Milena, a Cuban TikTok user living abroad under the handle @milenita9712, has returned to the platform with a nearly four-minute video addressing the backlash she faced after sharing her family reunion in Cuba. Previous footage showed her arriving in a rented car and embracing her mother in front of a wooden house, sparking a wave of comments questioning her financial priorities.
In her latest video, Milena responds directly to a user named Analí, who commented: “She should be ashamed to film there; look at the conditions her mother lives in.” Milena counters, “I am not ashamed to film in front of my house, my wooden house, which was my home for so many years. Where I experienced so many wonderful things, so many cyclones, so many beautiful moments with my family.”
The Value of a Wooden Home
Milena emphasizes that what should be embarrassing is the belief that living in a wooden house makes someone inferior. “Shame on those who think that living in a wooden house makes you less than others. That is truly shameful.”
Throughout the video, Milena passionately defends the emotional significance of her former home. “Many people would love to reunite with their family, even if it's in a wooden house... and many people don't even have them in their lives anymore.”
She poses a rhetorical question, “Why do we say it's shameful? Many would give anything to hug their mother, even if it's under a bridge, as some have suggested.”
Milena clarifies that her mother doesn't live in that house anymore; she moved to a new home built some time ago. “The house next door was built a long time ago... but we never forget that little house. It's always in our hearts.”
Embracing Her Roots
Milena insists she doesn't need to pretend or film in front of someone else's house: “I don't need to film in front of another house to show off. That's pretending to have money.”
Instead of making excuses, Milena turns the video into a personal reflection on her background and growth. “I never thought the video would go viral because of the house. I thought people would like it because many can't see their families yet.”
Addressing critics who noted her lack of tears in the previous video, she explains, “It's been less than a year since I last went to Cuba. Plus, everyone handles emotions differently.”
“This is not shame; this is an honor,” she asserts. “Coming from humble beginnings and growing gradually—that is truly an honor for me.”
Resonating with Many
The video elicited an overwhelming response. “I'd give anything to hug my mom, even if it were in a shack,” one follower shared. Another commented, “Humility makes us great. I'd rather hug my family in a wooden house than not have them at all.”
Hundreds supported Milena's message, praising her genuine way of sharing her life, free of pretenses. “Don't pay attention; I saw a happy mother and daughter reunited,” one user remarked.
Background: The Initial Controversy
Milena's story gained viral attention after she posted a video of her arrival in Cuba in a rented car, greeting her mother in front of a modest dwelling. The main criticism focused on the perceived contradiction between the trip's expense and the living conditions.
In previous statements, Milena explained that renting the car was a logistical necessity. “Wearing a chain or having a car isn't luxury. It's a necessity in Cuba,” she previously stated.
She also mentioned that her grandfather built the wooden house, which holds family history, hence why it hasn't been demolished.
Milena's Response to Criticism: Key Insights
Why did Milena receive criticism for her family reunion video?
Milena faced criticism because viewers questioned her economic priorities after she posted a video arriving in a rented car and reuniting with her mother in front of a modest wooden house.
How does Milena defend her background?
Milena defends her background by emphasizing the emotional value of her wooden home, asserting that living in such a house does not make anyone inferior, and expressing pride in her humble beginnings.
What was the initial controversy about Milena's video?
The controversy arose from perceived contradictions between Milena's apparent financial situation, shown by renting a car, and the humble conditions of her mother's wooden house.