Kirby's adventures in Cuba - Episode 2

[chris12381]

🤔

[JohnnyO]

He was on my flight last Thursday dressed up in his dandy garb. Don't know why he was there. The power was out constantly, the internet never came on and the mosquitos were coming at me like the Eagles front 7. I was surprised he didn't have an entourage and no government official was there to receive him.   

[LaoFan]

1 hour ago, JohnnyO said:

He was on my flight last Thursday dressed up in his dandy garb. Don't know why he was there. The power was out constantly, the internet never came on and the mosquitos were coming at me like the Eagles front 7. I was surprised he didn't have an entourage and no government official was there to receive him.   

He was by himself on my flight out of Cuba. Chatted to him for a bit looking at cigars pre-flight. Nice enough dude. Most of what he said seemed like canned responses.

'I always buy so many, but wish I could still buy more, shame they cost money, shucks.'

[chris12381]

I'm still trying to figure out which of OFAC's 12 categories covers traveling to Cuba to film a long form ad promoting Cuban cigars for Habanos. 

[JohnnyO]

Cigars aren't a hobby, they are a religious experience. So I guess for religious purposes.  

[ATGroom]

17 hours ago, chris12381 said:

I'm still trying to figure out which of OFAC's 12 categories covers traveling to Cuba to film a long form ad promoting Cuban cigars for Habanos. 

I've asked Kirby how he avoids getting arrested and he just sort of shrugged and said that nobody seems to care.

I'd say his OFAC reason is likely journalism. Given that his videos are unashamedly marketing, this is probably a stretch, but I'd say there's enough journalism in there that you couldn't convict him.

I doubt that any money directly changes hands between him and Habanos. They get the free marketing, Kirby gets the access and probably a free crew, accommodation etc while on the island and keeps the revenue from YouTube.

For me, the more risky thing he does is show off his warehouse full of illegal Cuban cigars. I'm not sure what the ins and outs of convicting him for those would be, but I'd think at minimum they could very easily be seized by law enforcement.

Given that he is by far the most visible American in the Cuban cigar scene, and that he has a lot of detractors, at least a few of whom might have little enough to do with their time that they would file a complaint and try and get the wheels turning on him, it seems to me that it's only a matter of time before he faces some kind of legal consequences.

[westg]

15 hours ago, JohnnyO said:

Cigars aren't a hobby, they are a religious experience. So I guess for religious purposes.  

Amen. May  the Cuban Cigar Gods shine on you forever.