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The singer-songwriter Israel Rojas, leader of the duo Buena Fe, acknowledged this Wednesday that he was "naive" for not believing for years the claims about the privileges of the power elite in Cuba, and he publicly apologized to those who, he said, tried to warn him about that reality.
His reflection was published on Facebook regarding the controversy sparked by Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, known as “El Cangrejo,” grandson of Raúl Castro, whose recent interview with the American newspaper has provoked a wave of criticism both on and off the island.
The comment arose in response to a post by lawyer and historian Ernesto Limia, who argued that the media exposure of El Cangrejo is part of a "cognitive warfare" operation against Cuba. Although Rojas shared that text, he made it clear that he did not agree with that interpretation.
"That is the opinion of Ernesto Limia, whom I respect and admire. My view is that in the revolution I knew, people like those in that American article, Raúl Guillermo, always ended badly. No one had ever dared to go that far before. And those who sheltered, encouraged, supported, or tolerated them ended up just as badly." he wrote.
In one of the most discussed passages of his publication, the musician apologized to those who spoke to him for years about the privileges of certain sectors of power and asserted that he refused to believe them.
"What a shame with our vaccine scientists, the dedicated doctors, the workers of the UNE, the retirees. To all those who, in good faith, spoke to me about these phenomena and I refused to believe. A thousand apologies. I have been naïve," he stated.
Rojas also questioned the contrast between the ostentation of some members of the elite and the daily sacrifices of millions of Cubans.
"Neither familiarity nor joviality from a revolutionary leader can excuse bypassing, even symbolically, the institutions of the country. Behind this are years of grassroots work, people who have given their lives to serve the nation," he wrote.
The case of "El Cangrejo"
The singer's reaction comes after the interview in which the colonel of the Ministry of the Interior and grandson of Raúl Castro claimed to be willing to negotiate directly with President Donald Trump about the future of Cuba.
The interview generated significant controversy not only due to his statements but also because of the image projected by Rodríguez Castro, who appeared wearing a Rolex Submariner watch, Hermès sneakers, and a Hugo Boss t-shirt, in addition to stating: “It pains me deeply that people cannot live like I do”.
His words sparked a wave of outrage on social media, in a context marked by prolonged blackouts, food shortages, and salaries that barely suffice to cover basic needs.
It evokes the Ochoa case
In his post, Rojas recalled Case Number One of 1989, a trial in which General Arnaldo Ochoa and several officials from the Ministry of the Interior were sentenced, to question whether the ethical principles that, according to him, inspired the Revolution at that time are still relevant.
"Is the code of ethics for the leaders still in effect? I remember the passionate legal and ethical arguments—especially the ethical ones—by then prosecutor Juan Escalona Reguera," he wrote.
And he added, "And then, suddenly, this. Just like that. Now everything takes on a painful meaning, an indignity, an unjust, undignified logic."
The statements from the leader of Buena Fe add to a debate that has already involved figures traditionally close to the establishment.
Among those who reacted was photographer Kaloian Santos Cabrera, who publicly questioned the role of El Cangrejo. "What the hell is the grandson/bodyguard doing negotiating Cuba's fate? Who put him there? With what legitimacy?" he wrote.
Also this Wednesday, María del Carmen Hernández Carús, mother of the head of Communication at the Palace of the Revolution, expressed her discontent on Facebook with a brief message directed at Raúl Castro's grandson: “Could someone bring this young man down to earth? Could someone please tell him to be quiet?”.
Israel Rojas, who in February 2026 stated that he would not fight for the Castro dynasty —although he later retracted that statement— and in June called for political reforms, concluded his comment by reaffirming his convictions but drawing a line: "I do not regret being a revolutionary. I have not strayed from my beliefs. That's their choice."
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