Lamine Yamal is one of the biggest young stars on the planet. Now he’s facing an ongoing investigation for throwing a controversial party for his 18th birthday, which featured a troupe of entertainers with dwarfism. On Saturday night, a celebration erupted in Olivella, about 50 kilometers west of Barcelona. It has garnered new publicity after the Association for People with Achondroplasia and Other Skeletal Dysplasias with Dwarfism (ADEE) filed a complaint.
Yamal turned 18 on Sunday, marking a significant milestone for the young athlete who has made headlines for his exceptional talent. He was pivotal in helping Barcelona win a domestic treble last season. His impact on the pitch was monumentally immense, winning his new club the La Liga, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup. His record performance on the field has made him a leading candidate for the Ballon d’Or, soccer’s most prestigious award.
The Spanish Ministry of Social Rights has asked for the prosecutor’s office to investigate the circumstances of Yamal’s birthday party. The investigation was born out of allegations of dwarf exploitation linked to the little people who starred at the so-called “Midget Fight Night.”
Also along were many of Yamal’s teammates and heavy-hitters like Bizarrap and Bad Gyal, whose presence illustrated her global reach. The bash was billed as a private party. Unfortunately, the inclusion of entertainers from the dwarfism community has sparked a firestorm of controversy.
One of the artists from the cultural parade spoke to it explicitly. It wasn’t disrespectful, they protested, “Yes, we were let to work in peace,” and noted their discomfort with Yamal’s jubilation. An artist then told us that ADEE has had a vendetta against them for years. They remarked, “For a few years, these folks [the ADEE] have been trying to destroy us. They want to prevent us from following our passion, but they still have no alternative jobs or retraining for those affected.”
The ADEE’s complaint led to public investigations. These questions will figure out whether or not any laws enforcing the rights of people with disabilities were broken at the event. A representative from the Ministry of Social Rights explained that “the ADEE has lodged a complaint. In response, this ministry has requested the prosecutor’s office to investigate whether any laws have been broken, affecting the rights of people with disabilities.
Yamal’s representatives have so far not returned requests for comment on the unfolding investigation. Yamal has now netted 25 times in 106 appearances because breaking on the scene at age of 15 years and 0 days in 2023. His post collegiate life is raising eyebrows as well—both on and off the field.
