A Cuban identified on TikTok as @whiteshark_i220a posted a nearly seven-minute video in which he analyzes why, based on his experience and observations, 70% of Cuban couples under 40 who arrive in the United States end up separating, and the content sparked a wide discussion within the Cuban community abroad.
"I had been in a relationship with my partner in Cuba for ten years, I was extremely happy, and as soon as I arrived in the United States, everything fell apart. I hear this every day in my social circle," begins the creator, describing a complaint that he claims is almost universal among Cubans in the diaspora.
The author identifies three main causes that, in his opinion, explain the phenomenon.
The first is financial freedom. In Cuba, she notes, most women were homemakers and depended economically on men. Upon arriving in the U.S., both partners are forced to start working from scratch, which gives women their own income for the first time. "When a woman begins to earn money and sees that she now has financial freedom, she starts to have a different perspective on life; she no longer wants to be confined at home," she explains.
The second reason is the empowerment of women typical of developed capitalist countries. According to the creator, many young women in that environment do not want a partner because they do not wish to depend on any man, and this shift in mentality creates friction with Cuban partners who are accustomed to a different model of relationship. "I'm going out with my friends, daddy, I'm going to have a few drinks, I'll be back, daddy, I'm going to the mall, daddy. That's very normal, but for us Cubans, it often clashes," he illustrates.
The third factor is the influence of the new social circle. In Cuba, she says, friends encouraged maintaining the relationship despite the problems. In the U.S., that message changes radically: "You don't have to put up with anything from that guy. You are very pretty, you have a great body, there are ten thousand men out there. You don't need to tolerate anything from anyone," the author recounts, describing what he believes the new social environment conveys to the newly arrived woman.
The creator also mentions secondary causes, such as infidelity and jealousy that some Cuban men develop when they see their partner change. "I've heard of men who were never jealous in Cuba, and when they arrive in the United States, they become extremely jealous because they see their wife starting to become a different person," he notes.
The author clarifies that their analysis is not intended to be anti-feminist, but rather a reflection of the social reality experienced by thousands of Cubans in the diaspora.
The debate on breakups in Cuban migration is not new. Singer La Dura confirmed her separation from Jacob Forever in September 2025 after more than 12 years together, and influencers Gabriela Sofía and Sheila Fraguela announced their breakup in August 2025 after just five months of marriage, cases that sparked similar conversations on social media.
The traditional Cuban family model, characterized by very defined gender roles, clashes directly with the reality of the U.S. labor market, where both partners need to work to make ends meet. This clash is recognized as one of the main sources of stress in immigrant couple relationships.
"This country changes you, not only because of financial freedom, but also due to the way of life. It is a capitalist country where everyone must work, where everyone must carry out their daily tasks, and where everyone must also have their own space, because if not, the stress will simply overwhelm you," concludes @whiteshark_i220a, inviting their followers to share their opinions in the comments.
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