A Cuban in Spain Sparks Online Debate by Speaking Out Against Silence

Hailing from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, a Cuban woman has stirred a wave of reactions on TikTok by sharing a video outlining four things she dislikes about Spain. She clarifies that her perspective isn't one of ingratitude but rather the everyday experiences of an immigrant facing genuine obstacles.

"I'm a Cuban living in Spain, and I'm sharing four aspects I don’t like about this country," she begins, before listing the "endless bureaucracy," "months-long processes," and "appointments that never materialize." She also highlights how "paperwork dictates your peace of mind more than your effort or desire to succeed."

Her second point addresses the "normalized job insecurity," with "never-ending temporary contracts" and "wages that stagnate while rent, electricity, and food prices rise." She expresses the pain of having to "prove twice as much to be valued half as much" simply for being an immigrant. She laments hearing phrases like "you're here to take our jobs," asserting that most immigrants "come to work in any field, to contribute, to help build whatever is needed."

In another part of the video, she stresses that speaking out is not disrespectful or ungrateful: "Friend, expressing yourself is not disrespectful, speaking about what hurts isn’t ungratefulness, and staying silent out of fear isn’t integration either."

Yet, she emphasizes that her message is not pessimistic: "Spain isn't perfect, but it's a country with potential, filled with wonderful people and real opportunities if the right conditions are met. Meanwhile, I am here building, learning, contributing, and speaking out because my voice matters too."

The video, shared by @jennypg92 on TikTok, has garnered tens of thousands of views and hundreds of comments with mixed opinions. Many users appreciate her honesty and empathy, while others criticize her for voicing disagreements about the country she resides in.

Supportive comments include reactions like: "If there are things she doesn't like, she has the right to say it. Everyone knows things are bad in Cuba, but that doesn't mean Spain doesn't have its issues" or "she's brave to voice what she dislikes." Others lauded her courage: "That's how you speak, not everything is rosy," "very honest and respectful, that’s not being ungrateful," or "not everyone has to think the same, but she spoke with education." She was also defended against critics: "Everyone can voice their opinion here without issue, but when a Cuban does it, people get offended," or "you should listen before judging, she's just sharing her experience."

However, many users disagreed or were uncomfortable with her words. Some wrote: "There are many things I don't like about your country, but out of respect, I don't belittle them," "if you don't like it, you know, planes come and go," or "you come to a country, and the first thing you do is complain." Others were harsher: "If Spain is so bad, go back to Cuba," "you talk a lot, but you're happy earning in euros," or "immigrants come and want to change everything." There were also comments with an ironic tone: "The nerve of it" and "oh dear, what a mess you're causing, Jenny."

In response to the harsher criticisms, the creator posted a brief message reiterating her stance: "And I don’t like it when an immigrant talks about these things, they are immediately told: if you don’t like it, leave."

This isn't the first time a similar testimony has sparked debate online. Cuban women residing in Spain have faced criticism for sharing their migratory experiences or highlighting cultural differences between the two countries. In a previous case, a young woman received comments like "remember your roots" after reflecting on identity and the adaptation process outside Cuba.

In another similar episode, a Cuban woman recently arrived in Galicia responded to criticisms of her surprise at local customs, emphasizing the importance of maintaining roots without forsaking integration.

There have also been instances of Cuban creators reporting manipulation or hate speech on social networks after sharing content about their migratory experience. A Cuban influencer in Spain recently claimed her videos were distorted by a Spanish media outlet, leading to a wave of attacks against her.

The phrase "if you don’t like it, leave," common in many of these debates, has been highlighted by other creators as an example of everyday xenophobia. In another viral video, a young Cuban warned that such expressions "do not defend a custom but use a person’s origin to invalidate their opinion."

The phenomenon of migratory testimonies on TikTok has become a space where many Cubans share their initial impressions of life outside the island, from cultural differences to bureaucratic or labor challenges. In another such case, a Cuban newly arrived in the Canary Islands sparked controversy by commenting on local customs, including siestas and restaurant interactions.

Stories like @jennypg92’s illustrate how Cuban migration in Spain has found in social media a space for collective venting and reflection. What was once shared privately is now broadcast to millions, sparking debates that cross borders. In this digital dialogue, marked by both praise and criticism, lies the emotional map of a community that, despite the distance, continues to build its identity and assert its place in the society that hosts it.

Like her, many other Cubans, not only in Europe, have become spontaneous chroniclers of their reality, narrating from their mobile phones what was once left unspoken. Their stories reveal the struggle for documentation, the distance from family, everyday prejudices, and the hope of starting anew. Social media, with all its power and contradictions, has transformed into the main stage where Cuban migrants claim something as simple as it is legitimate: the right to speak without fear and showcase a reality that doesn’t always find space in traditional media—a community wanting to be heard, understood, and truthfully represented.