Bullfighting is a controversial activity where a bullfighter attempts to publicly immobilize or kill a bull. Although practiced in several countries around the world, the contest, which is often described as an art form, remains popular in Spain as it is seen as part of their culture.
Efforts have been made to ban bullfighting in Spain, but they were unsuccessful.
Now, a recent incident has opponents of bullfighting calling for action.
The fight, which has caused an uproar, occurred during Feria de Sevilla (Fair of Seville) at the city’s bullring. Moments before Morante de la Puebla delivered the final fatal blow to a bull, he reached into his pocket and took out a handkerchief.
What happened next was caught on camera.
https://twitter.com/PabloMM/status/1127472242152091648
In the clip, it appeared that de la Puebla used his handkerchief to wipe away the bull’s tears.
PabloMM, who shared the viral video on Twitter, wrote, “This borders on psychopathy, it’s a sick sadism.”
Although reports suggest that those watching the bullfight live cheered the matador’s decision, the internet handled it much differently.
“Only a twisted and perverse mind would be able to torture an animal until blood drips down its paws and wipe a piece of paper from its face with a handkerchief,” Silvia Barquero, president of the Animalist Party tweeted. “The matador disguises his eerie lack of empathy. Abolish bullfighting NOW!”
Some claimed the matador’s act was out of respect.
Matador wipes away bloodied bull's tears before killing it.https://t.co/pvLonGLtqS pic.twitter.com/37UzOs9yFj
— LADbible (@ladbible) May 13, 2019
Some people have come to the matador’s defense citing that other bullfighters have done the same and de la Puebla’s actions were out of respect for the animal.
Whether Morante de la Puebla wiped the bull’s tears because previous bullfighters did the same or because he was showing respect to the animal, it was not an empathetic move.
Pass this story on if you want to ban bullfighting!
