Barcelona’s famed prodigy Lamine Yamal faces legal probe after he reportedly hired people with dwarfism to perform at his 18th birthday party. The investigation was ordered by Spain’s Ministry of Social Rights based on a complaint filed by the Association of People with Achondroplasia and other Skeletal Dysplasias in Spain (ADEE)
Yamal turned 18 on Sunday, the day after his party on Saturday night, which was attended by many of his Barcelona teammates, influencers and celebrities from the music world, including Bizarrap and Bad Gyal.
The winger celebrated the occasion by hosting a private celebration at a rented property in Olivella that lies about 50km (30 miles) to the west of Barcelona. Guests were not permitted to film at the event, but a video emerged of a group of people with dwarfism heading into the party.
It was this video that led ADEE to file a complaint against Yamal, which was then acted upon by Spain’s Ministry of Social Rights. ADEE further stated that their organisation “publicly denounces the hiring of people with dwarfism as part of the entertainment” and said it would take legal action because it “perpetuates stereotypes, fuels discrimination and undermines the image and rights of people with disabilities.”
A local Spanish radio station, RAC 1, broadcast an interview with a person claiming to be one of the dwarf entertainers at Yamal’s celebration.
The alleged performer’s response
“No one disrespected us, we worked in peace,” one of the dwarf artists, who chose to remain anonymous, told the Spanish radio station RAC1 in an exclusive interview.
“We work as entertainers. Why can’t we do it? Because of our physical condition? “We know what our limit is and we will never exceed it: we are not fairground monkeys,” the interviewee added.
The alleged artist said that their performance lasted for about one hour, and afterwards, the entertainers joined in with the party.
“I don’t understand why there’s so much hype. We’re normal people who do what we want, in an absolutely legal way,” the interviewee exclaimed.
“We dance, we distribute drinks, we do magic. There are many types of shows. Everyone had a great time.”
“For a couple of years, these people [the ADEE] have wanted to harm us. They want to prevent us from doing what we like, but they have not offered any work or training to those who have been forced to entertain”
“Some in our group believe that this fuss has come about purely because it was Lamine Yamal’s party.”