“That is actually laborious to see. It’s emotional.”

A Cuban man’s emotional response to the abundance of Costco sparked a heated, cross-platform dialog about abundance, capitalism, and overseas coverage. @yoelandmari’s Jan 5, 2025, TikTok video adopted a good friend who’d simply arrived from Cuba as he skilled monumental cuts of meat and bulk contemporary fruit at a US Costco.

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The person described what he was feeling and stated, “You by no means assume you’ll get right here till you step foot and say wow it truly is actual. Since you simply see it within the motion pictures. That is actually laborious to see. It’s emotional.” 

@yoelandmari’s put up has 630 thousand views on TikTok, the place American viewers expressed gratitude for the abundance out there to them. Commenters wished the person effectively and thanked @yoelandmari for his or her transferring content material.

The video was shared on X and Reddit, the place it racked up tens of millions of views and provoked different conversations. Commenters questioned the TikTok creator’s motives and mentioned the US’s position in Cuba’s financial disaster.   

“Our good friend simply got here from Cuba”

TikTokers had been moved by the person’s feelings in Costco, and plenty of had been dismayed at how a lot People take with no consideration. The abundance of meat out there on the US retailer may very well be unfamiliar to an individual from Cuba. Beef is commonly imported, which inflates its value, however pork is often out there, even throughout meat shortages in Cuba. Pork prices between $1—2 per pound and will quantity to a substantial expense for the typical particular person residing on common Cuban wages ($16 USD per 30 days).  

@yoelandmari

Our good friend simply got here from Cuba. The response is sort of the identical. 🥹

♬ Snowy Morning – FREDERIC BOUCHAL

“That is such an eye fixed opener: overconsumption is actual. We’ve got an excessive amount of. We have to admire extra and be taught to dwell with much less.”

“Awww. He’s treasured. However I can see the ache in his eyes that his folks again house don’t have this. In the future quickly hopefully they’ll!”

The video was crossposted to r/TikTokCringe the place it has almost 10 thousand upvotes and 1.5 thousand feedback from individuals who felt the video was propaganda. 

Reddit person u/Acceptable-Car4787 dug into @yoelandmari’s content material and reported again to the thread. The person claimed the TikTok account that had initially shared content material exploring cultural variations between a husband and spouse—he’d been within the US for years longer than she had, had turn out to be more and more politicized with a “Cuban communist authorities dangerous, American capitalism good” agenda.   

“Whereas clearly the distinction in residing circumstances between the typical American and common Cuban are huge, I consider this response is for the digital camera and engagement,” wrote u/Acceptable-Car4787 in a remark with over 1 thousand upvotes.

The video was shared on X the place @billybinion introduced Zohran Mamdani, the democratic socialist who pulled out a shock victory over rival Andrew Cuomo to turn out to be the Democratic candidate for mayor of New York Metropolis on Tuesday. The put up has over 2 million views. 

The X person wrote, “Present this video to Zohran. A Cuban seeing Costco for the primary time will get emotional witnessing the sheer abundance. Individuals who’ve truly lived below socialism are sometimes probably the most moved by what markets can create. Capitalism is a miracle, truly.” 

@xauaday queried @grok in reply, “How lengthy has Cuba been sanctioned and what number of commerce embargo’s?”

Individuals on TikTok and Reddit additionally mentioned US sanctions on Cuba. 

“Hopefully we raise our embargo and sanctions.”

“America has been actively destroying Cuba for many years and People nonetheless act stunned when the tiny island doesn’t magically recuperate from getting bullied by a superpower.”

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