Jorge González – that’s the colorful Cuban with the strong accent who sits on the jury for “Let’s Dance”. But this González is often underestimated. After a difficult childhood, he came to Europe alone in the 1980s to study nuclear ecology – a liberation, as Jorge says. The entertainer has now lived in Hamburg for 30 years. A conversation about homophobia, the standard of his job – and about blonde men in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
MOPO: Mr. González, you were at the top of your class, the best in the sports club. You studied nuclear ecology and passed your diploma with top marks. Now you are a judge on “Let’s Dance”. Isn’t your job below your level?
Jorge gonzalez: No not at all. If you love your job and do it with dignity, then it has quality. Then it doesn’t matter whether you are a scientist, superstar or cleaning lady.
You grew up in Cuba. When you were a child, homosexuality was forbidden there. What did it feel like to be unwanted in your own homeland?
I wouldn’t wish this on any child. I was four years old when I realized I was gay. I didn’t understand what was going on. Everyone around me said that homosexuality was a disease, a virus.
“It was different for me: I fought.”
Did you talk to your family about it at the time?
No. If you were gay and the government knew about you, they not only put you in prison, but also your family members. As a four-year-old, I remained silent to protect my family. Other children in my situation completely withdrew and became depressed. Some even killed themselves. It was different for me: I fought.
How did this four-year-old Jorge do it?
To this day I don’t know where I got this strength from. I took to heart what my grandmother always said: “You are good the way you are.” I particularly tried hard at school and also trained hard in the sports club. I wanted to prove to the others even more how good I was.
Jorge González always attracts attention with his colorful outfits on the RTL show “Let’s Dance”. picture alliance/dpa/Thomas Banneyer
Jorge González always attracts attention with his colorful outfits on the RTL show “Let’s Dance”.
At the age of 17 you came to Czechoslovakia all by yourself to study there. How was it?
That was a liberation. That was my goal, my dream. I finally didn’t feel like I had to play a personality anymore. That was very, very important for me.
How did you live out your life then?
I went to gay clubs. The first time I went there I wore a hat and glasses because I was afraid of being filmed. But then I quickly met people who told me: “You don’t have to be afraid here!” And then I went dancing every Wednesday. I was so happy.
In 1990, Fidel Castro wanted to bring all Cuban students in Europe back to Cuba. That’s why they went into hiding.
Yes, I really wanted to finish my studies – I only had a few months left. I hid with friends. That was a hard time. I couldn’t sleep properly. One evening they almost got me and I had to jump out of the window to escape to another friend.
“The guy looked good, so I got on the train and went to Garmisch-Partenkirchen”
How did you come to Germany then?
In a magazine I saw a blonde guy with leather pants. There were mountains in the background. I asked where it was – it was in Germany. In Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The guy looked good, so I got on the train and went to Garmisch-Partenkirchen. (laughs) I don’t know what I was thinking, but in any case I stayed for almost a week and looked for the blonde man with the leather pants.
So, did you find him?
No, but I bought a lot of leather pants. (laughs)
You have now lived in Hamburg for 30 years. How has the city changed in your opinion?
Hamburg has become more colorful and cosmopolitan – I think that’s great. I remember a summer afternoon in the 90s. I walked through Eppendorf in a pink mesh suit from Versace. People almost had a fit! They were all speechless! I didn’t understand what everyone had: that was Versace’s summer fashion. (laughs)
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How do people react today when they see Jorge in the Rewe?
They ask, “What are you doing here?” And I answer, “Shopping?” (laughs) People always think that I look like I do on “Let’s Dance” and that there are four bodyguards standing around me. That’s nonsense. I’m a normal person who goes shopping and drinking coffee like everyone else.
Jorge González’s childhood in homophobic Cuba was difficult. This picture from 2021 shows him with his father Gudelio (†99). picture alliance /ABB
Jorge González’s childhood in homophobic Cuba was difficult. This picture from 2021 shows him with his father Gudelio (†99).
In “Let’s Dance” you have this role of the happy Cuban, the bird of paradise. There are always jokes made about your accent. Does this role sometimes annoy you?
It’s not a role, it’s me. The jokes my colleagues make don’t bother me. I have an accent – and if I can make people laugh with it, then that’s a good thing! Let people laugh! But of course everything has a limit. If I notice that this is getting to a personal, insulting level, then I am big enough to stop it.
Would you like to stay in Hamburg?
Hamburg is my home. But when I get old – I don’t know when that will be (laughs) – then I would like to live somewhere else again.
Why?
Here in Germany the generations don’t mix – I find that very sad. You can see that at these over-30 parties, for example. I don’t know anything like that from Cuba. When salsa is on, the children dance with their grandmas and grandpas.
And where do you want to move to then?
To the south! Somewhere where it’s warm. Sun, beach – I want to be where it’s uncomplicated. Maybe I’ll go back to Cuba. Just a T-shirt and flip-flops. When I eat my bananas there, I’m happy.