Sandro Castro: The Italian Press Labels Him a "Symbol of the Revolution's Decline"

The renowned Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera described Sandro Castro on Tuesday as "the emblem of the Revolution's downfall," following his controversial appearances as an influencer. The grandson of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro has drawn international media attention for flaunting a lavish lifestyle on social media, at a time when most Cubans face blackouts, shortages, and hopelessness.

According to the Italian publication, Sandro represents the legacy of an elite unwilling to relinquish power while the island's economy deteriorates. "Cuba recently gained an unexpected influencer: his name is Sandro Castro, Fidel's grandson. His Instagram profile, @sandro_castrox, transitions from socialism and guerrilla warfare to cat-filtered reels, dances with Cristal beer in hand (performed by girls with suggestive movements), and photos with fake vampire-style blood at the corners of his mouth, with red underwear around his neck to celebrate Women's Day, all delivered in a cartoonish tone while holding a dove," the article remarks.

With an Instagram following exceeding 120,000, Sandro identifies as a content creator, posing in front of luxury cars, dancing with Cristal beer, or engaging in grotesque antics, such as donning fake vampire blood or draping a female undergarment around his neck for Women's Day "celebrations." In stark contrast to the public austerity Fidel Castro aimed to portray for decades, his grandson—with his large Instagram following—embodies the antithesis of that revolutionary narrative, it explains.

"He's the ailing caricature of Castroism," Cuban historian Sergio López Rivero remarked in the Spanish newspaper El País, which also covered the "Sandro" phenomenon last week.

The Influence of Sandro Castro and His Impact

Sandro Castro is not an isolated case within the family. Other descendants have been spotted on yachts, in luxury hotels, and at exclusive dinners. Sandro, however, takes it a step further by turning this privilege into viral content. His account doesn't just showcase private parties during the pandemic or extravagant celebrations; it also portrays him as a "revolutionary" youth delivering peace speeches while holding doves or mocking the cost of chicken on the island.

The contrast is stark. Cuba is enduring its worst crisis in decades: daily blackouts, rampant inflation, medication shortages, and a mass exodus. Images of Sandro partying with influencers or attending exclusive events ignite outrage but also symbolize the exhaustion of the official narrative.

"Cuba has become what Fidel never wanted," Cuban Juan Pablo Peña told Corriere della Sera. "Today, what we see is a grotesque satire of Castroism."

Sandro Castro was born in 1992, during the "Special Period," when the nation grappled with blackouts, hunger, and international isolation. Unlike millions of Cubans who survived on rations, he was raised in luxury at the Punto Cero complex, shielded from the country's collapse. Today, his persona elicits both disdain and fascination. While some criticize him for "betraying his grandfather's memory," others view him as the most honest reflection of the system that produced him. A privileged product of the Revolution, turned influencer.

"His mere existence is a living critique of Castroism," asserts journalist Amir Valle. "Sandro doesn't need to speak; his life tells the whole story."