Alexander Otaola Blames Cuban People and Dismisses Need for Humanitarian Intervention

Cuban influencer and host Alexander Otaola has once again ignited controversy by dismissing calls for humanitarian intervention in Cuba, claiming that the "Cuban misfortune" has been "embraced by the people." His comments have sparked a fresh wave of backlash across social media platforms.

In a bold digital statement, Otaola urged people to cease demands for external action on the island. "Stop asking for intervention in Cuba. The Cuban disaster was accepted by the populace that today perishes neglected. No one is coming to solve the problem. With the same fervor used in past acts of repudiation, they must now shake off the dictatorship," he declared, placing the responsibility squarely on the residents of the country.

His remarks prompted immediate reactions. In the comments section, a user countered that a humanitarian intervention is indeed necessary, stressing that "not everyone is a follower of that regime" and highlighting the dire conditions in Cuba: "families suffer, deaths continue, there are no medicines, and those available are sold on the black market."

The commenter defended the right of families to aid their loved ones or travel if deemed necessary, and reminded others that "since '59, there has been misfortune in Cuba, accepted or not, but families will not stop helping their own."

This latest uproar follows a previous controversy sparked by Otaola when he criticized food donations sent from Florida to hurricane Melissa victims. In one of his broadcasts, he scoffed at the efforts of the expatriate community organizing collections of food and essentials for those affected on the island.

"You're telling me you're handing out clothes to people who have nothing, who lost everything, they’ll need it... but a little bottle of oil... it's a stomach issue, it's all just 'tambucherismo,'" he said dismissively, downplaying the significance of these donations.

Otaola went further, likening the aid scenario to a kind of "agricultural fair," minimizing the real impact of the contributions. "It's not organized or large-scale, just three fools, a few little things, two trucks, and that's it. They didn't mobilize anyone except themselves," he commented about those collecting and distributing the aid.

The phrase that stirred the most outrage was his disparaging remark about the Cuban people's plight: "Oh, what a big deal, what a people, such a hungry people by your mother! Oh, it's all, all, all about the f***ing... stomach, all, all, all, all!"

In the face of the backlash, Otaola maintained that sending food is not a dignified solution, punctuating his stance with a message repeated on social media: "Misery does not erase misery. Charity is not help."

The segment from his show was shared on Instagram by the influencer "Un Martí To’ Durako," who publicly confronted him: "Not only clothes but also shoes, food because they need to eat, and since they lost everything, even if it’s not much, it’s something... meanwhile, what have you done besides ask for donations for your organization and tickets for your Halloween party? Oh, right, you're going to take over the island dressed as a poppy."

The post triggered hundreds of comments from Cubans both inside and outside the country, questioning Otaola's stance. The reactions focused on his lack of empathy, arrogant tone, and disdain towards both the hurricane Melissa victims and those facilitating aid from abroad.

For many, his combined attacks on donations and the assertion that "the people accepted their misery" reinforce a narrative that blames victims and delegitimizes both the calls for help and solidarity efforts, fueling a controversy that continues to grow in the Cuban digital public sphere.