The Cuban comedian and actor Ulises Toirac recently issued a bold statement expressing his refusal to accept the ongoing crisis in Cuba as normal.
"I refuse to get used to living, surviving, or whatever you want to call it. I won't accept 20-hour power outages as the norm. I refuse to get used to hardship. I don't want to rely on makeshift transportation. I refuse to walk just to save money. I won't settle for living in a sixth-world country," Toirac declared during the "Todos Hablan" podcast on Cubamastv.
Toirac emphasized that his stance is not born out of desperation but rather a conscious decision to reject the normalization of what should not be normalized.
"I refuse to let life be a collection of negatives. They weigh me down, depress me, and make life difficult, but each day, each hour, each second is another chance to live," he stated.
He urged people to make the most of their time: "The only wish I have for everyone is to realize the next second might not come. Don't waste it on nonsense. Focus and live."
Although the interview was published this past Friday, it was recorded earlier and is hosted by Cuban actor Jorge Martínez, who shares a close friendship with Toirac.
Toirac: A Growing Voice Against Cuba's Crisis
This interview is part of a series of public statements made by Toirac in 2026. Last week, he held the Cuban government accountable for the electrical collapse, blaming it on decades of mismanagement and internal planning failures.
Previously, he described Cuba as an unsolvable maze, even stating, "there's no light at the end of the tunnel because there is no tunnel."
In July, he addressed another major issue in Cuban society: mass emigration. He labeled it "the worst demographic disaster in Cuba's history," emphasizing that the resulting family separations are "the saddest thing in the world."
Regarding Cuban television, he was equally blunt: "There's no electricity to watch it, no power to produce it, and no conditions to make it."
During the conversation with Jorge Martínez, Toirac also discussed the self-censorship enforced by the political climate: "When you're in an environment of fear, self-censorship inevitably occurs because you worry about your work." Paradoxically, he acknowledged that this pressure led him to create "some of the most daring jokes" of his career.
On a personal note, the comedian is dealing with an incurable eye disease affecting the retina of one eye and threatening the other, alongside his wife's health issues and his father-in-law's passing.
Unable to work in television or perform live due to power outages and connectivity issues, Toirac turned to writing. His book "Locos de barrio, segundo round" was entirely written on his mobile phone, and he is negotiating its distribution in Cuba through remittance companies.
"Freedom begins in the mind, and it's the hardest to achieve," Toirac concluded in the interview.
Understanding Ulises Toirac's Critique
What is Ulises Toirac's main message in his latest statements?
Ulises Toirac's main message is his refusal to accept the ongoing hardships in Cuba as normal. He emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and addressing these issues rather than becoming accustomed to them.
How has Toirac expressed his criticism of the Cuban government?
Toirac has openly criticized the Cuban government, holding it responsible for the country's electrical collapse and other systemic failures, which he attributes to years of mismanagement and poor planning.
What personal challenges is Toirac currently facing?
Toirac is battling an incurable eye disease, managing his wife's health issues, and coping with the recent loss of his father-in-law, all while navigating professional challenges due to Cuba's infrastructural problems.