Spain’s Ministry of Social Rights has asked prosecutors to look into Barcelona star Lamine Yamal’s 18th birthday party, after a complaint was made about the presence of entertainers with dwarfism.
The private party took place in Olivella, near Barcelona, and featured music celebrities like Bizarrap and Bad Gyal, along with several of Yamal’s teammates. A video later surfaced showing a group of people with dwarfism entering the event.
A Spanish organisation, ADEE, which represents people with dwarfism, said hiring such entertainers “promotes harmful stereotypes” and “disrespects the rights of people with disabilities”. They are now planning legal action.
In response, one of the performers told Catalan radio they weren’t treated badly and that they do the work willingly. “We love what we do and do it legally,” they said, adding that the attention is only because it involved a famous footballer.
Yamal’s camp has not made a public comment. The teenager is considered one of football’s brightest stars, having just helped Barcelona win a domestic treble and scoring 25 goals in 106 appearances since making his debut aged 15.
