Cuban comedian Otto Ortiz, known for using humor to highlight societal issues and criticize the regime, expressed on Tuesday his desire to live in Cuban Television: "There's so much optimism, so much joy, so much faith in the future."
Ortiz lamented on Facebook about his residence in Nuevo Vedado, listing reasons why he believes it would be far better to live in Cuban Television. "My television life would have the dollar at 120... at 120!" the comedian exclaimed, criticizing the regime for maintaining that exchange rate while the informal exchange rate in Cuba is vastly different.
If he lived in television, Ortiz suggested that the National Insurance Company (ESEN) would have already replaced the car they've owed him for nearly five years. "But no, they are still stuck in 2019 and haven't provided anything in months," he added.
The comedian announced in 2023 his intention to sue ESEN for failing to honor their agreement, accusing the company's entire leadership of making agreements they can't fulfill and only meeting with dissatisfied clients to buy time and prolong their suffering. Ortiz criticized the company for a past contract to insure his car that turned out to be worthless.
Ortiz Criticizes Cuban State Enterprises
Lastly, Ortiz mentioned another reason for wanting to move to the "neighborhood" of Cuban Television is that "ETECSA, Aguas de La Habana, the Electric Company, Public Health, and even private agros would all be national vanguards working for the people," denouncing how state media presents a conflict-free and sanitized version of Cuban reality.
"In short, I'm ready to swap," the Cuban comedian concluded, referring to his indignation in April at a program aired on Mesa Redonda discussing insurance in Cuba: "Lying has become a way of life," he stated.
In the comments section, Ortiz's followers agreed that for Cuban Television, the country has very few problems. Yaquelin Pérez noted, "Cuban TV is a shelter where everything works. If you really want to achieve your goal, you should swap to NTV. Everything works perfectly there for the people. Corruption is fought, markets are full, factories are producing, and ESEN is doing excellent work."
Rafael Duenas expressed his frustration, saying he's close to "returning from the USA to live in NTV. NTV is better than the USA. Here, no plans are fulfilled, there's no joy, and nothing works as well."
"I wonder if 'those people' aren't ashamed of the lies they tell, which everyone (including them) knows are false," commented Maleybis Pérez Camacho.
Otto Ortiz and His Critique of Cuban Television
In this section, we address some frequently asked questions about Otto Ortiz's critique of Cuban Television and his broader commentary on the state of various Cuban institutions.
Why does Otto Ortiz want to live in Cuban Television?
Otto Ortiz sarcastically expressed his desire to live in Cuban Television because it portrays an unrealistically optimistic and joyful version of Cuba, which contrasts sharply with the harsh realities faced by its citizens.
What issues did Otto Ortiz highlight in his Facebook post?
Ortiz highlighted several issues including the unrealistic exchange rate maintained by the regime, the failure of the National Insurance Company (ESEN) to fulfill its commitments, and the misleading portrayal of public services by state media.