Carlos Otero Claims He Was Deceived by Fidel Castro: "I Grew Up Believing in the Revolution"

Renowned Cuban presenter Carlos Otero recently opened up about his long-held belief in the Castro regime, revealing that it was an illegal satellite dish that finally unveiled the truth about the system. "Fidel Castro deceived us all. I grew up believing in the Cuban revolution. I thought I was living in paradise. In paradise," he candidly shared during an interview with YouTuber Darwin Santana on the channel "El Mundo de Darwin."

The Early Life of Carlos Otero

Born on June 16, 1958, in Havana, Otero was raised in a family deeply embedded in the revolutionary framework. His father was a founding member of INDER in 1961 and a long-time sports official. "I grew up in that environment," Otero recalled, describing a childhood he considered "healthy." "We had free education, free healthcare. There was no alcohol consumption or drug use," he added, although he noted that even access to cultural content was restricted: "We listened to American music in secret."

Awakening to Reality

Otero attributed his delayed awakening to the stark reality of Cuban life to his total immersion in the system. "I thought I was living in paradise. In paradise," he reiterated. It was the satellite dish that truly opened his eyes, allowing him to compare his perceptions with the world beyond Cuba.

A Chilling Encounter

One of the most disturbing incidents Otero recounted occurred in 2002, when he was compelled to attend a reception at the Central Committee. "I had to go; it wasn't a choice," he explained. At a table laden with delicacies unavailable to ordinary Cubans, Fidel Castro proudly recounted the execution of the "first traitor of the revolution" in the Sierra Maestra, describing the scene illuminated by a bolt of lightning as if commissioning a painting. "I was literally terrified and thought, with this guy, there's no room for any maneuver. This guy... he's done it to anyone," Otero confessed, labeling Castro a "sarcastic narcissist" with "mental issues." That night, he returned home at one in the morning, embraced his son, and told his wife, "We're leaving."

Forced Performances and Surveillance

Otero also disclosed that during the peak of Sabadazo in the '90s, the cast was summoned, without the option to refuse, to perform for Raúl Castro at the San Antonio de los Baños Air Base. "It was an absolute must. Not yes or no, it was a yes. You were informed you had to do it. If not, you'd disappear, no more TV appearances," he recalled. They received no payment. The photos from that event, sent by the military weeks later, were burned by Otero before leaving Cuba.

He was systematically monitored by State Security for years. He was forced to sign a document committing to report any plans against Fidel Castro, summoned to the DTI for frequenting the Hotel Comodoro's disco with foreign friends, and in 2002, intercepted on the Malecón and interrogated for greeting dissident poet Raúl Rivero, recently released from prison. "They had everything documented, even knew the color of my underwear," he stated. Rivero was detained again during the Black Spring of 2003 and passed away in Miami on November 6, 2021.

A New Beginning in the United States

Otero left Cuba on December 8, 2007, via Canada, crossing into the United States. He spent 15 years working at América TeVé until May 2022, when he left the channel due to disagreements with the executive producer and salary issues. On the same day, he launched his YouTube channel "La Hora de Carlos."

Recently, a dispute with comedian Carlucho reignited discussions about the past of Cuban artists who worked for the regime's official television, a context in which this interview holds significant importance. "The first thing to do in Cuba is to work on people's minds," concluded Otero, whose story mirrors that of millions of Cubans who grew up within the system and took years to see what was always in front of them.