The Cuban singer Seidy La Niña sparked a wave of criticism on social media after posting a reel recorded in a neighborhood of Havana where she is surrounded by locals while filming a street music video singing one of her shared songs.
The video, published days after his return to Cuba after almost seven years away, garnered thousands of likes and hundreds of comments, but a significant portion of the audience reacted with outright rejection.
"Everything is nice, bread and circus for the people because that's what they like. Let there be more blackouts, more repression, more hunger, and more mixed-race women from the neighborhood. That's how the dictatorship cleans its image," wrote one of the users with indignation.
Others questioned the very possibility of such a gathering happening in Cuba without official support. "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 commenter.
Several comments also pointed to the presence of personal security during the street tour. "If she is with her people, with the ones who love her, why have security? In my years, I never saw Formell, Paulito FG, and others with that ridiculous security, and they performed 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 focal point of criticism. "Without water, without food, without electricity, but always ready for the circus," summarized one user. Another added, "The faces of the Cubans there reflect the anguish and daily struggle in this country. It makes me sad; the more I watch these videos, the more I see the faces of people in pain, obstinate, and nothing changes."
Some demanded that the artist take advantage of her presence on the island to make a political statement. "Use this opportunity to shout 'down with the dictatorship' instead of promoting your music," one follower urged, while another asked, "Shout 'Homeland and Life'."
"And then everyone goes home to live the Cuban reality, while she goes to earn money in the United States. Enjoy your moment of fame; then let me know what you learned from all 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 is clear that she is asking for something. Give it to her, don't ignore her. That broke my heart. Just for two seconds, give her something, it’s clear she’s having a tough time"; "I don’t mean to offend, but I saw perfectly how she disregarded the elderly woman next to her. No one deserves to be looked down upon. To be an artist — which, to me, you are not — you need to learn to be humble," two internet users expressed.
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 joy. I love my people in Cuba and around the world."
The artist, who has been living in the United States for 25 years, also sparked debate days prior with an ironic video in which she displayed a bundle 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! Look at you with all that money! You’re a millionaire!”.
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