Armando Tomey recounts arrest and praises Cuban dissent

During the Miami premiere of the second season of “Maldita Raíz” at the Manuel Artime Theater, Cuban actor Armando Tomey shared personal accounts of political defiance and criticized the current state of artists living in Cuba.

Tomey recounted an incident in Havana where he was arrested after shouting “Down with Fidel!” at the Hotel Comodoro. He noted that while he was detained by police, his celebrity status as a well-known television actor likely prevented harsher repercussions.

Addressing the audience, Tomey criticized Cuban artists who remain on the island and maintain a lifestyle of luxury while the country faces decay. He urged them to be more critical of the communist system. He specifically praised fellow actor Luis Alberto García for his courage in using social media to speak out against the regime from within Cuba, noting the significant risks involved for those residing on the island.