Lamine Yamal Faces Investigation Over Alleged Use Of Dwarfs At Birthday Party

‎Barcelona player  Lamine Yamal is under investigation concerning the presence of a group of dwarfism entertainers at his 18th birthday celebration held last weekend, Spain’s Ministry of Social Rights informed AFP on Tuesday.

‎Lamine Yamal celebrated his 18th birthday with a private event in Olivella, about 50 kilometres west of Barcelona.

‎The Spanish Ministry of Social Rights has requested the prosecutor’s office to investigate the incident after a complaint from the Association for People with Achondroplasia and Other Skeletal Dysplasias with Dwarfism (ADEE).

‎Yamal turned 18 on July 13th, the day after his party on Saturday night, which many of his teammates attended, along with celebrities from the music world, including Bizarrap and Bad Gyal.

‎”The ADEE has filed a complaint, so this ministry has asked the prosecutor’s office to investigate to see if the law has been violated and, therefore, the rights of people with disabilities have been violated,” Spain’s Ministry of Social Rights told AFP.

‎ADEE “publicly denounces the hiring of people with dwarfism as part of the entertainment” and said they would take legal action as it “perpetuates stereotypes, fuels discrimination, and undermines the image and rights” of people with disabilities.

‎Guests were not permitted to film at the event, but a video emerged of a group of people with dwarfism heading into the party.

‎”No one disrespected us, we were allowed to work in peace,” said one of the performers anonymously on Catalan radio station RAC1, saying there were four of them present.

‎”We’re normal people who dedicate ourselves to what we love doing legally…

‎”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 are affected…

‎”All this fuss has come about purely because it was Lamine Yamal’s party.”

‎The performer said they dance, deliver drinks, and do magic tricks to entertain guests at the events where they work.

‎Dominican rapper Chimbala, who has short stature, posted a video on Instagram showing himself singing on stage alongside Yamal, with Barça teammates Gavi and Alejandro Balde dancing in the background.

‎”Lamine Yamal at 18, the best player in the world, signing my song ‘Abusadora’, thank you for inviting me to your (birthday),” wrote Chimbala.

‎Yamal is a candidate to win the Ballon d’Or after helping Barcelona to a domestic treble of La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup last season.

‎The Spain international has scored 25 goals for the club in 106 appearances, having made his debut at just 15 years old in 2023.

‎Yamal’s representatives did not respond to a request for comment.