The revelation of Ana de Armas's romantic involvement with Manuel Anido Cuesta, the son of Lis Cuesta and an 'advisor' to Díaz-Canel, has sparked widespread conversation among Cubans on social media. The exclusive report by Hola, featuring photos of the pair strolling through Madrid, ignited a storm of controversy and criticism directed at the Cuban actress.
Among the many reactions was a video by TikTok user Claudia Amanda (@claudiaamandaaa). In her video, she questioned the surprise over Ana de Armas's relationship, pointing out, "Ana de Armas has never spoken out against the dictatorship." She further commented on the actress's silence about the situation in Cuba: "She could have made a video, used her platforms to be a voice for all the people being oppressed in Cuba, but she has never cared."
The video attracted hundreds of comments, reflecting a heated debate. Supporters of Claudia's stance included a user who remarked, "Not even when her brother was imprisoned." Another stated, "She has always been part of the regime, so this is not shocking." Some were even more critical: "She is a tool of the dictatorship used to promote tourism"; "This is called betrayal of the homeland, and one day she will be judged for it."
Defending or Criticizing: The Divided Reactions
Despite the backlash, Ana de Armas also has her defenders. One user commented, "Is it mandatory for an artist to speak out against the regime? She doesn't want to, and that's that!" Another added, "Why this bad habit of demanding others act as if we're judges?" Some even believed it wise for her to avoid politics: "The best thing she does is stay out of politics."
The revelation of her relationship with Díaz-Canel's stepson and advisor, confirmed by Hola, reignited criticism of Ana de Armas dating back years. This includes her involvement in the film "Red Avispa" and her trips to Cuba, which some view as evidence of her apathy towards the island's issues and disregard for her fellow Cubans' struggles.