Barça Star Lamine Yamal’s Birthday Bash Sparks Outrage Over Dwarfism Exploitation and Sexism

A controversial birthday party. Lamine Yamal, the Moroccan prodigy from Barça, celebrated his 18th birthday in grand style on Saturday in Spain. The sour note, according to the association of people with achondroplasia and other skeletal dysplasias with dwarfism (ADEE), is the hiring of people with dwarfism to "entertain his guests" estimated at around 200.

In a statement published on Sunday, the association "publicly condemns and denounces the hiring of people with dwarfism for the entertainment" of Lamine Yamal’s birthday party and "announces that it will take legal and social action to preserve the dignity of people with disabilities."

The association considers this "intolerable practice" because "it perpetuates stereotypes, fuels discrimination and harms the image and rights of people with achondroplasia or other skeletal dysplasias, as well as all people with disabilities." The incident is "serious" because it involves a "public figure like Lamine Yamal," says Carolina Puente, president of ADEE.

Another controversy is linked to the recruitment of young women for their physical appearance in order to keep the guests company. In doing so, Lamine Yamal sends "a sexist and contemptible message" to his fans, denounces Alba Carrillo, a presenter on RTVE, the Spanish public channel. For now, the Barça prodigy has not responded to these accusations.