Over the course of the past few weeks, Cuba has received an influx of U.S. media attention. Between President Obama’s historical visit back in March to Carnival Cruise Line sending the American first cruise ship to Havana in 50 years on May 1, Cuba is still receiving more U.S. media attention.
Cuba has received yet another set of visitors—America’s favorite reality TV show family the Kardashians.
The camera and media loving family did not cease to hesitate at the opportunity to create a social media buzz. Khloe Kardashian’s Instagram account immediately filled up with selfies of her smoking cigars, traveling down the streets of Havana, and “soaking up the culture.”
A picture that really caused a stir on her Instagram was one with her posed next to a statue and the wall in the background has the name Fidel written on it. Some of the comments on her Instagram post called her insensitive and a fair share of people from Cuban descent shared the stories of the brutality their parents’ escape from the iron fists of the Castro regime.
Cuba has received yet another set of visitors—America’s favorite reality TV show family the Kardashians.
The camera and media loving family did not cease to hesitate at the opportunity to create a social media buzz. Khloe Kardashian’s Instagram account immediately filled up with selfies of her smoking cigars, traveling down the streets of Havana, and “soaking up the culture.”
A picture that really caused a stir on her Instagram was one with her posed next to a statue and the wall in the background has the name Fidel written on it. Some of the comments on her Instagram post called her insensitive and a fair share of people from Cuban descent shared the stories of the brutality their parents’ escape from the iron fists of the Castro regime.
While people such as Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) see the Kardashians’ trip as an insult to the Cuban people suffering everyday under the thumb of oppression, can the Kardashians’ trip bring about change?
The Kardashian family is notorious for living an over-glamorized life between the extreme amounts of makeup and the outfits that costs almost as much as the average public university students’ annual tuition. In order to keep up on the glamorous lifestyle, the Kardashians’ social media accounts can’t portray the reality of life as a person who’s not living a flashy life.
The Cuba the Kardashians visited is not the reality of Cuba today (or even the past 50 years).
Because the Kardashian name is a registered trademark in the U.S., the Kardashians could have brought light about the reality of the oppression Cubans face on a daily basis. Where are the photos of the Damas de Blanco, who faithfully and peacefully protest against the imprisonment of unfairly detained dissidents? Where are the photos of the people living in poverty because the Castro regime has seized every opportunity for them to make a living wage? Where are the photos of the filthy hospitals where patients have to bring their own medical equipment?
Since Khloe discussed her love of traveling and exploring different cultures on her Instagram, why didn’t she show Cuban culture, the one that the Castros have destroyed, for what it really is?
While the Kardashians are not activists, the people who keep up with the Kardashians should see this as a wake-up call in understanding the reality of Cuba, not the glitzy, groomed-for-social-media farce that the family created. But then, the reality of Cuba doesn’t attract new followers on Instagram. Discussing the damages of Communism doesn’t cause people to double tap an Instagram post.
But there isn’t a shadow of a doubt that they enjoyed sipping their mojitos and smoking their hand-rolled cigars with their squad.
And ironically enough, the Cuban citizens could care less about America’s favorite drama-causing family.
The Kardashian family is notorious for living an over-glamorized life between the extreme amounts of makeup and the outfits that costs almost as much as the average public university students’ annual tuition. In order to keep up on the glamorous lifestyle, the Kardashians’ social media accounts can’t portray the reality of life as a person who’s not living a flashy life.
The Cuba the Kardashians visited is not the reality of Cuba today (or even the past 50 years).
Because the Kardashian name is a registered trademark in the U.S., the Kardashians could have brought light about the reality of the oppression Cubans face on a daily basis. Where are the photos of the Damas de Blanco, who faithfully and peacefully protest against the imprisonment of unfairly detained dissidents? Where are the photos of the people living in poverty because the Castro regime has seized every opportunity for them to make a living wage? Where are the photos of the filthy hospitals where patients have to bring their own medical equipment?
Since Khloe discussed her love of traveling and exploring different cultures on her Instagram, why didn’t she show Cuban culture, the one that the Castros have destroyed, for what it really is?
While the Kardashians are not activists, the people who keep up with the Kardashians should see this as a wake-up call in understanding the reality of Cuba, not the glitzy, groomed-for-social-media farce that the family created. But then, the reality of Cuba doesn’t attract new followers on Instagram. Discussing the damages of Communism doesn’t cause people to double tap an Instagram post.
But there isn’t a shadow of a doubt that they enjoyed sipping their mojitos and smoking their hand-rolled cigars with their squad.
And ironically enough, the Cuban citizens could care less about America’s favorite drama-causing family.