Hoax – Hugo Chávez’s grandson allegedly made a shocking denunciation on stage against his grandfather, Nicolás Maduro, and Venezuela.
Analysis
Messages circulating intensely on social media and messaging apps bring what is claimed to be an impactful performance on a talent show. The center of the story is supposedly the grandson of the late Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez, who allegedly used the stage to make a public denunciation against his own grandfather, the current president Nicolás Maduro, and the government of Venezuela.
The viral text, which accompanies a video we will not publish here, describes a dramatic scene. In it, the young man, supposedly the grandson, claims to have been born with a “surname that weighs on [his] voice” and describes banquets amidst the people’s darkness, suitcases of gold, and escape plans.
The message, of strong political and emotional content, ends with an appeal for a Venezuela that can “dream” and that chooses “the homeland, not corruption.” The text attributed to the alleged denunciation by Chávez’s grandson says the following:
Hugo Chávez’s grandson wants a Free Venezuela and challenges his grandfather on a talent show. I was born with a surname that weighs on my voice. A man marked by pain. While the people cried in the darkness, I saw banquets of false truth. I saw suitcases of gold. I heard the plan to flee and my people in the street unable to live. I saw hungry children, I saw mothers cry, and I knew that silence would condemn me. No more silence. I want to scream. That Venezuela deserves to dream. No more chains, no more prison. I choose the homeland, not corruption. My grandfather preaches justice and honor, but on every corner, there is only pain. Empty promises that he never kept and a people…
Fact-Check
Given the seriousness of the denunciation and the impact of such an act, we went in search of the truth about the occurrence. To uncover the veracity of this story, three central questions needed to be answered: 1) Did Hugo Chávez’s grandson denounce his grandfather, Maduro, and Venezuela on a talent show? 2) Has the video attributed to Hugo Chávez’s grandson been used in another fake? 3) Is there more recent fake news about Venezuela and Maduro?
Did Hugo Chávez’s grandson denounce his grandfather, Maduro, and Venezuela on a talent show?
The story that Hugo Chávez’s grandson made a public denunciation on a talent show is completely unfounded. Besides the lack of reliable records or journalistic sources corroborating the fact, the allegation itself has been debunked previously in a slightly different context. The confusion of names and the reuse of content indicate that it is a piece of disinformation created to generate impact and spread quickly.
Furthermore, the truth about the young man in the video was exposed by Hugo Chávez’s son-in-law, the former minister and politician Jorge Arreaza. In an Instagram post, Arreaza debunked the story, informing that the “fake song” was generated with Artificial Intelligence and that the real grandson, Galito, is “coherent” and “loyal,” and not a revolted artist denouncing the family. The post is available here.
Has the video attributed to Hugo Chávez’s grandson been used in another fake?
Yes, the video used to illustrate this story has already been the center of another fake news item. Previously, the same video circulated with the allegation that the denunciation had been made by Alejandro, Nicolás Maduro’s grandson, on the program “America’s Got Talent.” This version was also debunked by Boatos.org. The repetition of the same material in fake news, only altering the protagonist, is a common tactic to resurrect old hoaxes.
Is there more recent fake news about Venezuela and Maduro?
Unfortunately, the number of fake news items involving Venezuela and President Nicolás Maduro is vast and continuous. Boatos.org has already debunked countless cases, such as hoaxes that Maduro’s mansion had been blown up by US troops, or that the president had been arrested by the US government. Another fake news item that recently circulated claimed that a deserter had fled with Nicolás Maduro’s plane to the United States. The persistence and volume of these hoaxes demonstrate the importance of rigorous and constant fact-checking.
Conclusion
The story that Hugo Chávez’s grandson used a talent show to denounce his family and the Venezuelan government is not true. The message is a rehashed hoax that uses a video previously debunked—where it was alleged to be Nicolás Maduro’s grandson—and was categorically denied by a direct relative of Chávez. The narrative is another piece of disinformation that adds to the extensive repertoire of fake news circulating about Venezuela and its government, reinforcing the need for caution when consuming sensational information.
Fake news ❌
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