Hassan Abiy (Image via Getty)
Hassan Baker, widely known as Hassan Abiy, is facing intense criticism online after photos and clips from his recent visit to Cuba went viral. Many social media users questioned his clothing choices, describing them as expensive and out of touch with the country’s economic reality.
The discussion accelerated across the three X channels when several posts showed his clothing expenses and compared them to Cuban salary standards. Hassan live-streamed his response to the issue on March 22, 2026 via his Twitch channel. He explained that he believes people misunderstand the situation. Instead of ignoring the backlash, he chose to respond publicly, explaining how he gets so much from his clothes and why he believes the criticism is irrational.
Hassan Baker responds to criticism of the Cuban national team and explains his side during the live broadcast
Speaking on his live broadcast, Hassan Baker said that he finds it strange that people focus so much on what he was wearing. “I really think people have the ability to see that,” he said. He added that many viewers assume that he personally buys everything, which is not always true.“It’s so funny that there was this evaluation of how much everything I was wearing. They don’t realize that people send me free stuff all the time,” he explained.
Secondly, people offer me things too. Even if he bought something himself, it shouldn’t become a big problem, Hassan said.He also questioned the logic behind linking his group to larger problems in Cuba. “Even if I go out and buy on my own, who cares what I wear?” He said. He added: “Do you think that the price of this shirt is the reason for the suffering of Cubans?”The controversy grew after several X users shared posts about its accessories.
One post claimed his Cartier glasses were worth $1,383 and compared it to Cuba’s average annual income. Another post from @RightAngleNews said he was wearing items worth thousands of dollars while speaking about political issues.Some users criticized it strongly. One wrote that he seemed isolated, while another said he supported ideas that did not fit with his lifestyle. Others described his fashion choices as inappropriate given the situation in Cuba.Hassan also clarified that he was not trying to defend himself for no reason. He said: “I’m not trying to justify that. I didn’t even raise this issue.” But he added that there was “a lot of misinformation,” which is why he felt the need to respond. The discussion continues online, with opinions divided. Some support his interpretation, while others still question his choices during the trip.
