Cuban influencer Flor de Cuba recently addressed criticism on her Instagram account, responding with sarcasm to allegations that she has "abandoned" her children in Cuba while enjoying life in the United States.
The controversy was sparked by a comment that encapsulated the critique: "While she's living it up in the U.S., her children are left behind in Cuba, suffering from hunger and poverty." Flor used this accusation as the narrative thread for an ironic story about her eldest son's 13th birthday celebration.
Contrary to depicting a scene of neglect, the video shows the teenager's birthday celebration at the Meliá Varadero hotel, surrounded by grandmothers, in-laws, his girlfriend, his best friend, and several other relatives, enjoying amenities like a jacuzzi, swimming pool, diving, and kayaking.
"As you can see, my son is very, very, very abandoned in a jacuzzi at a five-star hotel, living a sad and bitter life as a victimized, unhappy child, unloved and neglected," narrated the influencer with deliberate dramatic exaggeration.
The hotel staff also organized a special birthday celebration for the teen, which Flor mentioned in her story with the same mocking tone: "The staff, outraged by such suffering, decided to pay special tribute to the unhappy child."
Towards the end of the reel, the influencer dropped the irony momentarily to deliver a more direct critique of her critics' logic.
"There are no bad mothers living with their children. There are no good mothers living far away. That doesn't exist," she stated, challenging the notion that physical presence solely determines the quality of motherhood.
She also listed real instances of abuse that, according to her, are overlooked by this binary logic: "It doesn't matter if my mother hits me or allows my stepfather to mistreat me. It doesn't matter if I have no roof over my head, if I have nothing... the only thing that matters is that my mother is next to me."
Flor de Cuba, whose real name is Flor Danay Hernández Ochoa, chose to settle in Miami at the end of December 2024, leaving her two children in Cuba under the care of their grandparents. Since then, she has frequently faced similar criticisms, to which she has responded in various ways.
In December 2024, she had already reacted to similar accusations by stating that she wasn't "responsible for what happens in Cuba." In July 2025, she once again defended herself against comments questioning her role as a mother, and in April of this year, she announced her third pregnancy, the first with her partner Alexx 13K, reigniting the debate.
The separation of families due to migration is a widespread reality within the Cuban exile community, where many parents migrate with the hope of eventually reuniting with their children, a process that can be indefinitely prolonged.
Understanding the Criticism Faced by Flor de Cuba
What prompted the backlash against Flor de Cuba?
Flor de Cuba faced backlash due to criticisms that she has abandoned her children in Cuba while living in the United States, highlighted by a comment accusing her of living a luxurious life while her children suffer in Cuba.
How did Flor de Cuba respond to the allegations?
Flor responded with sarcasm and irony, illustrating through a video how her son celebrated his birthday with family and luxury amenities, thus countering the narrative of neglect.
What arguments did Flor de Cuba present against her critics?
Flor challenged the idea that physical presence alone defines good motherhood, pointing out that real abuse situations are often ignored under such simplistic assumptions.