Latest news with #ADEE
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Second entertainer with dwarfism releases statement on Lamine Yamal birthday party
Barcelona star Lamine Yamal has been in the crosshairs of the Spanish media this week, following his 18th birthday party on Saturday night. Legal action against the Spain international has been announced due to some of the entertainment present at his party. A number of top-name celebrities and musicians were present, as were the majority of the Barcelona squad during the early proceedings of the celebrations. However the presence of four entertainers with dwarfism has caused a media storm in Spain, with the Association of Achondroplasia and Other Skeletal Dysplasias with Dwarfism (ADEE) announcing legal action against Lamine Yamal. In Spain, any spectacle that is degrading or mocking towards people with a 'disability' is illegal. President of Sports Ministry speaks on incident The head of the High Council for Sport (CSD) Jose Manuel Rodriguez Uribes has now given his view on the matter to Marca. He encouraged people not to overreact, while also confirming the government were investigating the matter. Image via Lamine Yamal / IG 'The message that athletes project must always be positive, we repeat this constantly. Sport is linked to values and respect. I think we must continue working in that direction.' 'It's true that the Ministry of Social Rights has taken an initiative related to the defense of fundamental rights and the protection of vulnerable groups. I think that makes perfect sense. In the end, freedom must always be well reconciled with respect for others, and especially for people in particularly vulnerable situations or groups in particularly vulnerable situations. I think the Government has been attentive to that.' Statement from entertainer at party On Tuesday, one of the entertainers present spoke on Catalan radio anonymously, defending their presence at the party, and noting that there was no lack of respect shown towards them. Now Juan Alberto Duaso and 'Miggie Beats' have released a statement on the incident on Instagram, declaring that the ADEE does not represent their views. 'The ADEE Association does not represent us or speak on our behalf. As adults with achondroplasia, commonly known as dwarfism, we have our own voice, our own judgment, and full capacity to make decisions about our personal and professional lives. We are not part of this association, nor have we been consulted or asked for our opinions before making public accusations that directly affect us.' 'We are people, fully capable of making independent decisions about our lives. Each of us makes decisions freely and manages the essential aspects of our daily lives and future. We strongly reject any suggestion that we have been ridiculed or misused, as has been publicly claimed without evidence. Those who point fingers at us without knowing us are dehumanizing us and stripping us of our autonomy.' 'We are people, fully capable of making independent decisions about our lives. Each of us makes decisions freely and manages the essential aspects of our daily lives and future. We strongly reject any suggestion that we have been ridiculed or misused, as has been publicly claimed without evidence. Those who point fingers at us without knowing us are dehumanizing us and stripping us of our autonomy.' 'For legal reasons of confidentiality for all those registered for the event, we cannot comment on specific details of the event, but we can and must defend our honor and professionalism in the face of public campaigns that cast doubt on our work and personal dignity. We urge ADEE and any other entity to carry out their work responsibly, without generalizing, without speaking on behalf of those who have not been heard, and without becoming a tool for discourse unrelated to our lived reality. We reserve the right to take legal action if false information that undermines our reputation and public image continues to be disseminated.' 'And we want to say it loud and clear: We are deeply proud to have been invited to this event. It was a professional and humane experience in which we were treated with respect.' Image via Lamine Yamal / IG Fallout from the incident In addition to the ADEE announcing legal action, President of the organisation Carolina Puente was highly critical of the behaviour. Lamine Yamal and Barcelona are yet to comment on the incident, and so far there has been not any footage to come out of the event beyond what Lamine Yamal has released himself on Instagram.
