The pro-government Cuban journalist, Arleen Rodríguez Derivet, a staunch supporter of the Cuban regime, has finally addressed the controversy surrounding her remarks about José Martí and the power outages plaguing Cuba.
In a lengthy comment posted on Abdiel Bermúdez's Facebook post, where her colleague defended the Mesa Redonda host and "José Martí" National Journalism Award recipient, Rodríguez clarified that she "never quoted Martí." She admitted the phrase was "spoken casually" and reiterated that she had already issued a public apology for the blunder on her Radio Rebelde program.
Rodríguez emphasized that her intention was not to justify herself but to face the situation and provide explanations to those who know and appreciate her, as well as to respond to those who, she claims, attack her “from the opposite side of her political beliefs” after a snippet of her interview with former Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa went viral.
“The phrase, or rather the verb (‘knew’), was said offhandedly, more as a casual remark than a declaration. Anyone who says 'she misquoted Martí' clearly hasn’t seen or heard the program. I never quoted Martí,” Rodríguez wrote, although the underlying truth, which she does not acknowledge, is her apparent insensitivity towards the millions of Cubans enduring blackouts.
The regime spokesperson clarified that her intention was to highlight that Martí did not experience electricity as a daily service, rather than denying its existence or his knowledge about it.
“I said that Martí, who did not know electricity, wrote things without it that we will never write with all the world's light... Martí witnessed the birth of electricity, spoke about it, but I doubt the man in the worn frock coat, who stoically endured New York winters, was among the fortunate users of that service accessible only to the wealthiest,” she explained.
Rodríguez, openly aligned with the regime's leadership, affirmed that she had already publicly apologized during her Radio Rebelde broadcast, even referencing a lesson she claims to have received from Fidel Castro during her years at the Mesa Redonda: “Fidel told us: the truth first, and when you make a mistake, correct it where you said the error. So here I reiterate the apologies I already expressed on air in the morning.”
The government-aligned journalist also used her message to question what she perceives as a disproportionate “wave of hate” on social media, which is merely the genuine reaction of a population weary of the poverty inflicted by the regime and its followers.
“I’m not here to defend myself because there’s no point in trying. I detest debates fueled by hatred, which often feed many posts meant to vent a sentiment that harms the one who feels it more than the one who receives it,” she wrote.
In another part of her commentary, Rodríguez posed a series of rhetorical questions to those who criticized her mistake, questioning the silence of some users on other international issues.
“Have any of you spoken out against the assault on Venezuela, the abduction of a president and his wife while they slept, or against extrajudicial executions? Have you published anything to denounce how Trump and Rubio trample on international laws?” the official host asked in a futile attempt to divert attention, a tactic commonly employed by the regime and its rhetoric.
In this context, she suggested that the resurfacing of the interview snippet, recorded three months prior, is no coincidence, and implied an effort to "divert the conversation" at a time when the regime is attempting to promote the March of the Torches.
“Is it necessary to steer the conversation against us so that the March of the Torches, anti-imperialist like Martí, on the 173rd anniversary of his birth, is neither seen nor felt?” the spokesperson added.
Rodríguez concluded her message with a conciliatory tone, quoting a phrase from Che Guevara: “I embrace the embraceable,” she wrote, affirming that she will not let the controversy deter her “from what the judgment of justice commands me to do.”
Arleen Rodríguez's Controversial Remarks Explained
What did Arleen Rodríguez say about José Martí?
Arleen Rodríguez claimed that Martí did not experience electricity as a daily service and used this to highlight what she considered his remarkable achievements without it. She clarified that she never quoted Martí directly.
How did the public react to Rodríguez's remarks?
The public reacted with significant backlash, perceiving her comments as insensitive to the struggles of Cubans facing power outages. Social media was flooded with criticism.
Did Arleen Rodríguez apologize for her comments?
Yes, Rodríguez issued a public apology during her Radio Rebelde program, acknowledging that her remark was made casually and without proper consideration.