Sports journalist Héctor Villar has sparked a storm of criticism after releasing a video demonstrating how to purchase a Mercedes Benz in Cuba. Villar, who balances his role on Cuban television with international agency collaborations, posted a sponsored ad by Mercedes Benz on Instagram, igniting significant backlash.
In a celebratory tone that contrasts sharply with Cuba's ongoing economic crisis, Villar interviews the company's operations manager, Alberto Ramos, who outlines the benefits of their offerings. These include a leasing option allowing buyers to pay off the car in 13 installments, "just like anywhere else in the world," and roadside assistance services across several provinces.
This "perfect move" by the sports presenter has not been well-received by Cubans, who are calling him superficial and shameless for promoting a business so detached from the reality faced by most Cubans. "You should be ashamed to share a video like this," commented one viewer.
Another user questioned, "Mercedes? Seriously? People can't even afford food. The 'perfect move' is figuring out how to buy groceries." A young person added, "People don't even have enough for an electric bike."
Critics have lambasted the video as mocking the struggles of 11 million Cubans. "I just saw this and I'm speechless. A nation that can't even afford breakfast—at first, I thought it was a joke. Unbelievable! And what about the embargo?" another person inquired.
A Cuban expatriate pointed out, "Monthly payments of $3,000 or $4,000? It's madness." One forum user warned, "It's a perfect trap to get people arrested if they try to buy a Mercedes. If you're not aligned with the state, don't even think about it—Alberto is a colonel in State Security."
Another critic advised, "Héctor, respect your followers and stop sending misleading and unattainable messages; most of them are on the island, and it's humiliating to watch you. You're not Alice in Wonderland... have some respect."
Comments also highlighted the economic disparity: "People have been paying for a refrigerator for decades. Imagine how many lifetimes it would take to own a Mercedes." A user urged, "Feel ashamed for filming that. Now, go and walk around Havana. Show the buildings, the garbage, the misery. Enough of showcasing what benefits this failed government. Visit the empty stores, the barren hospitals, schools, and more. All they're showing is the new wealth of the communists and the failed regime."
One person accused Villar of trying to "whitewash the government's image and create an alternate reality from what the Cuban people experience. He should be embarrassed to profit from their sorrow. First with the Mercedes, and before that with EnjoyTravel. A doctor or teacher watching this would feel like spitting in his face," they declared.
"Cuba is drowning in poverty, and you're busy buying toys and promoting the dictators," another criticized.
When asked if this new purchasing option is available to individuals, Mercedes confirmed, "Yes, starting this October, with new laws, we can sell to natural persons."
These "new laws" refer to recent statements by the Minister of Transportation, Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila, who detailed the government's vehicle import pricing strategies in Cuba. The topic has incited criticism of the regime for its exorbitant prices, making car ownership an unattainable dream for even the most highly skilled professionals in the country.