Neither the massive protests of July 11, 2021, nor the imprisonment of thousands of demonstrators, nor the total blackout of the Island in October 2024 have elicited a single word of empathy from the Cuban actress Ana de Armas, nominated for an Oscar for her role as Marilyn Monroe in "Blonde."
She didn't even speak up when State Security interrogated her brother, the photographer Javier Caso. The fate of Cuba as a nation does not disturb her seemingly perfect world. In fact, the strongest thing she has stated is that she knew she had to leave the Island to grow. And she did, embarking on a meteoric career that began in Spain with the television series "El Internado." By now, she has already received a nomination for Best Actress from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in the U.S.
However, Ana de Armas' years of silence regarding Cuba are now eloquent, following the publication of images by ¡Hola! magazine on its cover that confirm the actress' romance with Manuel Anido Cuesta, the stepson of President Miguel Díaz-Canel. Otaola had already hinted at this, and now we have confirmation.
Today we know where the actress stands. Still, one might wonder if she has kept quiet as a strategy to continue visiting her family in Cuba, or if it is more profitable for her to be an ambassador for Estée Lauder rather than for democracy on the island. However, it cannot be ruled out that it could also be out of indifference. Perhaps a better country does not keep her awake at night.
Before, during, and after her success in Hollywood, Ana de Armas has traveled to Cuba several times and has witnessed firsthand the misery faced by her people. She has never publicly expressed discomfort with the regime or what she observes around her. She also did not call for democracy in her country when she was nominated by People en Español to top the list of the 25 most powerful women in the world. Now that she is dating Díaz-Canel's stepson, the signals become clear.
That power attributed to the Cuban actress was used by her to vacation on the Island and socialize with celebrities, oblivious to the turmoil and pain of exile, as well as to the garbage on the streets of Havana, the monumental increase in poverty on the Island, and the decline of the healthcare and education systems.
Ana de Armas is focused on other matters. Nevertheless, she told People en Español that she has a very strong connection to Cuba and ties that she cannot break. We now know that currently, one of those ties seems to link her to the stepson and advisor of the Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel, with whom she has been seen in a romantic setting in Madrid, dining at the trendy Italian restaurant Numa Pompilio. This popular spot serves dishes that typically cost between 25 and 30 euros each. Lis Cuesta's son enjoys a lifestyle that we are still unsure if aligns with the advice given to the people of Cuba in his home: "We must make the most of the food."
Last May, actress Ana de Armas was in Cuba, celebrating her 35th birthday at the restaurant El Cocinero, surrounded by popular Cuban actors and actresses. Among the attendees were her close friend Claudia Muma Alvariño and her husband, René Baños Pascual, David Torrens, Carlos Alberto Cremata and his partner, María Carla; Tahimí Alvariño, Claudia Valdés, Jorge Perugorría, Daisy Granados, Fernando Pérez, Mirtha Ibarra, Herón Vega, César Domínguez, and singer Carlos Varela, along with salsa musician Isaac Delgado, who provided the music for the event. It was a celebration in a universe quite different from everyday Cuba. To ensure that the less fortunate didn’t miss out, it was shared on social media.
Ana de Armas has been seen in Havana at the Johnny Club. Always partying, enjoying the money she earns in Hollywood thanks to her talent, she remains oblivious to the suffering of her country. Now that indifference has ceased to be harmless. It takes on a different meaning when she associates with an advisor of the man who keeps over a thousand political prisoners in the island's jails. Cuba is crumbling, while Díaz-Canel's stepson spends power outages in Madrid.
Ana de Armas, who has always stayed away from politics, has fully entered a political family that will have to testify before the court in The Hague. It is only a matter of time before luxury brands distance themselves from this particular ambassador.
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