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Cuban Actor Erdwin Fernández Reflects on Mixed Reception in Miami

Saturday, December 14, 2024 by Samantha Mendoza

Cuban actor Erdwin Fernández Collado shared that upon arriving in the United States with his wife nearly three years ago, they experienced a mixed reception. In a conversation with Dominican YouTuber Dany Pérez, known as Destino Tolk, Erdwin recounted how when word got out that he was in Miami, some colleagues and friends reached out with support and financial aid. He expressed gratitude towards these individuals, as well as strangers who offered donations.

However, Erdwin expressed disappointment over certain individuals in the artistic community who turned him down when he sought employment opportunities, though he chose not to disclose their names. Despite these setbacks, he proudly noted that he has been able to continue his craft, largely thanks to PRONYR TV, where he has collaborated on numerous projects with fellow Cuban artists such as Tony Salup, Jean Michel Fernández, Lucila Granados, Orlando Fundichely, and Mauricio Casín.

In addition to his acting work, Erdwin and his wife have been delivering food, which, as he humorously noted, "pays for the gym." During the interview, Erdwin recalled the repression he faced in Cuba due to his critical stance against the regime. He revealed that he received multiple death threats, which he documented by taking screenshots on his phone.

He also mentioned an incident involving Mariela Castro Espín, daughter of former ruler Raúl Castro, who shared a regime supporter’s post accusing Erdwin of hypocrisy—criticizing the Cuban government while not daring to wear a Che Guevara cap in Miami.

In March 2023, Erdwin celebrated his first day as a salesperson at a well-known furniture store in Miami Gardens, sharing a photo of himself in a suit at the establishment. Just days prior, he had criticized those who mock emigrated artists for working outside their original professions. "I've seen people concerned and even mocking actors outside Cuba for having jobs like this or that, as if it were something new and foreign, impure and dishonorable, as if that would strip you of being an artist," he wrote.

Erdwin clarified that being an artist is not something one wears and takes off; it is a lifelong commitment, a matter of heart, soul, and spirit, regardless of where one works. He also condemned those who attempt to dictate how others should live their lives. This wasn't the first time Erdwin, son of esteemed actors Nilda Collado and Erdwin Fernández, expressed his readiness to take on any job. In April 2022, he wrote in another post, "Any job I have to do, bring it on."

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