The renowned Cuban singer-songwriter, Silvio Rodríguez, stepped forward on Monday to deny involvement in a poetic pamphlet circulating on social media under his name, aimed at U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Rodríguez made his denial through his personal blog, Segunda Cita, in a brief yet emphatic post titled "I DENY."
The counterfeit text, shared on X with the headline "Marco Rubio, poetic sentence for a traitor," accuses the American official of "selling his cradle for a seat" and describes the economic sanctions against Cuba as a "silent genocide that humanity will not forget." The piece, with its lyrical-political tone, concludes with a bold declaration: "May history judge you, may time condemn you, and may the light of Cuba dazzle you until your fleeting ambition is blinded!"
The style mimicked the language often attributed to Rodríguez, which facilitated its spread as genuine before he publicly refuted it.
In his post, the musician was straightforward: "a pamphlet against a U.S. official circulating on the networks with my name below. It's not the first time I've been given this kind of prank."
Beyond denying authorship, Rodríguez clarified his approach to criticism: "Those who create these fakes don't realize I've never fought against people but against ideas. My songs are proof."
This isn't the first instance of Rodríguez facing such a situation. In 2014, he had to deny writing a response to Panamanian singer-songwriter Rubén Blades regarding Venezuela—an article actually penned by Guillermo Rodríguez Rivera—and in 2019, he reiterated this clarification when the piece recirculated.
This recent incident arises during heightened tensions between Havana and Washington. Back in March 2026, Rodríguez was genuinely involved in a controversy when he posted on his blog demanding his AKM in response to potential U.S. military intervention in Cuba, following Rubio's remarks. Later, in an interview with El País, he clarified that the weapon in a photograph was "a very well-made imitation," not a real gun.
This background, coupled with Rubio frequently being targeted in Cuban government-aligned media and social networks, provided fertile ground for the false pamphlet to be circulated with credibility.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez has publicly responded to the Secretary of State multiple times between May and August of this year, accusing him of seeking a pretext for military aggression against the island, highlighting the diplomatic tension surrounding this misinformation episode.
"Segunda Cita," Rodríguez's official written communication channel for over a decade, has amassed more than 21 million views and serves as the platform where he often addresses public controversies.
Common Questions About Silvio Rodríguez and Misinformation
What was the content of the fake pamphlet supposedly written by Silvio Rodríguez?
The fake pamphlet accused Marco Rubio of "selling his cradle for a seat" and described the economic sanctions against Cuba as a "silent genocide that humanity will not forget." It ended with a declaration wishing that history and time would judge Rubio harshly.
How did Silvio Rodríguez address the allegations?
Rodríguez addressed the allegations by posting a straightforward denial on his blog, Segunda Cita, stating that he never engages in personal attacks, only ideological criticism, as reflected in his music.
What other incidents of misinformation has Silvio Rodríguez faced?
Silvio Rodríguez has previously dealt with misinformation in 2014 and 2019, having to deny writing a text mistakenly attributed to him regarding Venezuela and Rubén Blades.