Cuban actress and influencer Eileen Morales took to TikTok to deliver a powerful message aimed at those in Cuba who flaunt fully stocked refrigerators. "There's a new trend in Cuba where people are showing off fridges full of food and pretty things as if that's the reality for everyone. But the truth is, the average Cuban faces hunger, poverty, and a lack of freedom under a dictatorship," stated Morales, known as @lacubanatiktok on the platform.
Morales argued that these posts are part of a strategy to gloss over the island's dire circumstances. "A stocked fridge doesn't represent a nation, let alone erase decades of misery imposed by a regime that has crushed all freedom," she asserted.
She defended Cubans who speak out about the country's situation from abroad, dismissing claims that their criticisms stem from hatred or envy. "Those of us who have left the island and talk about Cuba do so not out of hatred for our homeland, but because we love it and want the truth to be known. Stop romanticizing the Cuban dictatorship," Morales urged.
The influencer also criticized those perpetuating an unrealistic image of prosperity. "If you're going to keep spreading lies from the island prison, we'll continue to speak the truth from freedom," she declared.
Morales's message comes amidst a wave of viral TikTok videos showcasing the contents of refrigerators in Cuba, sparking mixed reactions. One of the most talked-about posts was by creator @enifita, who displayed a fridge filled with imported goods, sweets, and drinks. Her video drew backlash for portraying a lifestyle out of reach for most Cubans, who grapple with food shortages and high prices. In contrast, user @soy_thalyholguin shared a video of her nearly empty fridge, containing only a few avocados, mayonnaise, and four sausages, highlighting the island's food crisis.
Another creator, @anita.cubana6, went viral weeks earlier for exposing the scarcity and power outages that worsen food preservation challenges. "Many people wake up with nothing to eat and go to bed with empty stomachs. For Cubans, each day revolves around one goal: What will I eat today?" she expressed in her video.
These posts reveal two sides of life in Cuba: a minority able to showcase full refrigerators and a majority struggling with scarcity and hunger. Eileen Morales’s video joins the chorus of voices denouncing the Cuban regime's attempts to mask the crisis by portraying a nonexistent normality. Her widely shared message reignites the debate on authenticity, censorship, and inequality that permeate daily life on the island.
Exploring the Reality of Life in Cuba
What message did Eileen Morales convey in her TikTok video?
Eileen Morales highlighted the false portrayals on social media of fully stocked refrigerators in Cuba, emphasizing that this does not reflect the reality of hunger and poverty faced by most Cubans.
Why did Morales criticize the social media trend in Cuba?
She criticized it as an attempt to gloss over the harsh realities of life in Cuba, such as hunger and lack of freedom, imposed by the regime.
How did other Cuban creators contribute to this debate?
Other creators, like @enifita and @soy_thalyholguin, shared contrasting videos showing both abundance and scarcity, shedding light on the disparities in Cuban life.