Ana de Armas’ latest romance has caused quite a stir.

On November 12th the Knife out The actor was photographed kissing lawyer Manuel Anido Cuesta in Madrid, Spain. Shortly thereafter, it was reported that Anido Cuesta is the stepson of Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez. His mother, Lis Cuesta Peraza, is Díaz-Canel’s second wife.

As a member of the presidential family, Anido Cuesta has participated in various official events and international trips, including a meeting with Pope Francis People in Spanish. Described by several media outlets as an advisor to his stepfather, Anido Cuesta’s ties to the Cuban regime have made him a polarizing figure.

Anido Cuesta – a lawyer by profession – graduated from the University of Havana, where he studied from 2014 to 2019 La Nation.

The couple’s alleged relationship became public when the Daily Mail released pictures of the couple kissing and enjoying dinner in Madrid. De Armas wore a white wrap coat while Anido Cuesta wore a navy blue coat. Other pictures from the evening showed them walking their dog together.

Although de Armas and Anido Cuesta have yet to publicly discuss their relationship, the actress’s past comments suggest that she is not a fan of putting her personal life in the spotlight.

De Armas reflected on her highly publicized relationship with Ben Affleck Elle in July 2022 that the experience was “terrible.”

“That’s one of the reasons I left (Los Angeles)…It got a little too much. There is no escape. There is no way out,” she said.

Despite the Cuban-Spanish actress’s efforts to maintain her privacy, her romance with Anido Cuesta received intense backlash, particularly among members of the Cuban diaspora. Some critics expressed their concerns on social media, prompting the actress to limit comments on her accounts.

The controversy has even extended into her professional life, with calls for brands like Louis Vuitton to cut ties with the company Blond Star. Under Louis Vuitton’s Instagram post of its campaign with de Armas, some commenters accused her of allying with the Cuban regime, which they viewed as oppressive.

“It is truly disheartening when someone, especially a fellow Cuban, joins a regime that has brought so much suffering and oppression to our people,” wrote fashion and travel influencer Luis Caballero. “For any Cuban who not only supports such a regime but also engages with his inner circle – such as dating Díaz-Canel’s son-in-law and adviser – it feels like a betrayal of the common fight for freedom and justice.”

The Independent has reached out to de Armas representatives for comment.

This is not the first time that de Armas’ personal life has attracted public attention. Her relationship history has also included other high-profile personalities, starting with her nearly year-long romance with Affleck.

The couple began dating in early 2020 after meeting on the set of Deep water in late 2019. Their separation in January 2021 was reportedly amicable, with sources citing conflicting priorities; de Armas wanted to leave Los Angeles, while Affleck had to stay to be near his children.

Later that year, de Armas began a relationship with Tinder manager Paul Boukadakis, whom she met through mutual friends. The couple kept their relationship relatively private, but made notable public appearances, such as attending the Venice International Film Festival in September 2022 Vanity Fair Oscar afterparty in 2023.

Their relationship reportedly ended in November 2024, coinciding with de Armas’ first public appearance with Anido Cuesta.