Daily Mirror
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Barcelona make Lamine Yamal decision to try and allay fears of 'bad influence' on teen star
Lamine Yamal held a lavish party to celebrate his 18th birthday on Sunday and the Barcelona wonderkid has suffered backlash over allegedly hiring people with dwarfism to peform Barcelona have handed Lamine Yamal the No.10 shirt in the hope that the now 18-year-old will embrace the responsibility. Spanish wonderkid Yamal will follow in the footsteps of Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo and Diego Maradona by wearing the iconic number which was recently vacated by Ansu Fati, who's joined Monaco on loan with an option to buy. Yamal's shirt change comes after he signed a lucrative six-year contract which keeps him at the soon-to-be renovated Camp Nou until 2031. But the winger has recently become embroiled in controversy. Spain's Ministry of Social Rights has asked the country's prosecutor's office to investigate Yamal after he allegedly hired people with dwarfism to perform at his 18th birthday party. The lavish celebrations took place on Sunday at a rented property in Olivella, a small town 50 kilometres north west of Barcelona. It's claimed that Yamal hired a group of entertainers with dwarfism, something which the Association of People with Achondroplasia and other Skeletal Dysplasias in Spain (ADEE) describe as 'unacceptable in the 21st century'. An Instagram model also said that 12 women of a 'certain breast size' were paid to attend while other guests included YouTubers, influencers and several of his Barca team-mates. On Wednesday, Yamal was presented with the No.10 shirt by club president Joan Laporta and the Spain international commented: "I'm a bit indifferent to both criticism and praise if it doesn't come from my family or friends. Right now, I'm very focused on football. "Ultimately, I work for Barca and I play for Barca, but when I'm away from Ciudad Deportiva (the club's training ground), I enjoy my life, and that's it." Yamal, who returned for pre-season training earlier this week, added: "When I was a child, my dream was to debut for Barca, to grow up and play with the No 10. Every kid born in Barcelona dreams of that. Messi has made his way, and I'm going to make mine." Regarding the allegations, Directorate General for People with Disabilities in Spain told BBC Sport: "ADEE has filed a legal complaint. Therefore, this Directorate General has asked the Prosecutor's Office to investigate to determine whether the law and, therefore, the rights of people with disabilities have been violated." In a statement, the ADEE said: "These actions violate not only current legislation but also the fundamental ethical values of a society that seeks to be egalitarian and respectful. "The general law on the rights of persons with disabilities expressly prohibits the following practices: 'Shows or recreational activities in which people with disabilities or other circumstances are used to provoke mockery, ridicule, or derision from the public in a manner contrary to the respect due to human dignity are prohibited'." In an interview with Spanish radio station RAC1, however, one of those performers jumped to Yamal's defence. "No one disrespected us, we worked in peace," the artist, who asked to remain anonymous, explained. "I don't understand why there's so much hype. We're normal people, who do what we want, in an absolutely legal way. We work as entertainers. Why can't we do it? Because of our physical condition? We know what our limit is and we will never exceed it: we are not fairground monkeys." Barcelona say that they are 'not in a position to comment on an act that falls strictly within the private sphere'. The La Liga champions added that they'd reassess their position once they have 'concrete information'. Barca begin their title defence away to Mallorca on Saturday, August 16. It's the first of three consecutive away fixtures before they plan to return to the Camp Nou permanently after two seasons away.
Express Tribune
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Influencer Marta Díaz fends off robbery attempt on Barcelona train, after Lamine Yamal's bash
Influencer Marta Díaz recently opened up about a distressing experience she had while traveling back to Madrid after attending Barcelona star Lamine Yamal's 18th birthday celebration. In a TikTok post, Díaz described how she was targeted by a thief on the high-speed AVE train, a situation that took a terrifying turn when her suitcase went missing just before the train departed. Díaz noticed a man acting suspiciously, giving her a strange look that made her uneasy. 'I didn't feel good about him,' she said, recalling her discomfort. After settling in the train, she realized her suitcase was gone. In panic, she searched the train, repeatedly exclaiming, 'It's not here, it's not here.' @maarta_diaz Honestamente me asusté mucho la verdad, pero bueno solo que llevéis cuidado! ❤️ ♬ sonido original - maarta_diaz Fortunately, Díaz managed to spot the thief at the back of the train, calmly walking with her suitcase in hand. 'He acted like he didn't know anything. I was in shock,' Díaz recalled. With the help of another traveler, Díaz was able to retrieve her suitcase. In her video, she urged her followers to stay vigilant, warning that a mere second of distraction could lead to theft, whether in Barcelona or anywhere else. In the same video, she expressed her gratitude to the young man who helped her track down the thief. Meanwhile, her brother, David Díaz (known online as Alphasniper97), took to social media to ask for the boy's help in identifying him, offering a gift in return. The robbery incident came just days after Marta attended Lamine Yamal's lavish birthday party, a 'mafia-themed' event that has sparked significant controversy. Photos and details of the party began circulating, revealing that individuals with dwarfism had been hired to perform at the event. Photo: Instagram/X The Spanish government is now investigating allegations of discrimination, with the Association of People with Dwarfism (ADEE) condemning the hiring of entertainers with dwarfism. The backlash surrounding Yamal's birthday has been swift. ADEE president Carolina Puente called the event 'unacceptable,' emphasizing that people with dwarfism should not be used as entertainment at private parties. While Yamal has yet to comment on the criticism, one performer hired for the event defended the party, insisting they were treated with respect and had a great time. Díaz, who was also a guest at the birthday bash, shared images of her dress code for the event, a 'mafia' theme, and her own experience. The 18-year-old footballer's celebration has stirred debate about the treatment of individuals with disabilities, while Díaz's experience highlights the continuing concerns of safety and respect during high-profile events.