Garbine Muguruza’s Hot Take on Spanish Bull-Fighting That Once Landed Carlos Alcaraz in Soup Will Ruffle Some Feathers

Bullfighting has become increasingly controversial in recent years. Critics argue it’s inherently cruel, subjecting bulls to immense pain and fear before an almost certain, gruesome death. On Friday, the Spanish government sought to eliminate the sport. However, some are against the abolishment and ready to ruffle some feathers with their defense of the sport, including former player Garbine Muguruza, after Carlos Alcaraz backlash in 2023.

This Friday, May 3rd, Garbiñe Muguruza graced the set of ‘Espejo Público’ for a live interview with Susanna Griso. After the two discussed Muguruza’s tennis career, Griso asked her a variety of ‘single-select’ questions. When asked a controversial question, “Bullfighting or anti-bullfighting?”, Muguruza responded first, “The truth is that I like culture and history,”.

Griso then told her that the Ministry of Culture and Sports has announced a ban on awards for bullfighting, which means they are no longer going to be organized by the Spanish government. To which Muguruza replied, “I understand, it makes me sad, I have never gone to a bullfight because I don’t know if I would be able to, but I like the aesthetics and that folklore,” showing her sympathies for the sport.

Established in 2011, the National Bullfighting Prize awarded €30,000($32,317) to the matador who emerged victorious. However, it’s worth noting that the prize was recently discontinued by the Ministerio de Cultura y Deporte due to growing concerns about animal welfare in bullfighting.

Furthermore, the government is taking a step towards potentially permanent elimination of the award by conducting a public survey to gauge public opinion on the practice. Sources from the Culture Ministry told El Diario t that this step is a ‘faithful reflection of the values and feelings of society’.

“A growing majority” of Spaniards are concerned about animal welfare, so “we did not believe it is appropriate to maintain an award that rewards a form of animal abuse”, said the Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun. Although the fight to abolish bullfighting has seen much support in Spain, much outrage followed Carlos Alcaraz when he attended a bullfight in 2023.

Carlos Alcaraz asked to stay away from the ‘stabbing and torturing of animals’ 

After the US Open, Alcaraz returned to his hometown to catch a break from tennis. The two-time grand slam champion catched the flak of tennis fans as they were disappointed in his choice of activities. Alcaraz attended a bullfighting event in his hometown, which was followed by public outcry as they looked to abolish bullfighting. 

Significant backlash also came from PETA, who have actively worked against the sport. They shared a plea for Alcaraz to not promote the sport in any manner whatsoever. “There is nothing entertaining about the stabbing and torturing of animals – and the majority of young people in Spain reject bullfighting as the bloodsport it is. Please don’t support bullfighting and pledge to never attend another fight again.”

Safe to say, the world was disappointed with him. Since that day, there has been no news of Alcaraz’s link with bullfighting, with no response from the Spaniard to any of the outcry.