In brief
Juan Bernabe, who has handled the team’s eagle mascot, Olimpia, since 2010, is under fire for posting videos of his prosthetic penis following surgery. The club expressed their surprise and disappointment, emphasizing that such behavior is not reflective of their values.
Lazio is facing backlash as fans mourn the loss of their beloved mascot handler while dealing with the controversy.Lazio's eagle mascot has flown over the Stadio Olimpico for numerous matches, but the club has now severed ties with falconer Juan Bernabe after he posted explicit videos of his prosthetic penis online. The 56-year-old had been with the team for over a decade and defended his actions as an awareness campaign regarding the surgery. Lazio stated they were "shocked" and that it was inappropriate to link their eagle mascot to Bernabe after his post. This isn’t the first time Bernabe has faced trouble, as he was previously suspended in 2021 for making a fascist salute during a match. According to Bernabe, he stands by his past actions, citing admiration for historical figures associated with fascism.
