Cuban dissident and social media influencer Manuel Milanés has openly criticized the behavior of numerous Cuban YouTubers and content creators regarding the significant events of July 11, 2021. On that day, thousands of Cubans took to the streets to demand freedom, yet Milanés noted the absence of coordinated support from those who encourage such actions.
Reflecting on the July 11 protests, Milanés highlighted the lack of concrete action plans to support the demonstrators. He pointed out that while many Cubans face imprisonment for their involvement, those who spur them into action remain in comfortable positions. “July 11th came and went, and we didn’t act. The boats didn’t go out. That’s the reality. You have to be honest. I have voice notes: Manuel, we’ve set out, where are you?” he recounted during an interview on the YouTube show “Destino Tolk,” hosted by Dominican YouTuber Dany Pérez and Fernan.
Milanés condemned this behavior as “nonsense” and labeled the stance of calling for mobilization without action as “irresponsible,” accusing these individuals of sending “people to the slaughter.” “That’s where the message goes wrong: ‘You go out, and we’ll support you.’ That’s nonsense. You’re sending people to the slaughterhouse, and then you won’t do anything. You’re being irresponsible,” stressed the Cuban living in the United States.
He firmly asserted that “half of the Cubans imprisoned are because of people who said, go out, we’ll support you,” criticizing those who incite protests without providing real backing. Milanés’s statements reflect the tensions between Cuban opposition figures and content creators who aim for meaningful change in Cuba.
The Role of the Regime and Content Creators
In another part of the interview, Milanés claimed that the existing tension among Cuban influencers is partly fueled by the Cuban dictatorship. According to him, the regime “encourages all that, sending messages to one and to another. The tyranny does this to pit us against each other.”
He also noted that there is “a lot of ego and a quest for views, so when you put something out there and it’s working, they want to shut it down because it dims theirs. There are many things that disconnect you from a genuine desire to do something for Cuba.”
These statements from Milanés are set against the backdrop of repression on the island, where many individuals face imprisonment for their activism.
Questioning Motivations and Allegiances
Particularly, Milanés cast doubt on Cuban YouTuber Otaola's commitment to Cuba's freedom cause, given the abundance of advertisers on his program. “If your daily content focuses on the dictatorship, and in one minute of your program, 40 ads run, there’s a risk you’re more driven by the money you make than by freeing Cuba,” he argued.
Manuel Milanés is among the individuals the Cuban regime has labeled as terrorists, allegedly submitting this list to Interpol earlier this year. Milanés has used his social media platforms to denounce human rights violations in Cuba and support protest movements, which the Cuban government claims justifies his inclusion on this list in an effort to discredit and criminalize his activism.