Cuban TikToker Bids Farewell to Cuba: "Chasing Dreams and Freedom"

The Cuban TikToker Dany Belett has said goodbye to his homeland with a heartfelt video that has quickly gone viral on social media. "When you feel your growth and freedom are being stifled, it's time to say goodbye," he expressed in the clip, which captures his departure from Havana en route to Mexico. His farewell has sparked a wave of supportive reactions and reignited the conversation about Cuban migration.

"Goodbye, Cuba. Chasing dreams and freedom," reads the screen as the Cuban content creator Dany Belett (@danybelett) films from an airplane window. This scene is part of a TikTok video that has generated hundreds of reactions from users both inside and outside Cuba. With visuals of his passport, a boarding pass to Mexico City, a touching farewell with his mother, and scenes of him enjoying basic products in his new country—such as pizza, soda, and supermarket shopping—the young man documented his permanent departure from the country.

"When you feel your growth and freedom are being stifled, it's time to say goodbye. Which country welcomed me?" Belett wrote in the post, accompanied by hashtags like #cuba, #cubanosporelmundo, and #cubanosenmexico. Although he didn't explicitly reveal the receiving country, visual clues suggest Mexico as the initial destination.

Mixed Reactions to His Arrival in Mexico

The post was flooded with messages of welcome and solidarity. Many netizens expressed their happiness for the young man's decision and wished him success in this new chapter. Others acknowledged the courage it takes to emigrate in search of better living conditions.

However, critical questions and comments also emerged. Some users were skeptical, with remarks such as "the drama" or "what a pity, and they keep coming." Others voiced concerns about the challenges migrants face in Mexico, including insecurity, racism, or economic difficulties. Some even questioned the Cuban migration process, asking how he managed to leave the country legally and with what resources.

Chronicling Cuban Realities

Before his departure, Dany Belett gained popularity on social media for depicting the everyday struggles faced by Cubans. His videos blended humor with social critique, often going viral for capturing the widespread frustration over the island's high cost of living and low wages.

In April, he was featured in a video titled "I feel scammed," where he sampled imported products bought from a MIPYME: an energy drink priced at 450 CUP, potato chips at 480 CUP, and a Kinder egg at 750 CUP. His complaint about the prices sparked a wide debate among those living both inside and outside Cuba.

In another video, he visited a dollar store in Holguín and showcased everyday products priced in foreign currency, like a broom costing $5.65. "The cost of this experiment was more than a salary," he remarked at the time.

He also starred in a chronicle where he documented how his salary as a nurse, of 4,410 Cuban pesos, was exhausted in just a basic grocery run. Between toothpaste, beans, and eggs, he barely had room for other expenses. His final words in that video were stark: "There's no way to live here."

The case of Dany Belett encapsulates the feelings of many Cubans who, faced with an increasingly precarious economic situation and no prospects for improvement, choose to emigrate. His farewell has become more than a personal act; it symbolizes a collective decision that continues to shape the lives of thousands of families on the island.