Mi Pana Gilito was the alias of Gilberto De Jesús Casas (1975–2018), a beloved Puerto Rican comedian from Carolina. Known for vulgar, coarse, irreverent humor, he was one of Puerto Rico’s first social-media-era influencers to build comedy around social criticism.
Early work and career
Gilito emerged during the early social-media era of the 2010s, as Facebook and YouTube began dominating digital entertainment on the island. Unlike traditional comedians dependent on television or theater, he used viral short videos to reach people directly.
He had a rare ability to articulate ordinary Puerto Ricans’ frustrations. Through vulgar and sometimes crude comedy, he delivered effective criticism of everything from social expectations to senior politicians. The shock value and raw authenticity of his videos made him immensely popular.
Legacy
Gilito helped open the way for a generation of Puerto Rican comedians and influencers. His direct, unfiltered style demonstrated that a performer did not need traditional media to connect with an audience. Later creators, including Chente Ydrach, work in some of the space that Gilito helped create.
Death
Gilberto De Jesús died tragically on May 13, 2018, during a carjacking in his hometown of Carolina. His death shocked Puerto Rico. Thousands of fans shared favorite clips and mourned the loss of a Boricua comedy icon.
Memorable lines and sketches
La chocha no es gratis
Gilito’s line—la chocha no es gratis… ¡y el bicho tampoco!—roughly means that neither women nor men owe anyone sex. The joke escalates by asking whether someone imagines they can simply pick genitals off a store shelf.
Óyete esta pendejá
In this story, a friend’s wife announces that she is pregnant. He invites her entire family to the famous Spanish restaurant Zipperle,1 lets everyone settle in and begin eating, and then announces that he previously had a sterilization procedure. He demands to know who fathered the child, produces the papers, leaves—and makes her family pay for the entire meal. The punch line is everyone desperately spitting out the garlic bread once they realize they will be charged.
The original performance, rhythm, and profanity are the point; an English transcription cannot replace Gilito telling it.
Continued relevance
Years after his death, Gilito’s videos continue circulating, especially whenever a political or social controversy revives something he had already criticized.
See also
Footnotes
-
A well-known Spanish-cuisine restaurant in Puerto Rico, recognized for its family atmosphere and traditional dishes. ↩