A technical oversight on Saturday revealed the true temperament of Arleen Rodríguez Derivet, the leading host of Mesa Redonda, as she reprimanded her production team live on air with her microphone unintentionally left on.
The mishap occurred at the start of a program titled "The Country's Measures Amid the Energy Blockade Escalation." Instead of cutting directly to the broadcast of Miguel Díaz-Canel's speech, the transmission unexpectedly returned to the set, catching Rodríguez Derivet off guard.
With the microphone still active and the broadcast live, the host, in an irritated tone, asked, "Why did you come back to me!?" This remark was aired live and caught by viewers before the segment announced by the presenter commenced.
The day's program aimed to promote and justify a set of economic reforms unveiled by Díaz-Canel earlier that morning. These reforms were in response to sanctions imposed the previous day by Secretary of State Marco Rubio against Unión Cuba-Petróleo (CUPET).
The slip-up and the host's reaction starkly contrast with Rodríguez Derivet's carefully curated image as the "kind and nurturing" propagandist of the regime.
The journalist, who serves as the deputy director of Mesa Redonda, shares a close relationship with Díaz-Canel, who has publicly referred to her as his "soul sister." He also celebrated her in March 2024 when she received the National Journalism Award José Martí for Lifetime Achievement.
This is not the first time Arleen has found herself in an awkward on-air moment. In January 2026, she attempted to rationalize power outages by stating, "José Martí never knew electric light and he was a genius," a comment that sparked widespread criticism and led to a public correction citing a lesson from Fidel Castro.
In April 2026, she once again attracted attention online by praising Díaz-Canel, calling him a "man of love."
Insights on Arleen Rodríguez Derivet's On-Air Moments
What incident revealed Arleen Rodríguez Derivet's temperament?
A technical mistake during a live broadcast left her microphone on, capturing her reprimanding her team in frustration.
How has Arleen Rodríguez Derivet's image been perceived?
She is known as the regime's "kind and nurturing" spokesperson, but recent incidents have challenged this portrayal.
What previous controversial statement did Arleen make?
In January 2026, she controversially claimed that "José Martí never knew electric light and was a genius" to justify power outages.