A recent TikTok video by a young Spanish woman, known online as Judit Gómez, has sparked a strong wave of reactions after sharing her travel experience to Cuba. She highlighted the "cons" of visiting the island, including shortages, deteriorated infrastructure, and restrictions on entering the United States after traveling to the island.
The biggest controversy arose when referring to the U.S. embargo as a "blockade," which sparked a wave of criticism in the comments.
"The political situation in Cuba is complicated; it faces an economic blockade, which leads to shortages in the country. This affects both the population and tourists," he stated in his video—complementing others about his experience on the island—where he added, "If your idea is to go to the Caribbean to stay at an all-inclusive resort and not leave the hotel, you should go to Mexico or Punta Cana, as that might be more your style."
He also explained that "if you want to travel to the United States later, you have to obtain a special visa, which I understand takes many months to get."
Her words unleashed a flood of comments that contradicted her, with users insisting that the problem in Cuba is not the U.S. embargo, but the socialist dictatorship.
Some also replied that "it's not a blockade; it's called communism," while others indicated that "the problem in Cuba is not the embargo, but its government" or that "the United States does sell food and medicine to Cuba; the Cuban government doesn't have the money to pay."
It was also pointed out that "to say that shortages are due to the blockade is to repeat the regime's propaganda" and that "if the embargo is the problem, why is there no shortage in luxury hotels?" Other users stated that "because of videos like this, people continue to believe in the lie of the blockade" and that "Cuba has trade relations with over 150 countries; the problem is its failed economic model."
After the wave of criticism, Judit Gómez responded with a second video. "Since your oral comprehension skills are quite poor, I'm going to explain the issue clearly, because it seems you don't want to listen," she said at the start of the clip. She assured that she had done her research: "I have informed myself, I have looked for sources," mentioning Wikipedia, CNN, and the UN. "Wikipedia says that the U.S. embargo on Cuba is a legal framework that regulates economic relations. The UN has voted against this embargo 32 times. So, it exists, it does." She added that "all those Spaniards who have been in Cuba since the designation date 12/02/2021 will see their ESTA travel authorizations canceled under the visa waiver program." And although she acknowledged that some told her it is not a blockade but sanctions for being on the list of terrorist countries, she replied: "Fine, they are still sanctions."
Her response, far from calming the discussion, sparked even more negative reactions. Several users questioned her sources and tone. One of them sarcastically asked, "Wikipedia? Seriously? Was that the research?" Another commented, "To say that the embargo is the cause of Cuba's crisis is to repeat the regime's rhetoric." In the same vein, someone pointed out, "Cuba trades with the entire world, even with the U.S.; the embargo is not the reason for the scarcity." Criticism of her attitude also intensified: "You get upset when corrected, but the truth is you're misinformed," wrote one follower. Another user stated, "You don't understand how the Cuban government works. The embargo is not the reason for the crisis," while someone else suggested that "you lack the humility to admit you were wrong." Some reminded her that "Cubans don’t need you to explain our reality" and concluded that "the real blockade is the one from the Cuban government against its own people."
On February 3rd, 63 years have passed since then-President John F. Kennedy signed the executive order that established the trade embargo against the Cuban regime, in response to the expropriation of American companies on the island. Since then, it has been modified several times, with laws such as the Helms-Burton Act of 1996, which tightened the sanctions. However, the embargo does not prohibit the sale of food or medicine to Cuba, and the island maintains trade relations with more than 150 countries. Despite this, the Cuban regime has used the embargo as a propaganda tool to justify the country's economic crisis, which is actually due to the socialist model imposed by the Communist Party.
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