently and then admitted: “I am straightforward, and yes, I have been consuming for about a year and a little bit, and well, we have reached this point, but I think it’s time to change direction.”
At another time, he reflected on his personal situation: "Because I’m quite the crazy one, but when I see the precipice right there, just a little bit back, nobody wants to go over the edge."
And he added: “So I believe that saving ourselves is the only option we have left; after hitting rock bottom, all that’s left is to rise up.”
In November 2025, Zaldívar was arrested in Miami for petty theft and possession of cocaine, according to the police record from Miami-Dade County, as reported when his arrest in the city became known. At that time, it was noted that he was granted a bail of 150 dollars. The release of his police booking photo, in which he appeared visibly deteriorated, triggered a wave of reactions on social media.
Days later, his son, José Michael Zaldívar, sent a public message to express his gratitude for the support received and to deny rumors about an alleged fundraising. “I have seen many pages that have dedicated themselves to spreading false news, claiming that we are raising funds to help save my dad's life. This is completely untrue, it is false, we are not raising any funds,” he stated in a statement released through Conducta.
In December, the Conducta profile in Dade announced that it had managed to get in touch with the former broadcaster and was seeking to accompany him during that complex moment, amidst the mobilization of members of the Cuban community in Miami to offer him help, as was explained when it became known that there was an intention to locate him again and continue supporting him.
The latest statements from Zaldívar have sparked hundreds of comments on social media, featuring phrases like: “To acknowledge is wise, it’s the first step to take,” “The first and most important thing is to recognize the problem; the road is long, but it can be done,” “Stay strong, brother; you'll get through this,” and “You've already solved half of the problem.”
Other users turned to faith: "Seek God, and you will see results," "May God allow you to succeed," and "With willpower and God's help, you will emerge victorious." There were also expressions of emotional impact such as: "How sad to see him like this!" "So much deterioration!" and "My soul is broken."
Several comments remembered his career in Cuban radio, especially his time at Disco Fiesta 98 on Radio Ciudad de La Habana, and reminisced about the period when he was one of the most recognized voices in that venue.
Although he has not publicly explained what the next steps in his recovery process will be, Zaldívar made it clear that he intends to change by stating, "saving ourselves is the option we have left."
Filed under: