Ian Padrón Criticizes Díaz-Canel's Use of Elpidio Valdés for Propaganda

The Cuban filmmaker Ian Padrón, son of cartoonist Juan Padrón, has responded to Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel for using the figure of Elpidio Valdés in a tweet celebrating the character's creation. "I open social media and see that today we celebrate the 54th birthday of Elpidio Valdés, a colonel of the Liberating Army with whom many generations have grown up. Fiancé of María Silvia, rider of Palmiche, a brave mambí with whom we have often shouted 'Viva Cuba Libre!' Elpidio is #Cuba," wrote the appointed leader.

His words stirred controversy on social media, including a response from Ian Padrón on his YouTube channel. Dressed in a coat featuring the figure of Elpidio Valdés, Ian reiterated something he has said before: "I say he's my older brother, the eldest son, my older brother and the eldest son of my father Juan Padrón."

Ian Padrón's Direct Response

The filmmaker stated that he did not plan to make a program but felt "obliged" to respond to Díaz-Canel after his reference to Elpidio. "Today, I didn't plan to make a program because, as you know, I'm preparing my new documentary about my trip to Venezuela. A few days ago, I showed you a preview of my trip to Venezuela and what I was able to film there during the protests against Nicolás Maduro and the election fraud," he previewed.

Ian criticized the Cuban leader for using Elpidio's image "to turn it into propaganda." He asserted that the leader knows he is unpopular and is using one of the country's most beloved cartoon characters for his messages. "First, let me remind Díaz-Canel and all the powerful in Cuba who think they have the right to everything, like a feudal lord's mindset, that everything their subjects create belongs to them. It's not like that. Elpidio Valdés is a creation of Juan Padrón and his heirs."

The filmmaker emphasized that his family (mother and sister) have tried not to politicize the animated mambí figure, hence their annoyance at its use by the Cuban government. "We, the heirs of Padrón, are the ones who can decide because our father gave us that power. We are the ones who can decide the use of that character, and we have done everything possible to keep it politically neutral," he added.

Ian also pointed out some discrepancies regarding the date of Elpidio's first publication in the magazine Pionero. "I have been preparing this book for a long time, which now has many pages, like 500 pages, a sort of encyclopedia about Elpidio Valdés. During this research, I discovered relatively recently that August 14 is not the anniversary of the first publication. It was first published on August 4, 1970," he clarified, although he noted it is not an exact date.

Ian also addressed intellectual property as a tool to defend his father's creation, though he claimed it does not receive the respect it deserves in Cuba. "That disrespect towards individual property, that disrespect towards individual creations, even lawyers who may be watching this know that Cuba's copyright law is quite draconian, quite unprotective of the true rights of creators," he accused.

During the so-called parliamentary elections held in Cuba in 2023, the leader also used the figure of Elpidio Valdés to urge Cubans to vote, knowing that the island lacks a plurality of candidates and all respond to the same Communist Party. This action also prompted a response from Ian Padrón.

A few years ago, the filmmaker demanded "respect" for his father over the use of his popular character's image. "The use of Elpidio Valdés and his author, my father Juan Padrón, must be respected more," he stated in a video posted on the social network Facebook. His comments came after several people close to him asked for his opinion on the use of Elpidio Valdés in the Cuban government's political propaganda to ensure a positive vote in the constitutional referendum on February 24, 2019, something they guarantee for themselves in advance.