A young Venezuelan woman named Lillibeth Márquez has stirred up a storm of comments on TikTok after sharing a video of her trip to Cuba with her Cuban boyfriend. In the video, Lillibeth (@sheslilly27) is seen exploring several of the island's tourist hotspots alongside her partner, with captions like "My Cuban took me to Cuba" and "Cuba, how beautiful you are."
The video, however, has received mixed reactions, especially from users familiar with Cuba's harsh realities. Some lamented the portrayal of a "postcard Cuba," often accessible only to tourists, and not reflective of the everyday life of most Cubans.
Among the notable comments, many pointed out that despite living on the island for decades, they never had the opportunity to visit the places shown in the video. One user remarked, "I lived in Cuba for 20 years and never saw that Cuba." Others, with a more critical tone, urged Lillibeth to visit the local neighborhoods where poverty and hardship are rampant: "Ask him to take you to the neighborhoods where people are starving, in need, and where sadness is evident. My Cuba is beautiful, but my people are dying."
Contrasting Perspectives on Cuba's Beauty
Comments like "I long to go back to my beautiful Cuba and visit places I never could when I lived there," "Cuba is beautiful, but it's a shame it's only for tourists," "Especially if you're a tourist! It's only beautiful for those who can afford it," and "Yes, obviously that part of Cuba is very lovely, but you're missing the other side," accompanied the video.
Despite the criticism, Lillibeth addressed several of these comments. She clarified that she stayed in her boyfriend's neighborhood, not in a hotel, and her aim was to understand his homeland better, even acknowledging the struggles both countries face. "The reality of our countries is very sad and painful, but despite all the bad, I still dreamed of seeing his land, knowing where he came from," she explained.
Experiencing Real Cuban Life
The Venezuelan also defended that there are places in Cuba accessible to everyone, such as Old Havana and the beaches, which she described as free spaces. She emphasized that rather than staying in a luxury resort, she shared daily life with her partner's family in their neighborhood.
"It was a family trip where I stayed in the neighborhood with them, not in a hotel. All Cubans can go to Old Havana and the beach because they are free!!" she replied to another comment.