The Cuban singer Seidy La Niña sparked a wave of criticism on social media after posting a reel filmed in a neighborhood in Havana, where she appears surrounded by residents while shooting a street music video singing one of her collaborative songs.
The video, published days after his return to Cuba after nearly seven years of absence, garnered thousands of likes and hundreds of comments, but the reaction from a significant portion of the audience was one of outright rejection.
"Everything looks nice, bread and circus for the people, since that's what they like. Let there be more blackouts, more repression, more hunger, and more mulatas from the neighborhood. That’s how the dictatorship is given a facelift," wrote one of the users with indignation.
Others questioned the very possibility that such a gathering could take place in Cuba without official backing. "I suppose that this entire gathering of Cubans was organized and supervised by State Security, because they don't allow that to form in the streets unless they organize it. Lieutenant Seidy at the forefront," noted another commentator.
Several comments also pointed to the presence of personal security during the street tour. "If she’s with her people, with the fans who love her, why have security? In my years, I never saw Formell, Paulito FG, and others with that nonsense of security, and they held concerts and sang at carnivals all over Cuba," questioned another follower.
The contrast between the festive scene and the reality of the island was another focus of criticism. "No water, no food, no electricity, but always ready for the circus," summed up one user. Another added, "The faces of Cubans there reflect the anguish and struggle of each day in this country. It makes me sad; every time I watch these videos, I see the faces of people in pain, stubborn, and nothing changes."
Some demanded that the artist take advantage of her presence on the island to make a political statement. "Seize the moment and shout 'down with the dictatorship' instead of promoting your music," one follower admonished her, while another urged, "Shout 'Homeland and Life'."
"And then everyone goes home to live the Cuban reality, while she goes to make money in the United States. Enjoy your moment of fame; then tell me what you learned from all of this. Blessings, Cuba," concluded one of the most shared comments under the reel.
One of the criticisms that resonated the most was from an elderly woman who appears in the video seemingly asking the artist for something. "The elderly woman next to you is asking for food because it's clear she's asking you for something. Give it to her, don't ignore her. That broke my heart. Just two seconds, give her something; it's clear she's going through a hard time." "It's not for nothing, but I saw perfectly how she disregarded the elderly woman beside her. No one deserves to be looked down upon. To be an artist, which in my opinion you're not, you need to learn to be humble," two internet users responded.
In response to those comments, Seidy shared another video in which she appears alongside the lady: “The only thing I have for the people who love me is LOVE, respect, and a lot of happiness. I love my people from Cuba and around the world.”
The artist, who has been based in the United States for 25 years, also sparked debate days earlier with an ironic video in which she showcased a stack of 70,000 Cuban pesos — equivalent to about 105 dollars at the informal exchange rate of 664 pesos per dollar — and sarcastically exclaimed: “With that you can buy a ton of things. Wow! How rich you are! You’re a millionaire!”.
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