Bullfighter slammed for holding infant daughter while facing a bull

Spanish bullfighter Francisco “Fran” Rivera Ordóñez has come in for an avalanche of criticism on social media after he published a photograph on his Instagram account where he is seen holding his five-month-old daughter Carmen in his arms while training in the bullring.

“Carmen’s debut,” he wrote under the hashtag #orgullodesangre (literally “proud of blood,” likely meaning proud of my family). “This is the fifth generation of bullfighters in our family. My grandfather used to bullfight with me and my father like this. My father also used to bullfight like this with me, and I have done it with my daughter Cayetana and now Carmen.”

“If I was your wife, I’d kill you,” wrote one Instagram user

He also posted a similar photograph of his late father, Francisco “Paquirri” Rivera, holding him in his arm during a practice session in the ring.

In just a few minutes after the photograph was posted, people began criticizing the 42-year-old Rivera Ordóñez.

“Putting your daughter in danger, even if it is a calf, I just don’t understand it,” wrote one person.

“Poor Carmen,” another person said.

“If I was your wife, I’d kill you,” read another message.

Another post from Rivera, of him and his late father during a similar practice session.

Even some of his 53,000 followers on Instagram predicted that the photograph would cause trouble.

“I think publishing a photo like will only cause more controversy,” said one follower.

But at the same time, there was some support for the popular bullfighter.

“What a great image you have shared with us. Congratulations and let the legend continue.”

More than 130 comments were posted 13 hours after the photograph went up and more than 4,200 clicked to say that they liked it.

Rivera Ordóñez’s wife Lourdes Montes was not present during the training – she was celebrating her 31^st birthday with friends.

English version by Martin Delfín.