Yamal under fire from disability rights group after 18th birthday bash

MADRID — A Spanish disability rights group has vowed to take legal action over the reported hiring of people with dwarfism as entertainment at Barcelona soccer star Lamine Yamal's recent 18th birthday party, condemning the practice as discriminatory.

The young winger, who helped Spain clinch the European Championship last year, celebrated his coming of age on Saturday with a star-studded jamboree that included celebrity guests from the music industry such as Bizarrap and Bad Gyal or Quevedo, as well as many of his Barca teammates and social media influencers.

The Association for People with Achondroplasia and Other Skeletal Dysplasias (ADEE) said in a statement that the use of people with dwarfism as spectacle at Yamal's party perpetuated stereotypes, fueled discrimination and undermined the dignity and rights of people with disabilities.

"During the birthday of the young footballer, a prominent figure in Spanish sport, people with dwarfism were hired solely for entertainment and promotional activities. ADEE considers this type of practice intolerable because it perpetuates stereotypes, fuels discrimination, and undermines the image and rights of those with achondroplasia or other skeletal dysplasias, as well as all people with disabilities."

It cited Spain's disability rights law, which prohibits shows or recreational activities that use people with disabilities in a way that provokes ridicule or undermines their dignity.

"It's unacceptable that, in the 21st century, people with dwarfism are still used for entertainment at private parties, particularly when public figures are involved," said ADEE President Carolina Puente.

"Our community has dignity and rights and cannot be used as a source of amusement under any circumstance."

Yamal's representatives did not immediately respond to reporters' requests for comment.

According to party services provider Evengo, in several countries — including Canada — the use of people with dwarfism for entertainment is illegal, but if consent is given by the person involved, the act is not seen as breaking the law.

In the UK, safety regulations are in place, and the act, while not illegal, is widely considered unethical.

As reported by The Guardian in 2023, the Spanish parliament banned bullfighting involving people with dwarfism in a decision applauded by disability rights groups.

Yamal posted on Monday a one-minute video edit with highlights from the party on his Instagram account that featured fellow Barca players Pablo Gavira and Robert Lewandowski playing poker and roulette, though it did not appear to show people with achondroplasia, the genetic disorder causing dwarfism.

The Spaniard — who won La Liga, the Copa del Rey and Spanish Supercup with Barca this season — wore a white suit with a red rose in his lapel, lavish jewelry and carried a cane, in keeping with the party's "Italian gangster" theme.

Yamal was even seen back at Barcelona's training complex the next morning, undergoing routine medical checks ahead of preseason preparations for what will be his first full campaign as a legal adult.

The social media statement from ADEE has ignited a wave of criticism online, with many calling for greater sensitivity and respect when it comes to how people with disabilities are treated at public and private events.

The association has not specified who hired the performers, or what role they played during the party, but it made clear that it considers such use of individuals with dwarfism to be demeaning and unacceptable. The organization is now pushing for broader awareness and policy changes to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Agencies / China Daily