Anthony Eduardo Pi Vila, the Cuban influencer known as Bota Compota, returned to Cuba unexpectedly after the death of his father, and he did so in his own style: with the Cuban flag draped around his neck and accompanied by mariachis.
Anthony shared on TikTok a video of his arrival with the caption "My arrival in Cuba after my father's passing," a clip that in just a few hours garnered over 128,000 views and nearly 9,500 likes, along with hundreds of comments filled with crying emojis, hearts, and praying hands from followers of the Cuban community.
Anthony had already given a hint of what he was experiencing: he posted an image on Instagram from a cemetery in Cuba with a single caption, a broken heart emoji. In the photograph, he is dressed completely in black, leaning over a grave with offerings.
Returning to the island is one of the toughest moments this 27-year-old has experienced since emigrating to the United States by crossing the border.
Despite the pain, the way Anthony chose to arrive in his neighborhood says a lot about who he is: with mariachis and the Cuban flag draped around his neck, as if he wanted to bring everything he carries inside him, even though he lives far away. He also starred in an emotional moment with his grandfather.
Bota Compota became an internet phenomenon in April 2026 by posting videos from his car while working as a delivery driver for a courier company in the United States, singing Cuban delivery songs with a spontaneity that instantly resonated with the diaspora. His story—an immigrant who crossed the border, fell ill due to a bacteria, and lost his car in a fire—struck a chord with thousands of Cubans who saw themselves reflected in him.
After his viral explosion, he transitioned from being a delivery person to an event and party host, making appearances on television and gaining support from artists like Lenier Mesa and Dany Ome. It was precisely Lenier who told him during that meeting: "You have to maintain yourself now. Do you understand?"
In the midst of this new life, Anthony never stopped looking towards Cuba. On June 1st, he organized a birthday surprise for his sister on the island, sending someone dressed as a bear with his famous viral audio, in a gesture that moved his followers. Now, the return is for the most painful reason imaginable.
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