Lamine Yamal Finally Speaks Out About Controversial Birthday Party and Dwarfism Controversy

Barcelona's rising star Lamine Yamal firmly dismissed the backlash over the alleged unlawful employment of individuals with dwarfism at his 18th birthday celebration.

The talented winger reached adulthood on July 13 and marked this milestone with a private gathering that has faced significant criticism. Spain's Association of People with Achondroplasia and Other Skeletal Dysplasias with Dwarfism (ADEE) warned of potential legal proceedings against the young player after asserting that "individuals with dwarfism employed exclusively for entertainment and promotional purposes" attended the celebration.

This violates Spain's General Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which clearly forbids "performances or leisure activities where people with disabilities or other conditions are exploited to incite mockery, ridicule or scorn from audiences in ways that contradict the respect owed to human dignity".

Several Spanish government officials have even suggested investigating the birthday celebration.

Yamal had maintained stubborn silence on the matter despite mounting criticism. During his official presentation as Barcelona's new No. 10 this week, the Spain international was reluctantly questioned about the issue. "I work for Barça, I play for Barça, but outside the Ciutat Esportiva, I live my life, and that's all," he stated curtly to Europa Press.

It's worth noting that one performer from Yamal's celebration anonymously supported the Barcelona player on Spanish radio following the controversy. "Nobody showed us disrespect; [they] allowed us to work peacefully," the unidentified person stated.

Yamal's father, Mounir Nasraoui, has also addressed the situation. "People must respect an 18-year-old young man," he emphasized. "He's simply a teenager who has the right to enjoy his life somewhat. Yes, he's a professional footballer, but he also has friends, his family cares for him, and he deserves to live like any other youth his age."

"I don't pay attention to criticism from outsiders," Nasraoui added. "I listen to my family, and my view is that my son is conducting himself properly."