The propaganda machine of the Cuban regime is in full "damage control" mode.
Ten days after a video capturing Miguel Díaz-Canel's outburst towards a victim in Granma went viral, the state-run program 'Chapeando Bajito,' hosted by Arleen Rodríguez Derivet, launched another episode aimed at absolving Cuba's leader of any lack of empathy.
In an episode titled “What Melissa Took and What She Brought,” the seasoned propagandist devoted her segment to defending the leader, accusing the "noisy crowd on social media" of manipulating the scene and "spreading hatred," while insisting that Díaz-Canel "has demonstrated profound sensitivity" time and again.
The text, more akin to a moral sermon than journalistic analysis, adhered to the official script: portraying the regime as the victim, blaming emigrants, and justifying insensitivity with heroic rhetoric.
Rodríguez Derivet resorted to calling critics "modern-day rayadillos," likening them to Spanish colonial soldiers, accusing them of being direct descendants of the enemies of independence simply for questioning the handling of Hurricane Melissa's aftermath and the leader's lack of empathy.
According to the narrative spun by the Guantanamo-born propagandist, the "haters" neither contribute nor help, while true patriots "donate mattresses" and place their trust in the leadership of their "soul brother," the designated leader who always includes her in his international tour entourage.
The Reality Behind the Propaganda
However, this message collides with a reality that can no longer be hidden by spiritual metaphors or revolutionary sentimentality: the entire nation saw the video, and the image of the president, appearing nervous, evasive, and aggressive towards an elderly woman asking for a bed, cannot be erased by benevolent transcription.
One of the most revealing passages in Rodríguez Derivet's text came when she attempted to justify why the program did not show the full video of the exchange between the president and the woman.
“That video is only in the possession of the person who filmed it on their phone,” she claimed, as if a state media outlet lacked the means or access to obtain it.
Instead of displaying the footage—which could confirm or refute her narrative—‘Chapeando Bajito’ offered a “reconstructed” transcription by journalists present. This acknowledgment practically admits that the official narrative is based on hearsay rather than verifiable visual evidence.
Attempts to Redeem an Unconvincing Narrative
Moreover, Rodríguez Derivet's insistence on "goodwill," "the love that returns," and "the nobility of the people" contrasted sharply with the weakness of her central argument: that Díaz-Canel’s response was “honest” and “human.”
To Rodríguez Derivet, employing a harsh and violent tone to tell a woman who lost everything, "I don't have a bed to give you now," paradoxically represents sincerity rather than a lack of empathy.
Even in her effort to defend, Rodríguez Derivet inadvertently revealed a crack: she admitted that "the manner wasn't the best," though she quickly tried to redeem the leader by appealing to his "sincerity" and "human exhaustion."
This seemingly innocent phrase was the only moment of realism in the entire text. By acknowledging that the scene conveyed something inappropriate, Rodríguez Derivet inadvertently validated what millions of Cubans saw with their own eyes: a leader overwhelmed, impatient, and disconnected from the surrounding suffering.
“I mainly take away that honest expression: ‘I’m not going to lie to you,’” concluded the journalist, in a defense that seemed more desperate than convincing.
The Disconnect Between State Media and Public Perception
The issue, however, is not just what was said, but what it revealed: the media leadership of the Castro regime, unwilling to admit mistakes or apologize, has opted for a unified front combining emotional propaganda, moral manipulation, and attacks on critics.
Rodríguez Derivet's piece followed closely on the heels of Abel Prieto’s failed attempt to rehabilitate Díaz-Canel on X with the hashtag *#YoSigoAMiPresidente*, which sparked a wave of mockery and over 10,000 comments of rejection.
With this new installment, ‘Chapeando Bajito’ confirms that the official communication strategy does not seek to restore public trust but to impose an alternative narrative visible to all, even if no one believes it.
Like in the old days of party-line press, Rodríguez Derivet doesn’t inform; she preaches: critics are traitors, dissenters are manipulated, and the only legitimate ones are those who remain silent or applaud.
But today, social media does not heed the dictates of the Palace. In her attempt to "humanize" the leader, Rodríguez Derivet ended up further exposing the decay of a communication machine that repeats patriotic mantras to an exhausted populace. The phrase "everyone who gives love will receive love" sounded almost cruel in a country lacking bread, electricity, and hope.
‘Chapeando Bajito’ sought to close the chapter of the "Granma woman" with a lesson in revolutionary love. But what remains is the echo of a country that no longer believes in the regime's stories or the borrowed tears of its spokespersons.
Understanding Cuba's Media and Leadership Dynamics
How did the Cuban media respond to Díaz-Canel's viral video?
Cuban state media, through programs like 'Chapeando Bajito,' attempted to defend Díaz-Canel by blaming social media for manipulating the scene and portraying him as empathetic.
What was the public's reaction to the hashtag campaign supporting Díaz-Canel?
The hashtag campaign *#YoSigoAMiPresidente* was met with mockery and over 10,000 comments of rejection, highlighting widespread public discontent.
Why is the Cuban media's narrative seen as unconvincing?
The narrative is considered unconvincing because it relies on emotional propaganda and lacks verifiable evidence, failing to align with what many Cubans witnessed firsthand.