The revelation of actress Ana de Armas' romance with Manuel Anido Cuesta, the stepson of Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel, has provoked a strong backlash from the Cuban community in Miami. Many have voiced their disapproval of the actress due to her association with Cuba's oppressive regime. A social media profile named Salomé #MirenLasPrisionesDeCuba shared a photo on the platform X, showcasing a billboard in Miami featuring Ana de Armas promoting Estée Lauder, a well-known American brand specializing in beauty and personal care products.
"Hey Estée Lauder, Miamians don't appreciate those who cozy up to brutal communist dictators. You better rethink your ad campaign!" the post exclaimed, criticizing the brand for using Ana de Armas in their Miami advertising, given her ties to Anido Cuesta. The post also included the exact location of the billboard, noting its position on 38th Street, facing the I-195 towards Miami Beach, in the Miami Design District.
Protests from Prominent Miami Figures
Recently, Taty Guiribitey, a Cuban philanthropist, entrepreneur, and influencer based in Miami, sent a letter of protest to Louis Vuitton. This action was in response to the news of Ana de Armas being associated with their luxury brand while being linked to Anido, the son of Lis Cuesta. Known as 'La Mamilover' on social media, Guiribitey and her daughter Camila are among the top clients of the prestigious French fashion house Louis Vuitton.
"I sent them a letter stating that I would remain a customer only until they removed Ana de Armas as the face of the brand," La Mamilover shared in an interview with Alexander Otaola. "I may not be their most important client, and Bernard Arnault isn't going to lose sleep over me, but they will miss out on a significant amount of money because I spend a lot, a lot, a lot on their brand," she added, referring to the CEO of the renowned company.
The Role of History in the Backlash
Furthermore, Ana Margarita Martínez, a Cuban-American and ex-wife of Cuban spy Juan Pablo Roque, also criticized Ana de Armas for her relationship with Anido. Ana Margarita is the woman De Armas portrayed in the 2019 Netflix film Wasp Network, which depicted Cuban spies infiltrating anti-Castro organizations in South Florida.
Upon learning of Ana de Armas' new relationship with Manuel Anido Cuesta, Martínez expressed her profound disgust. "The news of her romance with Díaz-Canel's stepson only confirms what I already knew: Ana de Armas is one of them. Her relationship highlights her complicity with the very regime that has oppressed and silenced so many Cubans for decades," she declared in a Facebook post.