The facade of Lionel Messi's mansion in Ibiza was defaced on Tuesday by environmental activists from Futuro Vegetal to protest the “responsibility of the wealthy” in the climate crisis.
In a post on Instagram, the group shared a photo showing a banner on the mansion's facade with a message urging people to help the planet by “eating the rich” and abolishing the police.
“We are taught that the powerful are untouchable. It's true that policies are drafted and interpreted to serve those who have the most, directly violating the rights of the rest of the population. But they are only the 1%,” the group stated in their Instagram post.
According to Futuro Vegetal, Messi's mansion is an “illegal” construction that the football star purchased for an “exorbitant” 11 million euros.
“While the far-right blames the crisis on migrants and shows extreme violence against them, those of us fighting for a better world know that the problem is social inequality. Let's tackle the root causes,” they wrote.
The agency Efe reported statements from Futuro Vegetal's spokesperson, Bilbo Bassaterra, who said, “The law does not work the same for everyone,” noting that this same week nearly 200 workers were evicted in Ibiza, while the PP and Vox plan to legalize illegal buildings in exchange for payments.
The group also criticized the police, describing them as a “repressive tool” to maintain “an order where the dominant classes remain unpunished,” and denounced the Govern Balear's promotion of tourism as a “solution to all the islands' problems.”
Regarding Messi, although the star footballer has not publicly commented on the incident, Argentina's president, Javier Milei, did, labeling the activists as “communists.”
“I stand in solidarity with the Messi family for this cowardly and delusional act and urge the government of Pedro Sánchez to ensure the safety of Argentine citizens living in the Kingdom of Spain,” Milei expressed from his account on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Impact of Environmental Activism on Celebrities
The recent incident involving Lionel Messi's mansion has raised several questions about the intersection of environmental activism and celebrity culture. Here are some frequently asked questions and their answers:
Why did Futuro Vegetal target Lionel Messi's mansion?
Futuro Vegetal targeted Messi's mansion to highlight the responsibility of the wealthy in the climate crisis and to protest social inequality.
What message did the activists convey with their banner?
The banner urged people to help the planet by “eating the rich” and abolishing the police, criticizing the impunity of powerful individuals.
How did Argentina's president respond to the incident?
President Javier Milei condemned the act, calling the activists “communists,” and urged the Spanish government to ensure the safety of Argentine citizens.