A Cuban identified on social media as I-220A has gone viral after posting images on his TikTok profile @descubriend0cuba that show his return to Cuba with a modern Toyota and a container full of belongings.
In one of the photos, the newly unloaded red vehicle is seen in what appears to be a Cuban residential area, accompanied by the text: “And I'm already crowned, living like a king.”
In another image, the same car appears inside a container filled with boxes, suitcases, and appliances, accompanied by the phrase: “I’m a rascal, that’s I-220A.”
The posts generated a wave of comments on social media, where users were divided between criticism and messages of support.
"In Cuba, there is no private property; if someone likes that Toyota, it's gone," wrote an internet user. "Having four pieces of land and a car in Cuba is like living like a king, jiiiiiii," another user joked.
Others defended the protagonist, arguing that he is an emigrant who is merely trying to secure his future in case of deportation: “I have been a resident for almost two years and I have never been to Cuba nor do I plan to go, but I don’t see why there’s criticism of this guy if he is just ensuring his comfort in case of deportation. All those achievements are the result of his sacrifices. Blessings, man,” commented another Cuban.
The controversy arises amid the growing economic inequality in Cuba, where access to goods such as modern cars remains a luxury reserved for a minority.
In a country where the average state salary is around 4,000 Cuban pesos —less than 20 dollars on the informal exchange— owning a vehicle of that range is a symbol of status and purchasing power.
The images, which quickly circulated on Facebook and X, reflect the contradictions of present-day Cuba: mass emigration, nostalgia, the desire for progress, and at the same time, the deep social divides created by a system where "living like a king" becomes an aspiration for only a few.
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