A Cuban store owner in Hialeah, Miami-Dade County, has incited controversy with a xenophobic outburst directed at Venezuelan actress and model Norkys Batista, who is known for her support of the Chavista regime, and her family. Sebastian Luttinger, the actress's son, shared a video on Instagram—using both his and his mother's accounts—showing the man angrily demanding they leave his store.
The man shouted, "Get out of Hialeah, you filthy Venezuelans. All of you, leave now. This is my property," targeting Batista, her husband, brother, and son. Luttinger noted in the joint post with Batista, "A Cuban kicked us out of his store with disrespect and poor service simply because we are Venezuelans."
El Diario, a news outlet, quoted the actress describing the incident: "Our hearts sank this afternoon. At a gas station in Hialeah, this disrespectful, hostile, and enraged man threw us out because there were more than two people." Batista pointed out that the Cuban man displayed hostility from the beginning. When she requested to stay with her husband to arrange a truck rental, the shop owner yelled that no more than one person was allowed and ordered them to leave.
The actress described the man's behavior as aggressive: "The only thing missing was him pulling out a gun and shooting us," she told El Diario. She added, "Imagine, a Cuban expelling Venezuelans from Hialeah. A Cuban fleeing from a dictatorship now forcing a Venezuelan out of his store. It takes shamelessness to do what that man did. It's clear to me that anger makes people lose control."
The news portal also quoted Alexis Goncalves, the actress's husband, who appears in the video with her, asserting that the Cuban was armed. Although the xenophobic incident is not directly linked to the actress's political views, in 2023, Venezuelan Carolina Tejera stated on the show "Destino Positivo" that her compatriot Norkys Batista is a staunch Chavista. "She's been a Chavista all her life, what can you expect from her? She loves being in Venezuela, she's one of those who says Venezuela has been fixed and everything's perfect. What's she doing in the United States if that's the case?" she questioned.
Tejera further added, "Explain that to me, because if you're a Chavista and claim everything's fixed, why don't you leave Miami?"
Frequently Asked Questions About the Hialeah Incident
Who is Norkys Batista?
Norkys Batista is a Venezuelan actress and model known for her support of the Chavista regime.
What caused the incident in Hialeah?
The incident was sparked by a Cuban store owner's xenophobic remarks and actions towards Batista and her family, reportedly due to their Venezuelan nationality.
Was the incident related to Norkys Batista’s political views?
While the incident itself was not directly linked to her political views, Batista is an openly Chavista figure, which has been highlighted by other Venezuelan personalities.