Armando Tomey Commends Luis Alberto García's Courage: "He's in Cuba and Speaks Out Every Day"

Cuban actor Armando Tomey took a poignant moment on Tuesday night to publicly commend the bravery of his fellow actor, Luis Alberto García, during the premiere of the second season of "Maldita Raíz." This series, available on the Pronyr TV platform, debuted at the Manuel Artime Theater in Miami.

Before offering his praise, Tomey delivered a blunt message to Cuban artists still residing on the island. His candid remarks, captured on video and shared by content creator Leo Brito on Instagram, quickly amassed over 412,000 views, more than 16,000 likes, and nearly 2,500 comments.

"To those posing in fancy restaurants, promoting things, sipping beer with great glamour while the world around them is crumbling, filled with the stench of decay, and they live like they're in a fairy tale," Tomey criticized the artists before the audience at the Artime. Having emigrated to the United States in 2013 after a successful career on Cuban television, he urged his peers to take a stand: "I tell these artists they must play their role in this historical moment and be more critical of that disgusting communist system."

Highlighting Luis Alberto García's Valor

Amidst his critique, Tomey expressed deep admiration for García, stating, "One of Cuba's greatest actors... and he's in Cuba... and he has the courage to speak out daily against the atrocities of this regime."

Tomey highlighted a stark contrast: while he can speak freely from exile in Port St. Lucie, Florida, García does so from within Cuba, where the consequences are dire. As of late 2025, 17 Cuban artists were imprisoned, with another 10 under restrictive sentences, according to cultural rights organizations.

Luis Alberto García's Stand Against the Regime

Born in Havana in 1961 and a graduate of the Instituto Superior de Arte in 1984, García is a respected figure in Cuban cinema, known for films like "Clandestinos," "Plaff," "Guantanamera," and "La vida es silbar." Since late 2025, he has used his social media platforms to relentlessly criticize the regime, choosing not to self-censor or emigrate.

In June 2026, after enduring 48 hours without electricity or water in his building, García made it clear, "I will not stay silent. Know that." His critiques target the energy crisis—where the electrical deficit hit a record 2,174 MW in May 2026—the repression of protesters, and government corruption. On July 31, he labeled the repression of peaceful protesters "unconstitutional and very undemocratic."

Tomey's Personal Experiences and Views

During the evening, Tomey also recalled, with laughter and applause, the time he shouted "Down with Fidel!" at Havana's Comodoro Hotel while filming the telenovela "El naranjo del patio." He was identified by a hotel security guard and detained by police, but was released due to his fame. "They let me go because I was supposedly a famous artist," he recounted, adding with irony, "If I were just a nobody, I'd still be in jail."

Regarding Cuba, Tomey was equally forthright: "That country is held hostage... it's the only country in the world that's been hijacked for 67 years, and no one does anything about it."

In another recent video, Tomey referred to Miguel Díaz-Canel as "a donkey with fangs," alluding to the leader's claims about the Cuban people's willingness to defend the system. The imagery echoes poet Rubén Martínez Villena's description of dictator Gerardo Machado, reflecting Tomey's unfiltered and uncompromising tone in 2026.