Updated 03:58 AM EDT, Thu, Mar 28, 2024

Spanish Matador Sparks Outrage When He Takes 5-Month Old Baby into the Ring

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Bull fighting is one of the most dangerous sports in the world. After all, no good comes out of taunting a large, horned animal. However, despite the danger, it is still being practiced in most areas in Spain. According to CNN, only two autonomous regions have banned the sport -- the Canary Islands in 1993 and Catalonia two decades after, in 2013.

Recently, its dangerous tradition came into the spotlight when Francisco Rivera Ordóñez, one of Spain's most celebrated matadors, came under fire for posting a photo of himself with his five-month-old baby --while fighting a bull.

According to People, the photo was posted on Monday and was captioned, "Carmen's debut. She's the fifth generation of bullfighters in our family. My granddad was a bullfighter as well as my dad. My dad did this with me and I've done it with my daughters Cayetana and now the Carmen."

It has since gathered almost 400 comments, with fans and critics alike flocking to the bullfighter's Instagram in indignation and concern for the baby. This eventually got the attention of Andalucia's Child Protection Agency. A spokesperson told The Times, "We absolutely reject this and will gather information with a view to possibly taking action."

In defense to the original post, Ordóñez insisted that it was tradition, following up with another photo, presumably of himself, on his father's shoulder as a young child next to a bull. He captured the photo, "History repeats itself. Long live the best legacy, the feeling, purity, honor."

Speaking with The Guardian, Ordóñez said that his five-month-old was never in peril, insisting that "There is no safer place for her to be than in my arms."

Tradition or not, having a child in the ring is now frowned upon. Spain's Equality Minister Maria Jose Sanchez said, "A fireman wouldn't dream of taking a child to put out a fire nor would a football player run around with a child in their arms during a match."

Even big names, like British comedian Ricky Gervais offered his opinion, saying that Ordóñez's action was "Mental, dangerous & cruel. With or without a baby."

However, Spain's Bullfighter's Union is behind Ordóñez all the way. In a statement, they said that the matador was participating in a tradition in the community. The issue then spread across Spain's matador community, leading many of them to post photos in solidarity with the star.

What do you think of the Matador tradition of bringing their young kids into the ring -- is this appropriate or inappropriate parental behavior?

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