CubaHeadlines

Cuban TV Host Mocks Exiles in Madrid with Kisses and Taunts

Tuesday, May 6, 2025 by Emma Garcia

In a provocative display in Madrid, Spain, Gabriela Fernández Álvarez, the host of the Cuban state-sponsored show Con Filo, responded to peaceful protests from Cuban exiles with kisses and mocking gestures. The incident took place outside the headquarters of the Hispano-Cuban Friendship Association "Bartolomé de las Casas," where Fernández was giving a talk as part of her propaganda tour across 15 European cities titled "Cuban Youth in the Era of Trump."

Mockery in the Face of Dissent

A livestream by Avana de la Torre on Facebook captured the moment Fernández Álvarez approached the demonstrators, offering sarcastic gestures and kisses amidst chants of "Down with the dictatorship!" from the crowd opposing the Havana regime. Activist Magdiel Jorge Castro noted on X that the presenter was caught "mocking free Cubans" who confronted her with calls for justice and liberty for the island. He highlighted how her tour, sponsored across 15 Spanish cities, utilized European platforms to spread the regime's narrative.

Propaganda Tour Across Europe

Gabriela Fernández Álvarez, a prominent figure in Cuba's state media, embarked on a tour starting May 5th, continuing until the 21st. The tour is backed by the State Movement of Solidarity with Cuba (MESC), a network known for supporting Cuba's official stance internationally. The tour aims to promote the regime's perspective on issues like the U.S. embargo, revolutionary youth, and Cuban "resilience" against Washington's sanctions. However, many Cuban exiles view this as an ideological campaign funded and shielded by pro-Havana groups, silencing any dissenting or critical voices.

Face of Domestic Propaganda

As the host of Con Filo, Fernández Álvarez plays a key role in discrediting dissent, justifying repression, and launching personal attacks against activists, independent journalists, and artists critical of the regime. Her international tour illustrates the regime's strategy to extend propaganda globally, positioning young spokespersons in areas where radical leftist ideologies still echo support for Castroism, despite documented evidence of repression, political prisoners, and widespread human rights abuses on the island.

While Cuba faces increasing blackouts, repression, and poverty, the regime sends its messengers abroad to paint a different picture for foreign audiences. Yet, in Madrid, the voice of free Cubans was loud and clear, countering the regime’s narrative.

Insights into the Cuban Propaganda Tour

What was the purpose of Gabriela Fernández Álvarez's tour?

The tour aimed to promote the Cuban regime's perspective on issues such as the U.S. embargo, revolutionary youth, and Cuban resilience against sanctions, using European platforms to spread their narrative.

How did Cuban exiles in Madrid respond to Fernández Álvarez's presence?

Cuban exiles in Madrid conducted a peaceful protest, chanting slogans against the Havana regime, which Fernández Álvarez mockingly responded to with kisses and sarcastic gestures.

Who sponsored Gabriela Fernández Álvarez's European tour?

The tour was sponsored by the State Movement of Solidarity with Cuba (MESC), a network that supports the Cuban regime's official stance internationally.

© CubaHeadlines 2025