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The American actor and political activist Sean Penn visited Cuba on a trip that attracted significant media attention, as it aimed to interview the former leader Fidel Castro. Penn's visit, known for his activism and closeness to leftist political leaders, sparked speculation about his intentions on the island.
During his stay, the actor traveled across the Island of Youth, where he met with the Cuban painter Alexis Leyva (Kcho) and visited various cultural spaces. Local media reported that the purpose of the trip was to understand the impact of art on Cuban society and to observe the recovery of the island after Hurricane Gustav in 2008.
However, the American press reported that Penn traveled for journalistic purposes to write an article about the influence of Barack Obama's administration in Cuba. According to the news outlet TMZ, the actor was working on a piece for Vanity Fair, analyzing how the new U.S. policies could affect the island.
This was not Sean Penn's first foray into Cuban politics. In 2008, the actor managed to interview then-ruler Raúl Castro for a report in The Nation, becoming the first American journalist to obtain statements from the leader since he took power in 2006.
Penn's visit reflected the growing international attention on Cuba during that period, as well as the efforts of public figures to engage with the realities of the country. However, no details emerged regarding whether he ultimately succeeded in interviewing Fidel Castro, who by that time had already ceded power to his brother Raúl.
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