A video by the Cuban impersonator Yaniel Castillo published this Saturday on Instagram became one of the most discussed pieces of content of the week among Cubans both on and off the island, after thousands of users believed it was none other than Sandro Castro himself who was talking about "auctioning off" his great-uncle Raúl Castro.
In the 29-second reel, Castillo mimics the tone, vocabulary, and gestures of Fidel Castro's grandson with such precision that the confusion was immediate.
"Hey vampires, I'm not going to say where my great-uncle is, but when the auction starts, that's when I'll really reveal myself. For 10 million, I'll give a hint, for 20 million, I'll give the location, but for 50, I'll package it up for you to take with you. I'm dropping hints, I love you all. Vampirash," says Castillo in the parody.
The video accumulated over 2 million views, 46,000 likes, and 3,370 comments in less than 24 hours, and among the users who liked the post is the profile of Sandro Castro (@sandro_castrox) himself.
The reference to "great-uncle" directly points to Raúl Castro, brother of Fidel and a historical figure of the regime, whose public appearances are becoming increasingly rare.
The most viral comments within the reel reflect both the initial confusion and the recognition of the impersonator's talent.
"It confused me SO much that I thought Sandro was really here in Miami," wrote one user. Another admitted, "Oh, I thought it was him."
The most applauded comment was particularly scathing: "I knew it wasn't Sandro because you spoke more than one coherent sentence, and he would never dare to do that."
Yaniel Castillo is a Cuban actor and impersonator known for his parodies of public figures. His impersonations of Sandro Castro began to go viral in late 2024 and have elicited reactions from the person himself.
In April 2026, Sandro Castro publicly reacted to one of his impersonations. Castillo is also known for impersonating the host Alex Otaola, which in 2023 resulted in a threat of legal action from him.
The video of "the auction" went viral at a time of high social tension in Cuba.
May 2026 has witnessed the largest wave of protests since July 11, 2021, driven by daily blackouts of up to 22 hours and a record electricity deficit exceeding 2,100 MW. In this context, the joke about "auctioning" Raúl Castro takes on a political dimension that explains its rapid spread among the diaspora and Cubans on the island.
Sandro Castro is an entrepreneur and influencer with over 150,000 followers on Instagram. In recent months, he has gained greater notoriety among Cubans both on and off the island and has given several interviews to international media, including those from the United States.
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