The Cuba Convoy: Influencer propaganda or humanitarian activism?
Content policing, AI evidence, and ego on full display
You’re here because you’re watching politics get body-slammed by digital culture and content creators. I’m here because I’m the only one who can guide you through it.
Picture this: A group of creators hops on a chartered plane, making content from a first class seat. Another cohort posts a face-to-cam update from the luminous waters of the Caribbean.
Everyone arrives on the island, heads to a five-star hotel. Then streaming for a couple hours to millions of followers before hitting some local bars with the lads that night. Next morning, a big group catches a special performance by an internationally-known band.
That description could fit basically any influencer brand trip put on between 2021 and today. Alternatively, it’s one way to look at a very controversial advocacy trip taking place right now in Cuba. The Nuestra América Convoy arrived in Havana, by air and sea, with 30 tons of supplies and aid.
These creators, activists, public figures, and politicians from 33 countries mobilized in response to deteriorating conditions caused by Trump’s restriction on energy imports (read: oil) ordered in January. In addition to medicine, solar panels, and other necessities, they brought the millions of eyes that watch their every move to a country whose direction people have argued about for decades.
This puts a core paradox of this media era on display: The more altruistic someone tries to be on camera, the more visible the egocentric nature of content creation becomes.
Few made this more clear than Hasan Piker in his brief jaunt in Cuba.
In a clip he posted right before he left, the streamer said his goal was “to bring awareness to the plight of the Cuban population as a direct consequence of American intervention.” He got decent internet access (a rarity in the country, as a whole), so this was his output:
First Twitch stream, Friday: says he spent “hours” trying to get the setup running in the hotel, talks about how exhausted he is from his travel + barks at chatters who say he looks tired, waves a wad of cash around that he intends to hand out to people
Offers his view on Miami Cubans (does not like), describes current Cuban government as “responsive, humane,” ends with 90 minutes on Iran
Second Twitch stream, Saturday: jokes that he has the best internet on the island after a nationwide blackout, talks about going out and drinking the night before “living la vida loca,” “living large,” and “just peppering people with wads of cash,” talking about how “chill” everyone is
Doesn’t give any details about the humanitarian efforts he’s there for until 29 minutes in when he shares he went to a hospital where the surgeon’s salary is $17 a month, adds that he interviewed British MP Jeremy Corbyn, and a Cuban foreign minister
Spends half the stream snapping at people who say the quality is bad, threatens to “end the stream if you’re gonna keep complaining,” tells his audience they ruined his mood, cuts the cameras … deadass … after 44 minutes
Outside of that and some typical tweeting, he posted one vertical video on IG and TikTok. This 74-second video provides the only deeper look at what he’s discovered since physically being there, AFK (away from keyboard, as my generation used to say).
“One of the most ridiculous embargoes of all time that has only gotten more deadly as time has gone on. [...] We’re not allowing other countries to send in oil as well — it’s a necessary resource. The hospitals are in a state of dire disrepair already due to the different components of sanctions. Hospital machines are broken, and they can’t be repaired because Cuba is considered a state sponsor of terrorism. And I wanted to basically showcase that the personal lives of everyday Cubans and how this system, this rigorous sanctions system, dominates their lives in very meaningful ways.”
This is the insight his audience is (presumably) looking for while he’s on the ground. And this is the insight he (presumably) wanted to expose new audiences to as well. Tying yourself to a format that doesn’t suit the circumstance — in this case, streaming in a country without electricity — ultimately reveals a priority: you and your brand > telling the realest possible story. Hopefully his upcoming interview releases close some big gaps.
FILLING THE PLOT HOLES
In a country with limited internet — and sometimes none at all — it’s hard to get a sense of what’s happening on the ground. And with 15 of the most recognizable participants sharing more than 26M followers between them, the internet’s first responders stood ready to engage. Here’s a run-through of the most viral critiques of the mission, and some record-correcting in response.
They stayed in a five-star hotel while doing performative activism
Critics railed on the convoy for staying at a luxury hotel, one of the only places on the island with electricity during the blackout (Jack Posobiec, Asmongold)
Called it “virtue signaling,” specifically mentioned Piker and CODEPINK by name
Lots of attention paid to the exorbitant cost of Piker’s on-the-ground outfits
Counter: One area of U.S. interference Hasan Piker explained extensively is the hotel policy instituted in Cuba, requiring any American travelers to stay at specific (nice) hotels. Ryan Grim added: “It is crazy that the govt can tell me what hotel I can or can’t stay in in a foreign country.”
It’s a far cry from humanitarianism, these are influencers acting like they’re on safari
Lots of criticism on the “optics” of it all, especially when a picture of some visitors seemingly smoking weed hit the feeds
Specific issue taken with alleged “white savior complex” and “leftist fantasy play”
Heavy use of AI images like this obvious “socialist safari” creation and this potentially fabricated image of tourists taking a photo of Cubans from a tour bus
Counter: Danny Valdes, who leads Cuba policy for the Democratic Socialists of America and is on the trip, claimed the photo is AI. I feel pretty certain it is as well, because there’s no originating source and many of the blurry/missing details are consistent with AI. Another DSA member called it “dumb criticism” … “they’re making sure the island is on the minds of Americans.”
The concert caused the subsequent blackout — and hospital patients died
Biggest pile-on by far: a concert featuring Irish band Kneecap took place just before the most recent blackout prompting people to connect those two events
Some users took it further, claiming hospital patients on ventilators died because of the concert
Here’s an insane AI video of a fake news report about the story:
Counter: Convoy members were quick to point out that Kneecap joined an already scheduled free festival, though it looks to me like the majority of the crowd is from their crew … not sure that word of Irish hip-hop has traveled to Havana. But what do I know! One important thing here: the ventilator story seems to have originated from a since-retracted post about the blackout by visiting activist James Ray.
My view: Of all the content I watched (trust me, a lot), it felt like we as an audience didn’t really get to hear from anyone Cuban.
There were photos of aid handouts and videos of kids dancing, but almost no interviews of first-hand experience of life under a blockade. If that’s a condition of the travel there, that that coverage is embargoed ‘til the return home, I’d be interested to hear that. The people who did interact with locals and publish it were mostly — unsurprisingly — journalists (Current Affairs content + Drop Site) or American Cubans. Otherwise, content was limited to vague references to conversations that may or may not have happened.
My bigger problem? China. With coverage of the international community’s ongoing trust-building exercise with China, it took me by no surprise to see positive content about their efforts in Cuba. The Cuban Embassy in China posted about the arrival of 60,000 tons of rice to the island nation, signing it with the hashtag #CubaIsNotAlone. Oh, they threw in 5,000 solar panels too.
LOOSE ENDS
📰 Something you should read today: Not to sound like Elon, but … interesting! The Argument + Milan Singh
🕵️ Someone you should know today: The face of “fuck it, we move” journalism right now. Scott MacFarlane left CBS like … 15 minutes ago and has already joined forces with MeidasTouch Network to become their Washington Correspondent. Scott’s already been crushing the solo video game, so I’m excited to see what this partnership brings. Legit legit legit for MTN.
🥹 Something to make you smile today: Something that’s making me smile at least, I moved in with my boyfriend. This is an open call for any advice you have on living with a man. (Though I’m very lucky and he is the poster child of patience and cleanliness.) … I do have beef with everybody for not telling me how expensive a pull-out couch is though??? $100 extra to expedite shipping? $275 for white glove delivery??? I am in the wrong business. They’re making a killing out there.
They have fancy hotels? I want to see pictures.
Cooked with this!! Appreciated the different perspectives