Yomil Speaks Out Amid Cuban Protests: "Most Critics Abroad Never Took Action Themselves"

Cuban singer Yomil Hidalgo took to Instagram over the weekend to share a series of stories expressing his thoughts on the ongoing protests in Cuba, which have been shaking the island for ten consecutive days.

In his posts, Yomil, who resides in Cuba and emphasized this point, directed his sharpest criticism towards Cubans conducting political activism from abroad. "The 99% who speak from there now never did anything" when they were in Cuba, he wrote, adding that many "attended marches, participated in CDR guards, were the most prominent, and were part of communist organizations."

The reggaeton artist also criticized those who, according to him, "live off politics" and "the most they've done is stand in front of a private jet disrespecting an entire country." To those claiming they want to help Cuba from afar, he issued a direct challenge: "Go ahead, buy a ticket, and come to the heat to see if I see you acting the same way you do on social media."

At the same time, Yomil expressed respect for those who have shown courage within the island. He explicitly mentioned Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara and Maykel Osorbo as individuals deserving recognition, lamenting that "nobody remembers" them. "The saddest part is that nobody remembers those who truly have my respect because they've shown tremendous dignity, like Luis Manuel, Maykel, and all those political prisoners currently in a cell waiting for a signal from you that will never come," he wrote.

Regarding Otero Alcántara, a legal resource is seeking his immediate release, while the Cuban government's announcement of prisoner releases has cast doubt on the actual fate of political detainees.

On his own stance, the artist explained that he "withdrew several years ago" because he was "disappointed with everything," and defended his decision to remain in Cuba. "I don't live in the Yuma, all of us living in Cuba truly experience the day-to-day heat, get that in your head," he asserted, noting that he has "more to lose" than those living abroad and that thanks to his work, he was able to "create conditions to have a decent quality of life" on the island.

Yomil also acknowledged the paradox of speaking out or remaining silent about Cuba: "I did, I spoke, I went out, I fought, and I defended myself alone without any of your help, so that in the end, if you speak, they call you a communist and if you don't, they do too." He further criticized those commenting from comfort: "everything is behind a phone, knowing they'll sleep peacefully with electricity, air, food, and the next day open the phone without any pressure."

His statements come on the tenth consecutive day of protests in Cuba, sparked by the collapse of the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant on March 5, which left 68% of the island without power. The demonstrations have spread to Havana, Morón, Santiago de Cuba, and Mayarí, among other locations.

Yomil has a history of speaking out about the Cuban situation: he participated in the July 11, 2021 protests, was briefly arrested, and shared a video of his detention to denounce repression. In April 2025, he stirred controversy by participating in a debate organized by the Cuban Ministry of Culture, which many saw as contradicting his previous stances.

The singer concluded his stories with a statement summarizing his position: "If you are democrats, you also have to respect opinions, because if not, then the real communists are you." This is not the first time Yomil has made controversial statements about the country's future: in February 2025, he envisioned a president like Bukele for Cuba.