In a belated official statement, the Cuban Music Institute (ICM) addressed the shooting that has left reggaeton artist El Taiger in a life-threatening condition in Miami. Despite acknowledging their awareness of the incident on October 4, the ICM took more than two days to describe the event as a "regrettable incident."
The ICM, together with Artex's Musicalia Agency, claims to have been "continuously monitoring the artist's health status, which remains critical with an uncertain prognosis." They assure the public that updates will follow, stating, "In the coming days, we will continue to provide information on this sensitive matter. We wish for the swift recovery of this young musician, who has not abandoned his nationality or his love for Cuba."
Predictably, comments accompanying the ICM's statement included both hopes for El Taiger's recovery and skepticism over the organization's slow response. On Facebook, journalist Lázaro Manuel Alonso briefly addressed the situation, expressing his own hopes for the artist's recuperation. "The wish for El Taiger to live is shared by thousands of Cubans both inside and outside of Cuba, including myself. Life above all, and respect for his family," he wrote, sharing an article from the publication Trabajadores, which was later reposted by Cubadebate.
Public Reactions and Media Coverage
In its digital edition on Saturday, Trabajadores published a brief article by its director Joel García León, who placed blame on the "violent society" of the United States for incidents like the one involving José Manuel Carbajal Zaldívar (El Taiger).
The investigation into the shooting that left the Cuban reggaeton singer with a head injury is still ongoing. Meanwhile, hundreds of Cubans, both on the island and abroad, have publicly shown their support for the creator of "Habla matador."