The romance between Cuban actress Ana de Armas and Manuel Alejandro Anido Cuesta, son of Lis Cuesta and stepson of Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel, has sparked a wave of criticism on social media, particularly targeting the luxury brands Louis Vuitton and Estée Lauder, for which the actress is an ambassador.
Since images and details of De Armas's relationship with Anido Cuesta were leaked, reactions have been swift. Internet users have taken to the Instagram accounts of these fashion and cosmetics brands to express their discontent, accusing them of indirectly collaborating with the Cuban regime through the actress.
On the Louis Vuitton profile, several comments express a strong rejection of the brand's association with De Armas. Users wrote phrases such as:
"This brand is stained with blood from the dictatorship, complicit."
"You also support the Cuban dictatorship."
The controversy also reached Estée Lauder, where messages of boycott and criticism are abundant:
"A communist infiltrator in the USA. Outside, everyone knows who she is. I will never buy Estée Lauder again."
"They should feel ashamed to support someone who is connected to the oppression and the situation the people of Cuba are facing."
"It is an absolute disgrace to have this woman as a representative."
"A Cuban who supports the regime does not deserve to represent this brand."
The connection between Ana de Armas and Manuel Alejandro Anido Cuesta has sparked a debate about the impact of public figures linked, directly or indirectly, to authoritarian regimes.
In the case of Anido Cuesta, it is known that he holds a position as an advisor within Díaz-Canel's circle of power, which reinforces the discontent among critics.
This controversy occurs in a context where the Cuban people are facing serious economic and social difficulties, many of which are attributed to the current political system.
Critics believe that Ana de Armas's relationship with Díaz-Canel's stepson, along with her ongoing role as an ambassador for prestigious international brands, represents a disconnection from the reality of the Cuban people.
Neither Louis Vuitton, Estee Lauder, nor Ana de Armas have issued official statements regarding the controversy that continues to grow on social media.
The outrage adds to a series of campaigns driven by Cuban exiles and activists, who aim to highlight the perceived contradictions and complicities in the relationships between celebrities and figures associated with the Cuban regime.
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