DK

America’s leading lady of soul has sparked a controversy extending as far as the center of government, with possible diplomatic repercussions.

Beyonce Knowles, more famously known as just ‘Beyonce’, caused shockwaves by visiting Cuba to mark her fifth wedding anniversary to rapper Jay-Z. Now the issue has reached Congress, with two Republican members looking for answers.

US citizens are not permitted to travel to Cuba under the terms of trade embargos on the state dating back to the cold war. Anyone looking to travel to the island needs special permission from the US State Department, and those that flout the law could be subject to criminal prosecution and a fine.

The star is more used to dazzling audiences with her impressive dance routines and impeccable taste in fashion. Those that want to see Beyonce in her upcoming tour shouldn’t be alarmed just yet, but if some politicians get their way, Beyonce could be made an example of.

The couple, thought to be worth an estimated $800m, were seen dancing through the streets of the island’s capital Havana where they met locals and dined in the city’s best eateries. Media outlets reported far and wide that the couple were received well by locals as they relaxed in the Cuban sunshine.

But with legal ramifications for flouting the embargo, this seemingly innocuous visit could now turn into something much more political. Mario Diaz-Balart and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who represent large Cuban-American demographics in Congress, have demanded details about the trip in a letter to the State Department.

Cuban groups in the US fear that the money spent on tourism, a closely nationalized industry, goes directly to funding the oppressive communist regime in Cuba – a regime which has directly harmed or persecuted those Cuban-Americans and their families.

Further, the visit of celebrities with such a high profile as Mr. and Mrs. Z gives the increasingly isolated regime a much needed propaganda boost. A spokesperson for the US Interests Section (Havana) said that it remained unclear as to whether “the couple obtained a license for their trip.”

While the embargo today is much less stringently enforced than in previous years, it could nonetheless see music’s hottest couple being hung out to dry. It seems a move completely free from intent or political motive, but its impact is being felt worldwide. And with tensions still present between the US and Cuba, the visit could cause diplomatic frustrations.

Spokespeople for the couple were unavailable for comment on the matter and it remains to be seen whether Beyonce and/or her husband will face further action on this issue. While it is perhaps more careless than calculated, there’s no doubt it has caused offence within some sections of the Cuban-American community.

The Marxist regime in Cuba operates as a dictatorship, in spite of elections that have been set up in recent years. Since Raul Castro’s succession to the top job in 2006, there has been a more relaxed posture towards capitalism, along Chinese lines, but the island still remains isolated internationally – particularly from the United States.

The visit of a star of Beyonce’s caliber is no doubt a coup for the government. While music’s power couple managed to court the adoration of locals, it remains to be seen whether this could land the star in hot water with the law.