While attempting to help a waitress by returning dirty glasses to the bar, a Cuban woman living in Spain found herself on the receiving end of insults from other customers. Yeni (@yeni09_14) shared her experience in a TikTok video on Saturday, which quickly garnered hundreds of reactions.
The incident took place in her hometown in Spain, where she had attended a job interview at the same bar. After the meeting, she decided to collect three ice glasses and two coffee cups with their saucers to bring them back to the counter.
It was at this moment that she became the target of verbal abuse from other patrons. Wearing headphones, she was initially unaware of the remarks until she removed them.
"What an idiot," they remarked. "Don't be stupid, leave that there, that's her job," they added, before questioning her, "You're not from Spain, are you?"
Yeni speculated that the patrons likely identified her as a foreigner after hearing her during the interview. Meanwhile, the waitress appreciated her gesture and thanked her warmly.
"I was insulted just for trying to make the waitress's job easier, because I felt like it, you know?" Yeni expressed in her video. "Now they insult you for being helpful, for being kind. Just because you don't do it doesn't mean I can't."
The young woman also drew on her personal work history to justify her actions: "Because I've worked in hospitality, why can't I make the job easier? I have to hear insults for simply being kind."
She concluded her story with a Cuban expression reflecting her shock: "Me he quedado arepa tiesa," which means being left speechless or stunned.
In the video's description, Yeni was careful to clarify that her experience wasn't a criticism of Spain as a whole: "This isn't a critique of the country or anything like that. People like this exist everywhere. The girl at the bar was very appreciative, but the others just threw insults my way, and I mostly ignored them. Let's normalize kindness, being helpful, and empathetic to others."
This incident isn't an isolated one. On July 30, another Cuban reported a racial incident in a Spanish supermarket where a woman told her, "You're in my country." In August 2025, another Cuban creator in Spain highlighted that comments like "if you don't like it, go back to your country" are not cultural debates but xenophobic remarks.
These accounts contribute to a growing trend on TikTok, where Cuban women in Spain document their daily integration experiences, sometimes facing hostility. According to Spain's National Institute of Statistics, by early 2024, around 223,532 Cuban-born individuals resided in Spain. Additionally, it is estimated that between 26,900 and more than 35,200 Cubans arrived in 2025, marking Spain as the primary European destination for Cuban emigration.
Understanding Cuban Emigration Experiences in Spain
What incident did Yeni experience in Spain?
Yeni, a Cuban woman living in Spain, was insulted by other bar patrons while trying to help a waitress by returning dirty glasses to the counter. The patrons questioned her origins, assuming she was not from Spain.
How did Yeni respond to the insults she received?
Yeni addressed the situation in a TikTok video, expressing disbelief at being insulted for her kindness. She highlighted her background in hospitality and emphasized the importance of being friendly and helpful.
Are such incidents common for Cuban immigrants in Spain?
While not universal, there are multiple reports from Cuban immigrants in Spain documenting experiences of xenophobia and racism, indicating that some face challenges in their integration process.