Event escalated after advocacy group threatened the Barcelona winger with “legal and social action” for “perpetuating stereotypes”
Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal has responded to the issue surrounding his recent 18th birthday celebration, which is now the subject of a formal government investigation in Spain.
When asked about the event by reporters, Yamal said: “Ultimately, I work for Barcelona, I play for Barcelona, but when I’m away from the Ciudad Deportiva [training ground], I enjoy my life, and that’s it.”
The controversy stems from reports that people with dwarfism were hired as entertainers at Yamal’s private birthday party.
It led to a public complaint from the Association for People with Achondroplasia and Other Skeletal Dysplasias with Dwarfism (ADEE), which accused Yamal and the party organisers of “perpetuating stereotypes”.
In response to the group’s threats to pursue legal and social action, Spain’s Ministry for Social Rights formally called for an investigation into the event.
However, one of the entertainers involved has since spoken out in defence of the event, insisting that the work was carried out respectfully and legally.
“No one disrespected us,” said the performer. “We worked in peace. I don’t understand why there’s so much hype. We’re normal people who do what we want, in an absolutely legal way.
“All this fuss has come about purely because it was Lamine Yamal’s party.”
