The Cuban actress Belissa Cruz stated that she received death threats after starring in a commercial for electric generators in Cuba, which sparked significant controversy on social media.
The ad, released in February 2025, promoted a solar panel generator from a Mipyme operating on the island. The message was presented as an alternative to address the prolonged power outages affecting millions of Cubans, although many interpreted the content as a mockery of the serious energy crisis in the country.
In the video, Cruz acknowledged the frustration and exhaustion of the population but concluded by suggesting as a solution not to go out and protest or shout in the streets, but rather to "buy a generator," which sparked a wave of criticism. Numerous social media users deemed the message insensitive and disconnected from the economic reality of the average Cuban.
During an interview with La Familia Cubana —of which she is also a part— the actress revealed that, following the release of the announcement, she and her son were threatened, but she faced that phase of her life with calm, tuning out the criticism and feeling more confident in herself.
"Let them say whatever they want, I am a stand-up guy," Cruz asserted.
The artist acknowledged that the script for the video was her own, but she insisted that her words were misinterpreted and taken out of context.
"I never intended to mock anyone with that announcement. The opportunists said, 'wait a little moment, look at this,' and they took it in the context they saw, but not the one I wanted to convey," he explained.
Belissa, who recently gained significant attention for her involvement in delivering humanitarian aid to those affected by Hurricane Melissa in the eastern part of the country, defended her decision to maintain her working relationship with the company: "I continued working with them because all the generators were sold."
Regarding his controversial announcement, he stated: "I didn't want to make fun of anyone, because I've also experienced blackouts, fanning my son with a cardboard. It was simply the method I sought to attract attention, and it worked, albeit negatively, but the generators were sold," he concluded.
In the interview, he also discussed different stages of his personal and professional life.
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