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Yamal takes iconic Barcelona number 10 shirt
Young Barcelona star Lamine Yamal inherited the club's number 10 shirt, previously worn by all-time great Lionel Messi, on Wednesday. "Our 10," wrote Barca on social media, accompanied by a video featuring Yamal. The 18-year-old winger, often compared to the Argentine superstar who also came through the club's La Masia youth academy, helped the Catalan giants win a domestic treble last season. Yamal has scored 25 goals for the club in over 100 appearances, making his debut in 2023 at the age of 15 wearing the number 41 shirt. After a season wearing the 27, last summer Yamal followed in Messi's footsteps by taking the number 19, which the Argentine wore at the club between 2005 and 2008. Ansu Fati inherited Messi's number 10 shirt in 2021, when now Inter Miami player left Barca for Paris Saint-Germain. Beset by a series of injuries Fati was unable to fulfil his potential at Barca and signed on loan for Monaco earlier in July. Other star names including Diego Maradona, Ronaldinho and Rivaldo have worn the Barcelona number 10 shirt in the past. Yamal made headlines after celebrating his 18th birthday last weekend with a private event involving hired entertainers with dwarfism. Spain's Ministry of Social Rights asked the public prosecutor to investigate the party after a complaint from the Association for People with Achondroplasia and Other Skeletal Dysplasias (ADEE). rbs/ea
CNN
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Spanish government official calls for investigation into Lamine Yamal's birthday party ‘objectifying' people with dwarfism
A Spanish government official has called for an investigation into Barcelona star Lamine Yamal's 18th birthday party after a prominent disability activist group said organizers of the event hired people with dwarfism 'solely for entertainment and attractions' in contravention of Spanish law. Yamal hosted the party on Sunday at a private property he had rented in the small town of Olivella, 50 kilometers (about 31 miles) southwest of Barcelona, with several online influencers in attendance along with Barça teammates. The Association of People with Achondroplasia and other Skeletal Dysplasias in Spain (ADEE) said in a statement that it 'denounces the hiring of people with dwarfism as entertainment' at the party. 'We will take action through legal and social channels,' the ADEE added. ADEE President Carolina Puente added in the statement: 'It's unacceptable in the 21st century that people with dwarfism are still used as amusement in private parties and even worse when these incidents involve public figues like Lamine Yamal. The dignity and rights of our collective are not the entertainment of anyone, under any circumstance.' Jesús Martín Blanco, director general of the rights of people with disabilities in Spain's Ministry of Social Rights, told Europa Press he has 'asked the relevant authorities to open the necessary investigations to determine what happened' at the party. Martín Blanco said that the hiring of people with dwarfism at private parties is something that 'objectifies' the performers and takes '(us) back to past times, Medieval times.' 'We're worried that a well-known person who can have such an influence over young people uses these people in such a harmful way for a private party,' Martín Blanco added. Martín Blanco added that he has contacted the General Prosecutor's Office and the National Office of the Fight Against Hate Crimes to investigate the matter. CNN Sports has contacted Yamal's representatives and both offices for comment. Spanish law currently bans any event which 'uses people with disabilities … to arouse jokes, mockery or derision of (said people) contrary to the respect owed to human dignity.' While there is currently no civil or criminal punishment for any infraction, a reform to the law was recently approved by the government and sent to the Spanish parliament for final passage that would reportedly allow for fines ranging from €600,000 (about $695,200) to €1 million ($1.16 million) for serious offenses. However, two people with dwarfism who say they were hired for the party released a joint statement pushing back against critics of the events – and the ADEE specifically – for their stance. In a post on Instagram, Juan Alberto Duaso and Miggie DJ said the ADEE 'does not represent us nor does it speak on our behalf.' 'As adults with achondroplasia, commonly known as dwarfism, we have our own voice, our own judgment, and full capacity to make decisions about our personal and professional lives,' the statement said. 'We are not part of this association, nor have we been consulted or asked for our opinions before making public accusations that directly affect us.' The pair added that they feel 'deeply proud to have been invited to this event,' and, 'we strongly reject any suggestion that we have been ridiculed or used, as has been publicly claimed without evidence.' 'It was a professional and human experience in which we were treated with respect,' also saying that they reserve the right to take legal action against any attempts to damage their reputation. CNN Sports has contacted the ADEE for comment.
