Cuban singer Leoni Torres donned a "Patria y Libertad" shirt this Saturday after performing the national anthem at the Miami Marlins stadium. "Leoni Torres at loanDepot Park. After finishing his performance...", stated sports journalist Francys Romero on his Facebook page.
The artist wore the shirt under the outfit in which he sang the anthem a capella during the event celebrating Cuban Heritage Day, commemorating the establishment of the republic in Cuba. Leoni shared a snippet of his performance on his Instagram account. "Our Cuban anthem. Everyone's anthem! A call for unity among Cubans and the fight for freedom. An honor to sing it and send the message for everyone. LONG LIVE FREE CUBA!" he wrote.
His presence at the event sparked controversy from the moment he confirmed his participation. Many Cubans criticized his decision, stemming from last year's incident at the World Baseball Classic during the Cuba-USA game, when the Marlins prevented fans from entering the stadium wearing shirts with the slogan "Patria y Vida."
Numerous internet users, some of them fans of the singer, believed he took the wrong stance in light of the team's actions. "I'm not doing it for the Marlins; I'm doing it for the oppressed Cubans in our homeland. The anthem of struggle should be sung where everyone can see it," Leoni asserted then.
In his view, communism did a significant job of dividing the Cuban people. "And the saddest part is that it succeeded. Cubans against Cubans," he lamented.
Public Reactions to Marlins' Invitation
Other public figures reacted differently to the Marlins' invitation to participate in the Cuban Heritage Day event. Professional boxer Yordenis Ugás publicly broke ties with them, stating that many Cubans are offended by the situation. "In dictatorship, we were humiliated. In freedom, we will not allow or accept the same. Exile must be respected. We have an exile filled with families of political prisoners and those who died at sea. If the Marlins want to fix this in the future, recognize their error, and apologize to our community, I am willing to be a bridge and participate. But until that happens, I will never set foot there again," he emphasized.
Last year, after the disgraceful incident at the loanDepot Park, the Pichy Boys urged their fans to boycott by not attending their games until they apologized, a decision the duo has maintained this season.
Controversy Surrounding Leoni Torres and Miami Marlins
The involvement of Leoni Torres in the Cuban Heritage Day event has raised several questions among the public. Here are some relevant queries and their answers.
Why did Leoni Torres wear the "Patria y Libertad" shirt?
Leoni Torres wore the "Patria y Libertad" shirt to symbolize his support for the freedom and unity of Cubans. He wanted to convey a message of resistance against oppression.
What was the controversy involving the Miami Marlins?
The controversy arose when the Miami Marlins prevented fans from entering the stadium wearing shirts with the slogan "Patria y Vida" during a game last year. This led to criticism of their invitation to Leoni Torres to perform at the Cuban Heritage Day event.
How did Yordenis Ugás respond to the Marlins' invitation?
Yordenis Ugás publicly condemned the Marlins' actions and stated he would not participate until they acknowledged their mistake and apologized to the Cuban community.