There exists a peculiar breed of wealthy actors who have amassed their fortunes thanks to freedom, democracy, and capitalism, yet paradoxically choose to champion authoritarian regimes that suppress their people. From the comfort of their luxurious estates in Los Angeles or Madrid, surrounded by the opulence that the very system they criticize has afforded them, they dare to romanticize governments that persecute, censor, and impoverish their citizens.
Kevin Costner is neither the first nor will he be the last to engage in the Cuban regime's propaganda machine, just like many other figures comfortably ensconced in democracies that allow them to voice their opinions without repercussions. Numerous Hollywood names and intellectual elites have followed suit. Sean Penn made a trip to Cuba and interviewed Raúl Castro in what was essentially a public relations move, while Michael Moore lauded the Cuban healthcare system in his documentary 'Sicko,' turning a blind eye to its real shortcomings. Oliver Stone has repeatedly praised the Castro regime, glossing over its history of oppression. Naomi Campbell visited the island and posed with Fidel Castro's son, while Danny Glover has been an outspoken supporter of the Cuban government. More recently, Cuban actress Ana de Armas, who has consistently avoided criticizing the regime, has sparked further scrutiny by being romantically linked to Miguel Díaz-Canel's stepson, raising questions about her stance on the Cuban government.
Recently, Kevin Costner visited the island, met with dictator Miguel Díaz-Canel, and returned home without experiencing a single day in Cuba's bread lines, enduring a 12-hour blackout, or fearing a visit from State Security. For him and others like him, the revolution is nothing more than an exotic topic, another accessory in their collection of experiences to flaunt in interviews and on social media.
The most appalling aspect of this stance is that many of these millionaires take advantage of democratic societies that have allowed them to freely express themselves and accumulate wealth, while supporting regimes that deny those same rights to their citizens. None of them would willingly live under the rules of the governments they defend. None would trade their Beverly Hills residences for an apartment in a crumbling Havana building. None would swap their multimillion-dollar bank accounts for a ration book. Nor would they donate their fortunes to the "revolutionary cause."
The hypocrisy of these so-called "champions of the people" is an insult to those who truly suffer under these dictatorships. While they play at being armchair revolutionaries, the Cuban people grapple with shortages, repression, and fear, as thousands risk their lives at sea, fleeing the supposed utopia they so highly praise.
What is most insulting is that the majority of these individuals lack even a basic understanding of the Cuban reality. They parrot the same tired phrases about "free education" and "public health" without pausing to consider the quality of these services or the lives they have cost. They prefer to ignore police brutality, political prisoners, the absence of free elections, and the state's total control over citizens' lives.
If they truly believe in the virtues of these regimes, they should lead by example. Let them renounce their millions, move to Cuba, live as ordinary citizens under the conditions they themselves justify, attempt to criticize the government in a local media outlet, and try to exercise the same freedom they enjoy in the West. Only then can they speak with any authority on the matter. But they won't. Because they know that in those countries, they wouldn't last a week living as a regular citizen. Their support for dictatorships is not a genuine conviction but an opportunistic strategy, risking none of their comfort and privilege.
True advocates for justice cannot turn a blind eye to oppression, regardless of the ideology behind it. Freedom is not an exclusive right of Hollywood's elite; it is a universal right, and any attempt to justify its denial should be condemned with equal fervor, no matter how famous the individual endorsing it may be.
Celebrity Endorsements and Cuban Politics
Why do some Hollywood celebrities support the Cuban regime?
Some Hollywood celebrities may support the Cuban regime due to a romanticized view of its revolutionary history or a desire to align with its ideological stance. However, many critics argue that these celebrities have a superficial understanding of the regime's oppressive nature.
What is the criticism against celebrities like Kevin Costner regarding their stance on Cuba?
The criticism against celebrities like Kevin Costner centers on their perceived hypocrisy. They benefit from the freedoms and opportunities afforded by democratic systems yet support a regime that denies these rights to its citizens. Critics argue that they lack a genuine understanding of the hardships faced by ordinary Cubans.