Yannys Herrera, a Cuban residing in Italy, has sparked laughter and deep thought through a video he shared on TikTok (@yannys_real) and Instagram, addressing the stereotypes Cubans encounter in Europe. With a blend of humor and honesty, Yannys remarks, “In Europe, the bar for being Cuban is set extremely high. I have no idea who set it so high, to be honest.”
Beyond being a content creator, Yannys is the founder and CEO of the clothing brand Rytt Dustin. However, this time his video wasn’t about fashion but about how Europeans idealize Cubans. “They think all Cubans are attractive, that we can dance, that we have 'hot blood', as they say,” he noted. He also highlighted how these expectations enhance the social perception of Cubans: “Someone will say, 'Oh, I know a Cuban,' and nobody knows who it is, but they already imagine it's one of those standout Cubans.”
In a humorous tone, Yannys discussed the repercussions of not meeting these high expectations. “If you can't dance salsa or bachata, you start losing points: you're at 100, right? ‘Show me a bachata,’ ‘No, I can't,’ 70. ‘Well, how about salsa?’ ‘No, I can’t...’, 40.” Offering advice to his fellow Cubans in Europe, he added, “Brother, hit the gym; if you can't dance, learn to move, learn your moves.”
The video quickly filled with comments, with many users confirming Yannys's observations or sharing their own experiences. One user wrote, “When I say I’m Cuban, they get surprised”; another admitted, “In Spain, they love us too.” Some joked, “I can't dance hahaha they look at me and say ‘Nooo’ hahaha.”
Additionally, some discussed how Cubans are perceived in Europe. “Here in Russia, I’m the standout, they see me as a god”; “No disrespect, but I can’t dance salsa or bachata, even though I have a mix of everything in Valencia.” Amid jokes and pride, it was evident that being Cuban comes with a “high bar” but also with a lot of personality.