Source:REUTERS/Angelina Katsanis
[Saba Sports News] A dwarf entertainer who participated in Lamine Yamal’s birthday party recently spoke to the media and denied being insulted at the event. Previously, Yamal had hired dwarf performers for his 18th birthday party, which led to accusations of disrespecting people with disabilities. The dwarf entertainer said: “Yamal was very kind to me. Nothing unexpected happened… On the contrary, we danced, distributed drinks, played, and performed magic tricks… We had a variety of entertainment activities. We are not circus animals—we have clear boundaries. Why can’t I be an entertainer just because of my physical condition?” Additionally, the dwarf entertainer issued a statement: “ADEE Association does not represent us or our positions. As adults with achondroplasia, we have our own independent voices, judgments, and abilities to decide our personal lives and career development. We are not members of the association, and they did not consult us before publicly condemning events involving us. No one should claim to represent an entire group without consulting those involved. We speak up for the dignity and rights of disabled people, but we cannot allow our voices to be suppressed or decisions made over us from a paternalistic perspective.”