BARCELONA, SPAIN – July 15, 2025, Kenyastax.com – Barcelona’s 18-year-old football star Lamine Yamal is at the center of a growing dwarfism controversy following his 18th birthday party on July 13 in Olivella, Catalonia.
The event, attended by over 200 guests including teammates Robert Lewandowski, Gavi, and Alejandro Balde, as well as celebrities like Bizarrap and Nicki Nicole, is under scrutiny for allegedly hiring individuals with dwarfism as entertainers, prompting outrage from disability rights groups and a government investigation. Spain’s Ministry for Social Rights, led by Director General for Disability Jesús Martín, has called for an investigation by the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Spanish Ombudsman, and the Office for Combating Hate Crimes to determine if the party violated Spain’s General Disability Law.
This law prohibits recreational activities that mock or denigrate people with disabilities, with potential fines of up to €600,000 for violations. The Association of People with Achondroplasia and Other Skeletal Dysplasias with Dwarfism (ADEE), part of the Spanish Confederation of People with Physical and Organic Disabilities (COCEMFE), condemned the alleged hiring as “intolerable” and announced plans for legal and social action. ADEE President Carolina Puente stated, “It’s unacceptable in 2025 to use people with dwarfism as entertainment, especially by a public figure like Yamal, whose influence amplifies the harm.”Videos reportedly showing individuals with dwarfism arriving at the venue surfaced on X, despite a no-phone policy at the event, fueling public debate. However, one performer with dwarfism, speaking anonymously to RAC1, defended Yamal, saying, “Lamine treated us respectfully. We danced, served drinks, and did magic tricks—our usual work. ADEE’s criticism undermines our profession without offering alternatives.” The performer claimed no disrespect occurred and expressed frustration with ADEE’s stance.
Further allegations emerged from model Claudia Calvo, who claimed organizers sought 12 women with specific physical traits, such as blonde hair and certain body measurements, to attend the party, raising additional concerns about the event’s planning. These claims remain unverified, and neither Yamal nor FC Barcelona have issued official statements addressing the allegations. Yamal posted on Instagram thanking fans for birthday wishes but did not reference the controversy.
The incident echoes past controversies involving footballers like Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho in 2023 and AC Milan’s Theo Hernandez in 2017, who faced criticism for similar party entertainment choices, though those incidents drew less attention. With Yamal’s global profile—bolstered by his Euro 2024 Player of the Tournament award and a new six-year Barcelona contract—the scandal has sparked widespread discussion on X, with #YamalParty trending as users debate the ethics of the event.
Spain’s government is pushing to close legal gaps, with a proposed amendment to classify such acts as serious infractions carrying fines up to €1 million. As the investigation unfolds, the controversy highlights the challenges young athletes face under public scrutiny and raises questions about representation and respect for people with disabilities. Share your thoughts on X with #YamalParty!