Renowned Cuban musician Chucho Valdés recently declared himself "exiled" during an interview with journalist Juan Manuel Cao. He vehemently denied signing a 2003 letter that supported the execution of three young men accused of hijacking a ferry in Havana. "Never. They might put your name in a newspaper just because they can, trying to tarnish your reputation and career in such a vile way, and it's sad that doubt remains," Valdés stated.
He emphasized that he would never endorse such an act, explaining, "I was actually here in Miami, touring the United States as part of my regular spring tour—it was March or April—when I found out." Chucho recounted being in a hotel with a friend, Raúl Artiles, who informed him that his photo and name were published in Granma, listed among intellectuals and artists allegedly backing the executions.
A Painful Misrepresentation
"It devastated me because it's terrible to be used like that," he stressed. Valdés shared that his close circle, including his father Bebo, always knew the claim was false. However, he lamented the lingering doubt among many people, a stain he feels powerless to erase.
Chucho did not clarify why he didn't immediately take action to refute the misuse of his name upon learning about it, nor did Cao press him on this point. Nevertheless, when asked if he considers himself an "exile," Valdés firmly replied, "Yes," confirming that he resides in Broward County.
Past Denials and Ongoing Controversy
This isn't the first time Valdés has refuted signing the infamous letter. In July 2021, following the historic 11J protests, he denied it again, explaining that the regime had tricked him into approving the document. "I never signed anything of that nature. Even if my name appeared on a document, at that time I was touring in the U.S. A government official contacted me about adding my name to a document against terrorism, and I was unaware of the events in my country due to limited internet access," Valdés explained in a comment on social media.
He recalled how days later, while having breakfast with a friend, he discovered his name was misused, a pain he still carries. "That's the truth," he asserted. His detailed account was shared on Facebook, where the acclaimed pianist expressed deep "sorrow" for his suffering compatriots and called for "international humanitarian aid."
Wider Implications of the Letter
The contentious letter had gathered signatures from various figures in Cuban culture, including Silvio Rodríguez, Alicia Alonso, Omara Portuondo, Amaury Pérez, Roberto Fabelo, and Eusebio Leal, among others. It endorsed the execution of the young men involved in the attempted hijacking of the ferry "Protesta de Baraguá," commonly known as the "Lanchita de Regla," used for transporting passengers across Havana Bay.
Despite the fact that no physical harm came to anyone during the incident, the Cuban authorities ordered the execution of Lorenzo Enrique Copello Castillo, Bárbaro Leodán Sevilla García, and Jorge Luis Martínez Isaac. In April 2020, 17 years after the incident, even Silvio Rodríguez disavowed support for the executions, stating on his blog Segunda Cita, "I never supported those executions. And I'm sure none of the signatories of that letter did either."