Carlos Eduardo Espina, a prominent activist and influencer, has stirred up social media once again with his latest critique of Cuban presenter Alexander Otaola during an appearance on the podcast "Destino Tolk." Espina downplayed Otaola's influence, accusing him of building his notoriety on conflicts with other content creators. "When I started on social media, I was focused on migration and politics. Then my Cuban followers began asking, 'Have you seen this guy talking about you?' I honestly had no idea who he was. Outside his community, nobody knows Otaola," Espina expressed during the interview.
The young Uruguayan questioned the actual reach of Otaola among Hispanic audiences in the United States. With a straightforward tone, Espina remarked, "If you ask a Mexican, a Honduran, or a Guatemalan who this guy is, I initially thought he was just another eccentric character from the internet." He added humorously.
Espina also shared his experiences of being repeatedly targeted by Otaola on his show over the years. "He's featured me numerous times on his program for different reasons, but frankly, I don't understand what's up with him. When I make videos about Otaola, people often ask, 'Who is this guy?'" Espina recounted.
Further, Espina compared their social media reach, stating, "I told him in a video: what bothers him about me is that in just five years, I've gained 15 million followers. Meanwhile, he's been on social media for about ten years and hasn't surpassed half a million." Despite this, Espina acknowledged that some of the support he receives from the Cuban public stems from this very controversy. He noted, "Cubans who recognize me often shake my hand and thank me for standing up to Otaola."
Espina recounted a recent encounter with Otaola, where the latter demanded $50,000 for a guest appearance on his show. Espina agreed to pay if the money went to a Cuban cause, but Otaola refused, citing it was compensation for his time. "I've never met him in person, but I genuinely believe he's afraid to have me on his show," Espina concluded confidently.