Cuban comedian Carlucho, whose real name is José Carlos Pérez, delivered a surprisingly philosophical take during an interview with CiberCuba in Madrid. When asked point-blank whether he enjoys being disliked, he responded without hesitation, "It makes me feel alive."
His remarks came amid a controversy involving fellow presenter Carlos Otero. Otero had recently stated on the podcast "Esto no es un Podcast" that he would never work with Carlucho again, sparking a lively debate among the Cuban exile community.
In response to journalist Tania Costa's query about professional jealousy between the two, Carlucho immediately dismissed the notion, saying, "I'm not going to be jealous of the best presenter in Cuba."
Rather than stopping there, Carlucho expanded on the topic, reflecting on fame, impact, and indifference. "I'm a lucky man, fortunate to have an audience that loves me. And you know what? Fortunate to have an audience that hates me, too," he said.
He continued by recontextualizing criticism and rejection as indications of presence and influence, rather than failure. "Do you know how sad it would be to have none of that? To have no one talk about you?" he added.
The tension between Carlucho and Otero had escalated in the days leading up to the interview. Carlucho chose CiberCuba as the platform to publicly address the issue after taking time to reflect.
During the same conversation, Carlucho acknowledged going through a challenging personal period, which he described as a learning experience. "I'm currently going through a mourning in my life, and I enjoy it, I embrace it, I learn what loneliness feels like, and I respect it," he explained.
This mourning refers to his separation from Lili, his partner of ten years, about whom he spoke with discretion. "Things don't have to last a lifetime to be eternal," he noted, respecting her privacy by not divulging further details.
Carlucho concluded his thoughts on external resentment with a poignant statement: "The man or woman who hates me is also giving me a sentiment. It's sad when no one feels anything for you."
In the interview, Carlucho also discussed the rebuilding of the Cuban people in light of a potential transition and shared details about his weight loss surgery, which saw him drop from 320 to 186 pounds.
Having moved to Madrid in late 2024 after over three decades in Miami, Carlucho is set to perform at the Teatro Las Vegas in the Spanish capital on May 3. He will reunite with Robertico, his partner from the duo Los Bufomaníacos, for "El Reencuentro," marking their first joint performance in over 25 years.
Carlucho's View on Fame and Criticism
Why does Carlucho embrace being disliked?
Carlucho believes that being disliked is a sign of having an impact and presence. He feels that both love and hate from the audience affirm his significance.
What personal challenge is Carlucho currently facing?
Carlucho is experiencing a personal challenge due to his separation from his partner of ten years, Lili. He views this period as a time of learning and embracing loneliness.