The comedian Ulises Toirac has revealed that Cuban authorities have canceled his scheduled performance set for this coming Saturday in Cienfuegos.
In a message shared on his Facebook wall, the actor noted that this is not the first time such an incident has occurred, and that he has nothing new to add about it. "Beyond denying someone work because of their ideas or what they say, the way the power makes it clear that speaking freely is impossible is brutally cowardly," he emphasized.
Toirac questioned why no one takes responsibility or steps forward to explain the cancellation of the show, which was set to take place on Saturday at 5:00 pm in the Ateneo Hall.
"The ideals they claim to defend 'to the death' are highly questionable. Unless 'death' is someone else's, and the weapon is the infinite fear of different ideas and cowardly power," he reiterated.
Dozens of followers expressed their outrage in the post and sent him messages of solidarity. Responding to a Cienfuegos resident who had planned to attend his performance, the comedian said, "I'm truly sorry. The culprits (those closest to you) are in the Ateneo Hall of the Terry Theater. You can go and ask them."
Ulises had been performing in May at Club Biky in Havana. Following a performance, he was "temporarily" suspended, according to his Facebook post, although he did not provide further details.
In April, he complained about being banned from participating in a comedy club at the Bertolt Brecht Theater Café in the Cuban capital. "Once again, the long arm of the law. I was coordinating to perform by invitation from the guys who run it, at a comedy club that takes place on Saturdays at the Bertolt Brecht Café. 'Coincidentally,' I can't work there either," he revealed at the time.
Ulises Toirac's Canceled Performance: Questions and Answers
In light of Ulises Toirac's recent canceled performance in Cienfuegos, many people have questions about the situation and its implications. Here are some frequently asked questions and their answers.
Why was Ulises Toirac's performance in Cienfuegos canceled?
Ulises Toirac's performance was canceled by Cuban authorities, which he claims is due to his ideas and the content of his comedy, highlighting the lack of freedom of speech in Cuba.
Has Ulises Toirac experienced similar issues before?
Yes, Toirac has faced similar cancellations and suspensions in the past, including being banned from performing at the Bertolt Brecht Theater Café and temporarily suspended from Club Biky in Havana.
What was the public reaction to the cancellation?
The public reacted with outrage and solidarity, expressing their support for Toirac on social media.