Spanish actor and regime supporter, Willy Toledo, has once again targeted the artist couple, Spanish performer Beatriz Luengo and her Cuban husband, musician Yotuel Romero. The conflict reignited following Toledo's social media outburst, incited by the airing of the documentary Patria y Vida on Spanish television. The film's depiction of Cuba's dictatorship and repression irked Toledo, who unleashed a tirade against the couple.
Toledo accused Yotuel of being someone who "would sell his own child for a few coins," because of his advocacy for harsher sanctions on Cuba, claiming the musician's family had disowned him for being a "worm." These remarks were made last Thursday and have since sparked outrage.
Beatriz Luengo's Response
Luengo, overwhelmed by pain and anger, responded to Toledo through her social media channels, speaking as a mother and a freedom advocate for Cuba. Several Spanish and Cuban artists rallied behind the couple, condemning Toledo's offensive remarks.
"It's appalling that you would bring my underage son into your insults against my husband," Beatriz retorted on X, expressing her shock that such remarks were given media attention. She also revealed that she had filed a lawsuit against Toledo.
Toledo's Unapologetic Retort
Unfazed, Toledo fired back on Saturday, dismissing Beatriz's legal threats in a tweet filled with disdain, refusing to address the allegations about involving her child. He referred to their Miami-based circle as "fascist trash" and expressed his eagerness to confront them in person.
Toledo's barrage of insults continued, branding the couple as "intellectual cripple, maridito, worm, and riffraff," showcasing his contempt for those advocating for Cuban rights and liberties.
Past Incidents of Hostility
This is not the first instance of Toledo's inflammatory remarks against Cubans opposing Havana's totalitarian regime. Back in August 2016, he stirred controversy with his derogatory comments about Cuban-born (now Spanish national) hurdler Orlando Ortega, whom he also labeled a "worm."
After winning silver in the 110-meter hurdles at the Rio Olympics, Ortega sought a Spanish flag to celebrate, bypassing a Cuban flag offered to him. Toledo criticized Ortega's actions, predicting a bleak future for him once his athletic success waned, and condemned Spain's treatment of him as "miserable."
Toledo's incendiary rhetoric has repeatedly drawn criticism for its ignorance of Cuba's reality and its ideological fervor. He, however, claims to feel persecuted by the backlash.