A language-related conflict erupted in the Gràcia district of Barcelona, drawing the attention of both local residents and social media users. An Argentine ice cream shop located on Torrent de l’Olja Street found itself at the center of the scandal after a municipal representative accused its staff of showing disrespect toward the Catalan language.
The incident took place on August 17, during the traditional Fiesta Mayor de Gràcia festival. According to the politician, his partner faced rude treatment from an employee at the ice cream shop when she addressed him in Catalan. The employee allegedly called her impolite for speaking Catalan and began arguing, insisting that they were in Spain and that Spanish is the main language.
After details of the incident were shared on social media, the ice cream shop became the target of attacks. In the morning, employees found the shop’s facade covered with offensive graffiti and stickers accusing it of discrimination and an anti-Catalan stance. The graffiti included calls for a boycott, accusations of fascism, and slogans denouncing the negative impact of tourism on the city.
The ice cream shop staff quickly cleaned off the graffiti and stickers before opening, but photos of the damaged facade soon spread online. The owner, an Argentine entrepreneur, declined to comment on the situation.
A complaint about the employees’ actions was submitted to the Department of Language Policy and the city’s anti-discrimination service. In addition, the case was referred to the Catalan Agency for Consumer Rights Protection. Heated debate erupted on social media: some users supported the politician’s position and called for the defense of the Catalan language, while others considered the incident an exaggeration and condemned the acts of vandalism.
Representatives of various political and civil organizations joined the discussion. Some voiced their support for the affected party and condemned all forms of discrimination based on language. At the same time, there were those who opposed the campaign against the business, emphasizing that violence and vandalism are unacceptable under any circumstances.
The scandal surrounding the ice cream shop in Gràcia became yet another example of how language issues continue to spark heated debate in Catalan society. City and regional authorities called for respect for all languages and peaceful resolution of such conflicts.
