La Diosa has recently stirred up social media with her outspoken criticism of TikTok academies and so-called "course sellers"—those individuals who charge others to learn how to make money on the platform. Many couldn't help but link her comments to Flor de Cuba, the most successful Cuban influencer on TikTok Shop in the U.S., who runs her own subscription-based academy.
The singer, whose real name is Dianelys Alfonso Cartaya, took her criticisms a step further by posting a comedic sketch on Instagram. In the video, she parodies an "academy instructor" who charges $299 to unveil the secret to selling on TikTok.
However, the real bombshell came during a TikTok live session, which became the center of controversy. La Diosa revealed she had tried one of these academies herself for several months, even paying $500 for a personal lesson. The sole advice she received? To remove the filter from her face. "I laughed because my filter is my saving grace," she shared, explaining that the filter boosts her engagement and sales.
Her verdict was clear and emphatic: "Don't waste your time. Don't waste your time. I'm telling you and I'll keep telling you. No."
La Diosa's Critique of TikTok Academies
Going further, La Diosa elaborated on what she believes makes these academies so dangerous: they charge a monthly fee, offer group classes, and demand an additional $500 for personalized attention. Furthermore, they link the student's TikTok account to a contract that includes a sales commission, making it difficult to break away.
"The money they took from people in need... you took money from someone who has even less than they did before, who came to you for help and ended up worse off," she declared.
To highlight the issue, she invited her followers to share their experiences live. A man named Carlos testified that he paid $500 for a personalized mentorship on social media growth, only to be told about the instructor's personal success story of working in a warehouse and overcoming challenges.
Implications for Flor de Cuba
The unspoken target of her critique appears to be Flor de Cuba (Flor Danay Hernández), who runs "El Método Flor Academia" with a monthly subscription. The influencer arrived in the United States in late 2024 with just $200 and, in roughly six months, amassed millions in sales on TikTok Shop.
La Diosa also used the opportunity to differentiate her approach from the business model she criticizes. She announced that she provides free guidance to her followers on selling via TikTok Shop through public videos and has created a TikTok account solely for that purpose. "That's why I started making a bunch of public videos to teach my followers for free," she explained.
As a final argument against the necessity of paying for academies, La Diosa pointed out that the platform itself offers free guidance to sellers on improving their videos. "No one has the secret to tell you how to achieve millions," she concluded.
Understanding TikTok Academy Criticisms
What was La Diosa's main criticism of TikTok academies?
La Diosa criticized TikTok academies for charging fees and offering little valuable advice, emphasizing that they exploit people seeking help by taking their money without providing real solutions.
How does La Diosa suggest learning to sell on TikTok?
La Diosa advises using the free guidance already available on TikTok and learning through public videos, which she provides herself, rather than paying for costly courses.
What does La Diosa offer instead of a paid academy?
La Diosa offers free instructional content through her public TikTok videos, aimed at helping her followers learn to sell effectively on the platform.