Cuban Model Sthefany Pérez Faces Backlash for Romantic Cuban Getaway: "Show the Hunger and Misery"

The Cuban model Sthefany Pérez, who rose to fame in Spain after her appearance on the reality show "La isla de las tentaciones," has sparked a significant online backlash. She recently traveled to Havana with her Spanish boyfriend, Tadeo Corrales Garrido, and shared snapshots of their time in the Cuban capital.

Pérez embarked on this trip primarily to reunite with her mother and family. However, the photos posted by her partner on Instagram, showcasing only the polished, tourist-friendly side of Havana, provoked a wave of criticism.

"We've been having an incredible time with family here in Havana. I love the vibe and the positive energy that fills the streets of Cuba. Stay tuned for more updates, family," Tadeo wrote, accompanying images featuring the Capitol building and other iconic spots in the city.

Nevertheless, many individuals were quick to challenge this "sugar-coated" portrayal of their visit. One user questioned, "Hey, tell me about the power outages, how is Tadeo handling them?" to which Sthefany replied, "He adapts to everything, no problem. The important thing is we're with my family."

The harshest comments followed swiftly: "That's what you see of Cuba, the pretty face, but the suffering of those living there is immense"; "Show the hunger and misery that Cubans endure"; "The atmosphere you're in doesn't reflect the harsh reality of Cuba"; "Visiting Cuba might be lovely, but living there with shortages and blackouts is a different story"; "How is your family dealing with the endless power outages? Talk about that, about the hunger, the desire to emigrate that everyone feels. We need to tell the real story or we're fooling the world"; "It's incredible that you've chosen the few untouched and pretty spots for your photos… Enjoy as you can"; "When you walk under a balcony in Old Havana, then tell me about the good vibes, walk like an ordinary Cuban, see the mirror sites, but also the Cuban reality."

Another person, who claimed to have been in Cuba recently on a university mission, shared their blunt experience: "I was in Cuba 15 days ago, and the reality is different. The central buildings are beautiful in their original construction but are falling apart. It's necessary to document the reality because it's unjust for the Cuban people to remain in such conditions. We went as university missionaries to train some teachers, and it's tough to conduct classes with power outages of unknown duration. Food is very limited; in the week I was there, I lost 1½ pounds. I am grateful to the mothers who, with whatever little they had, fed us. We need to be more honest."

Another user expressed, "IT'S NOT THE TIME TO TRAVEL TO CUBA! This isn't hate, but Cuba is in misery and doesn't need tourism because the dictatorship needs to fall now."

In response to the criticism, Sthefany Pérez clarified that her trip to Cuba was solely to visit her mother and family, "not to discuss problems."