Grandson of Fidel Castro sparks controversy in Cuba with risqué online artworks
Controversial Cuban Influencer Sandro Castro Stirs Debate
Sandro Castro, the grandson of former Cuban leader Fidel Castro, has become a divisive figure due to his lavish lifestyle and social media presence, which starkly contrasts with the economic struggles faced by many Cubans.
Born in 1991 to Alexis Castro Soto del Valle, one of Fidel's sons with Dalia Soto del Valle, Sandro grew up in the gated Castro family compound, Punto Cero, shielded from the deprivation faced by ordinary Cubans. Despite his claims that he has no special privileges, testimonies indicate he was raised amid wealth and comfort.
On his Instagram account Vampirach, Sandro showcases his wealth and socializing, with little political engagement. This content has angered many loyalists and revolution supporters, who accuse him of disrespecting Fidel Castro's legacy and the revolution's ideals, describing his conduct as a betrayal or mockery of the communist cause. Government-aligned voices demand he be silenced, seeing him as a risk to Cuba’s political security.
Critics note that Sandro openly mocks the hardships Cuba endures, including blackouts and economic collapse, provoking public outrage in a country still shaped by its revolutionary past. Some even go as far as to call for him to be the next president, while others see him as a threat to the political stability of the country.
In late 2024, Sandro stirred controversy by announcing a party for his birthday at his bar in Havana, while the country was still recovering from a nationwide blackout. This action drew criticism from El Necio, an influencer close to the Communist Party of Cuba, who expressed regret on Facebook that Sandro was not called to order by the State Security for going against the security of Cuba and the ideals of the 1959 Castro revolution.
Sandro's activity on social networks in grotesque mode is the only thing that distinguishes him from his family who enjoys privileges more discreetly and embodies a new Cuban aristocracy, according to the opponent's estimation. Unlike the children of Raul Castro, who ruled from 2006 to 2021, Sandro Castro and his brothers have never held positions of power in Cuba.
Sandro has 120,000 subscribers on Instagram, where he posts humorous sketch videos, and in one video, he is seen waving a bottle of Cristal beer, the national beer of Cuba. His followers sometimes want him to be the next president of Cuba, but his controversial lifestyle and public statements have made it clear that he is not interested in politics.
In Cuba, human rights activists and independent journalists are regularly arrested and questioned by the police for their critical posts on social networks, with some receiving sentences for their publications. It remains to be seen how the Cuban government will respond to Sandro Castro's public persona and the ongoing debate surrounding him.
- Despite Sandro Castro's lack of political engagement, his lavish lifestyle and posts on social media have ignited a political debate, with critics accusing him of disrespecting Fidel Castro's legacy and the revolution's ideals, and government-aligned voices demanding he be silenced due to his potential impact on Cuba’s political security.
- Although Sandro Castro has never held political positions in Cuba, his controversial lifestyle, social-media presence in a 'grotesque mode', and open mockery of the country's hardships have propelled him into the realm of pop-culture, with some Cuban citizens even calling for him to be the next president, thereby blurring the lines between entertainment, social-media celebrities, and political figures in Cuban society.
