Spanish influencer Fati Vázquez faces backlash over vacation photos with 17-year-old Lamine Yamal. A wave of controversy has swept social media as Spanish influencer Fati Vázquez, 29, faces intense scrutiny and death threats following vacation photos with 17-year-old FC Barcelona star Lamine Yamal.
The drama, trending on social media, erupted after images surfaced showing the pair at the same luxury resort in Pantelleria, Sicily, sparking rumours of a romantic relationship.
Both Yamal and Vázquez have denied any romantic involvement, but the 12-year age gap and Vázquez’s online persona as an OnlyFans creator have fuelled heated debates, accusations, and online harassment, raising questions about privacy, gender double standards, and fan entitlement.
The controversy began when Spanish magazine Lecturas published photos of Yamal and Vázquez on a jet ski together, alongside separate Instagram posts from both showing identical backdrops of boats, an infinity pool, and a helicopter ride.
Yamal, fresh off a stellar 2024-25 season where he helped Barcelona secure La Liga and Copa del Rey titles, was enjoying a post-season break before the team’s Asia pre-season tour.
Vázquez, a former flight attendant turned influencer with over 400,000 Instagram followers and a million YouTube subscribers, posted similar vacation snaps, leading fans to speculate about a romantic link.
Fans captioned “30-year-old Spanish influencer dragged into drama with 17-year-old Lamine Yamal”, amplifying the story and garnering thousands of retweets.
Vázquez addressed the backlash on Instagram, stating, “It’s sad to see how some people carry so much darkness inside that they wish death on someone they don’t know. The threats, insults, and false accusations I’m receiving are serious, and they’re being documented. Defaming, harassing, and threatening on social networks is a crime.”
She clarified, “We’re just two people who want to have a good time,” emphasising no wrongdoing and noting the toll on Yamal.
Speaking on RTVE’s La Familia De La Tele, Vázquez, who corrected her age to 29, said, “I haven’t done anything, haven’t killed anyone. The reactions are too heavy, and it’s affecting him [Yamal]”.
Yamal, through gossip journalist Javi de Hoyos, “categorically denied” any romantic relationship, stating he vacationed with Barcelona teammates, not alone with Vázquez.
The online reaction has been polarised. Critics on social media,
, accused Vázquez of exploiting Yamal’s fame and wealth, posting, “She’s cosying up to 17-year-old Lamine Yamal because he’s rich and famous.”
Others labelled her actions “predatory”, arguing the backlash would be harsher if genders were reversed.
However, supporters defended the pair, noting Yamal turns 18 in July and should be free to enjoy his life, stating, “Let him be Yamal for Yamal.”
A Reddit thread on r/soccer condemned the harassment, with one user noting, “The comments on the Barça sub were gross,” highlighting Vázquez’s past as a freestyle battle commentator.
The controversy has sparked broader discussions about gender biases, with fans comparing the situation to male celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio dating younger women. She authored And Let Them Come for Me about her bullying experiences and is reportedly considering legal action against harassers.
Yamal, meanwhile, is preparing for Barcelona’s pre-season, with his contract extended to 2031 and a €1 billion release clause, per Sport.
