Andy Vázquez

Andy Ernesto Vázquez Toirac is a Cuban comedian born in 1975 in Baracoa, Guantánamo, Cuba.

At the age of 14, she appeared in the telenovela *Prefiero las rosas* by Raúl Pérez Sánchez. Later, she made several appearances on popular Cuban television shows such as *Tras la huella*, *Jura decir la verdad*, and *No quiero llanto*. She also served as a judge on the well-known comedy program in the island, *Los amigos de Pepito*.

Andy Vázquez's opportunity came with his inclusion in the popular and notable comedy show Vivir del Cuento. His ability to portray diverse characters such as Facundo Correcto, Ángel Bueno (Aguaje), and Bienvenido Blanco Blanco earned him great popularity among the Cuban audience, solidifying his status as one of the leading comedians in the Cuban repertoire.

Alongside the cast of Vivir del Cuento, he received several awards in Cuba at various festivals, such as Aquelarre (2002), the Television Festival (2013), the Caricato Award for Acting, and the Barrio Award, both in 2014, among others.

In 2016, during his visit to Cuba, President Barack Obama participated in a sketch with the main actors of "Vivir del Cuento," where he played a game of dominoes with Pánfilo and Chequera.

In 2019, Andy made headlines after being removed from the cast of Vivir del Cuento and was suspended by the authorities of the Cuban Institute of Radio and Television (ICRT). The incident was prompted by the alleged repercussions within Cuba of the material titled "Las Chivate-rías de Facundo," in which the character stated that the capital would once again implement the basic, non-basic, and directed policy that was used in stores in Cuba to regulate products during the early decades of Fidel Castro's revolution.

"Each resident of Havana will be required to go to the Cuatro Caminos market once a month and will be able to purchase one of each product. The basic item is a meat product, with the option of chicken, pork, or lamb; the non-basic items allow for a detergent, a floor mat, or a tomato puree; and the designated items include asparagus, seasoning, and fabric softener," he stated.

The criticism arose following the incidents that occurred with the reopening of the popular Havana market Cuatro Caminos and the subsequent damage caused after its inauguration by a group of people who gathered at the location to shop.

Facundo's material unsettled the authorities, and the artist was expelled from the popular television comedy.

In December 2019, he traveled to Miami and although he initially suggested that he would return to the island, where his followers were asking for him to be given a second chance on the television show Vivir del Cuento, the comedian ultimately decided to stay.

From that moment on, Andy Vázquez had to deal with numerous threats coming from the island, as well as the disdain and insults typical of the official Cuban media. In February 2020, the Ministry of Education (MINED) tweeted, "Is Andy Vázquez an misunderstood civic figure? Give me a break, spare me that story." In August 2020, the official journalist Jesús Álvarez López referred to the comedian and other Cuban artists as "victims of weak knees."

Andy Vázquez joined the show on MegaTV and Univista TV in January 2020, which is hosted by the popular Cuban comedian Carlucho.

To the characters he already brought to life in Cuba, Andy has added Lina la Javá, the most popular among them, and Amore H “La Calentica," among others, making him one of the most beloved comedians in Miami thanks to his artistic versatility.