The Cuban state-run program Con Filo recently shared a post on Facebook mocking Donald Trump's comments about Cuba's alleged need for heating, which sparked an unexpected backlash. Rather than engaging with the topic presented, numerous users demanded that the show address the recent interview Sandro Castro gave to CNN.
The post, titled "Cold Without You, Trump," pokes fun at the former U.S. president's comments, but followers quickly diverted the conversation.
Tamara González Serrano was among the first to highlight the omission, asking, "And what about the Sandro interview?"
Yoel Lopez chimed in with a comment that resonated with many: "They won't talk about that, they know where it says DANGER."
Raisa Barrera supported the statement with a thumbs-up, while Daniel Martines was more straightforward: "Why don't they dedicate an episode to Sandro Castro's interview? Aren't we supposed to criticize everything?"
Yoel Lopez further emphasized, "We're waiting for you to criticize Sandro Castro, he has said worse things than Anna Sofía Benítez Silvente and the El4tico crew, and he's free... so go ahead, we're expecting a good report."
Claudia Montenegro Zamora joined with a direct request: "The next Con Filo should be about Sandro since you like to mock so much, I want you to mock him."
Background of the Controversy
The demand has an immediate context. On Monday, Sandro Castro—grandson of Fidel Castro, a 33-year-old Havana "influencer," and owner of Bar EFE in Vedado—gave an exclusive interview to CNN's Patrick Oppmann, recorded in his Havana apartment.
During the interview, Sandro openly criticized President Miguel Díaz-Canel: "To me, he's not doing a good job because he should have done many things right long ago that are still affecting us today."
He also expressed pro-capitalist views: "Many people in Cuba think in capitalist terms and want capitalism with sovereignty in Cuba."
He went further: "Most Cubans want capitalism, not communism. And that has created differences and, sadly, hatred."
These statements sent shockwaves through Cuban social media, becoming the hot topic of the moment, making Con Filo's silence even more noticeable.
The prevailing perception among users is that Con Filo, a program produced by Cubadebate and launched in 2021 following the July 11 protests as a media tool for the regime, applies a double standard. It sarcastically targets activists, independent journalists, and government critics but remains silent on controversial statements from a member of the revolutionary elite.
This pattern is not new. As early as May 2025, online users humorously pointed out that the program would never tackle Sandro Castro, precisely because he "knows where it says DANGER," a phrase referencing the boundaries the regime sets for its own media.
Public Reaction to Sandro Castro's Interview
Why is Sandro Castro's interview controversial?
The interview is controversial because Sandro Castro, a member of the Castro family, openly criticized Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel and expressed pro-capitalist views, challenging the communist regime's stance.
What was the reaction to Con Filo's silence?
Many social media users criticized Con Filo for ignoring Sandro Castro's interview, accusing the program of bias and applying double standards by targeting critics of the government while overlooking contentious remarks from within the regime.