Initially inviting fans to bid farewell to El Taiger at Havana's El Sauce Cultural Center, Jorge Junior has now reversed his decision, stating that the final goodbye to his cousin will be "family only." Upon arriving in Cuba's capital, the leader of Los 4 shared on Instagram, "We're going to give our cousin the send-off he deserves, on a high note. Now that we're on the island, we'll do something beautiful so he leaves with a good impression and rests in peace. It will be a family affair, something special."
He clarified, "This doesn't mean entry is completely restricted, but the aim is for it to be something beautiful initially, so that later at the Colón Cemetery, the time is respected. We'll set an example of discipline and love as we did before; if it was beautiful there, it will be beautiful here too," Jorge Junior added.
In a previous live broadcast, Jorge Junior had stated, "We'll be at El Sauce from 5 or 6 for anyone who wants to come by and at least give their final farewell."
However, on Friday morning, the Cuban Institute of Music released an official statement indicating that "at the family's request, his ashes will be laid to rest in a private ceremony," a decision that disappointed many of the artist's fans.
Fans expressed their dismay in comments, writing, "Cubans want to say goodbye to El Taiger"; "It's all very sad. An artist like him, who was always for the people and recognized that it was his fans who made him great, it's unfair that we don't have this privilege"; "To be fair, they could organize two moments, one for family and another for the public to pay their respects, as has been done for other significant figures in national music"; "It would be more fitting for the Cubans he always defended to be able to sing to him one last time"; "I hope I'm wrong, and the State Security isn't involved in preventing crowds. That family is too humble for such decisions"; "I respect the family's decision, but it's very sad not to let his people give him the last farewell he wanted."