Political streamer Hasan Piker, widely known as HasanAbi, recently shared a video from Cuba where he claims that Cubans are "just chilling" despite facing daily power outages, attributing this attitude to an alleged "island mindset." The clip, shared on X by user @JaviXCubaLibre, quickly garnered over 41,000 views and sparked a wave of outrage among Cubans both on and off the island.
In the video, Piker describes Cuba as "officially one of my favorite places" and praises what he refers to as the "resilience" of the Cuban people. "There are rolling blackouts happening throughout the day, every day, across the country, affecting 11 million people, but today is a beautiful day, 75 degrees, sunny, people are partying in the streets. I don't know if it's an island mindset," he stated. "They're just chilling," he added.
The Stark Reality of Cuba's Power Crisis
The reality for Cubans is far more severe. Just a day before the video was posted, on March 22nd, a massive failure of the National Electric System occurred at 6:38 PM local time, leaving 90% of Havana without electricity. The power generation deficit has reached 2,040 MW against a demand of up to 3,130 MW, leading to blackouts lasting 12 hours or more daily across the nation.
Luxury Amidst Hardship
Meanwhile, Piker was staying at the Gran Hotel Bristol Meliá Collection, a five-star hotel with nightly rates ranging from $130 to $520. The hotel boasts its own power generators, stable internet, and air conditioning. From there, he streamed live to his 1.6 million followers in complete comfort. In response to criticism, the streamer defended his choice of accommodation by citing U.S. government regulations that require American citizens to stay in government-approved hotels in Cuba.
Progressive International's Convoy
Piker's trip to Cuba was part of the Convoy Nuestra América, an initiative organized by Progressive International that brought together over 650 participants from 33 countries, including Pablo Iglesias, Jeremy Corbyn, and Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib. The event concluded on March 21st with an official ceremony led by Miguel Díaz-Canel, who used the opportunity to declare that "Cuba is not alone."
Backlash from Cubans and Critics
The responses were swift. Journalist Yoani Sánchez bluntly stated, "We are not a theme park." Comedian Ulises Toirac sarcastically suggested that Piker try living for a month on 4,000 Cuban pesos and a ration card. Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar condemned the "hypocrisy" of activists staying in luxury hotels while the Cuban people endure the worst energy crisis in decades. Cuban exiles called the streamer's attitude a "colossal mockery" and "champagne socialism."
Who is Hasan Piker?
Hasan Doğan Piker, born on July 25, 1991, in New Jersey, raised in Istanbul, is an American Twitch streamer and left-wing political commentator. The nickname "Abi" means "big brother" in Turkish. He previously worked for The Young Turks (a progressive channel founded by his uncle Cenk Uygur) and HuffPost.
With over 3 million followers on Twitch, Piker streams almost daily, offering political commentary, and is described by CNN as a kind of "AM radio for Gen Z." He is an outspoken socialist, anti-capitalist, and one of the most vocal critics of U.S. foreign policy.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Challenges
What caused the massive power outage in Havana?
The power outage in Havana was due to a complete collapse of the National Electric System, highlighting the severe generation deficit in Cuba.
Why did Hasan Piker choose to stay at a luxury hotel?
Hasan Piker cited U.S. government regulations that mandate American citizens to stay in government-approved hotels when visiting Cuba.
What is the Convoy Nuestra América?
The Convoy Nuestra América is an initiative by Progressive International that brought together participants from various countries to demonstrate solidarity with Cuba.