Miguel Cedrón, a Cuban store owner in Hialeah, has become an internet sensation after a confrontation with Venezuelan actress Norkys Batista and her family. The incident, captured on the store's surveillance cameras, has sparked widespread attention. Cedrón recently shared his side of the story.
According to Miguel, the family came to rent a vehicle, but due to his store's space limitations and security policies—set by him because it is his store—he could only allow one customer at a time inside. "I explained that because of safety and limited space, only one person could be in the store, and they were like four or five," Cedrón recounted in an interview with TikToker "Pipozarek."
Miguel clarified that he holds no animosity toward Venezuelans, emphasizing that he has many Venezuelan friends. "If anyone acts foolishly, be they Cuban, Venezuelan, Chinese, or Russian, I'll kick them out. If I tell you to leave, you have to go," he stated firmly.
Cedrón mentioned feeling insulted during the encounter, which escalated when the family began recording outside the store. He also left a lengthy comment on one of the family's Instagram posts, addressing the incident.
From Cedrón's perspective, he was unaware of Batista's celebrity status at the time. However, he is now considering sending the footage to Telemundo to highlight the situation. A video previously showed the altercation inside the store, shared on the popular Instagram account Only in Dade.
The footage captures Cedrón asking those inside to step outside and wait. "Young man, young man, I tell you again, wait outside," he addressed Batista's husband, who stood a few meters away while the actress was at the counter.
When Batista insisted her husband stay with her, Cedrón responded by telling them to leave. "No ma'am, you won't rent anything, you can leave," he asserted, leading to an angry retort from Batista's husband.
Despite the actress's pleas for the car, Cedrón stood firm in evicting them. The surveillance video shows the aftermath, where the store owner repeats his demands for them to leave his property.
The incident has divided public opinion, with over three thousand comments on Only in Dade. Some support Cedrón's right as a business owner to control his premises, while others criticize his actions as excessive. Some have labeled the actress's reaction as a dramatic performance, as she claimed the store owner had pushed her brother.
Understanding the Hialeah Incident
What triggered the confrontation in the Hialeah store?
The confrontation began when Miguel Cedrón enforced his store's policy of allowing only one person inside at a time, due to space and security limitations.
Why did Miguel Cedrón decide to share his side of the story?
Cedrón wanted to clarify his actions and address the accusations made by Norkys Batista and her family, which gained significant online attention.
How has public opinion been divided regarding this incident?
Public opinion is split between those who support Cedrón's right to control his property and those who perceive his actions as excessive and uncalled for.