“The waiters in blouses, who are the ones who provide entertainment, are all united in a group with the pear-chickens.” It is one of the stanzas of Waltz of Astrainthe musical piece that marks the afternoon of July 6, the eve of San Fermín. Stanza that explains one of the keys to the Pamplona festivities; the festive attire that matches social and geographical origins. White and red party that turns multicolored during the running of the bulls, the best-known event of the San Fermines. Its television broadcast has been joined for almost two decades by the appearance of social networks and its notoriety requires distinguishing itself from the white and red mass. Sports team t-shirts were first, but the 2026 Sanfermines open a new path; characterization as a famous person.
Her name is Lacey Mrzena and she has arrived in Pamplona from Chicago, in the North American state of Illinois, but in the San Fermín running of the bulls she is the Joker. Hair dyed green and face made up in white, with black circles under his eyes and a sinister smile in red. Joker, the antihero created by DC Comics to oppose Batman, although the version on the cobblestones of Pamplona is more reminiscent of the clown with severe mental health problems played by Joaquim Phoenix in Todd Phillips’ film in 2019. And with a red scarf, yes.
Mrzena, who presents himself on social media as Straighdroplace, questions the spirit of the Pamplona bull run rules with his outfit. Yes, a party that seems chaotic has its own municipal ordinances. The running of the bulls regulations regulate in 8 pages and 9 articles what can and cannot be done in the 850 meters that cover 6 brave bulls and 6 oxen every morning from July 6 to 14. “Clothing that hinders or impedes the normal development of the race or footwear that is not appropriate for doing it” are prohibited and high-heeled shoes, clogs or sandals are expressly mentioned. Nor can you carry “objects that are inconvenient to the good order and security of the bull run,” ranging from backpacks to image recording devices. But no, it doesn’t say anything about dressing up as the Joker.
The Joker appeared at the July 7 running of the bulls. And he made room in front of the bulls. She has continued to wear it every day, varying details of her makeup, but maintaining her smile that shows off very characteristic metal teeth in front of all the cameras. And a camera, the one on his mobile phone, is the one that ended his participation in the Pamplona running of the bulls. On Saturday, July 11, in the José Escolar race, the Joker found space in front of the antlers of a purple bull on the way down to the alley of the Bullring. He took out his phone, picked it up and looked for the photo. Perhaps he found her, but his characterization made the work of the Pamplona Municipal Police, in charge of the security of the bullfight, easy. Some agents intercepted him in the sand of the square and took him out of the albero to inform him of the sanction.
He could not stay, therefore, in the release of heifers that follows the running of the bulls. There was no romp, like the day before, by one of the cattle, which was applauded by the stands at the time. Penalty for serious infraction included in point 7 of the ordinance; “Use any means of image or sound reproduction within the route or reserved fences, without proper authorization.” Fine ranging from 601 to 6000 euros and claims that Mrzena has been prevented from running the sixth bull run. When he was trying to reach the final part of Estafeta to take a position, Municipal Police officers took him off the route.
Recording yourself with your mobile phone, the mistake that has brought Batman’s villain out of confinement, is one of the most common violations of the ordinance that regulates the race. The North American, who argues his characterization for religious and cultural reasons, is the third sanctioned this year for serious infractions. In addition, local police have seized more than 50 glasses that include a recording camera this year. It is one of the ways to avoid surveillance and manage to immortalize in an image an experience that, those who do it, say is unique; run in front of the bulls in Pamplona. That this desire does not put the safety of all the people participating in the race at risk is what the regulations seek, which are updated every year due to the advancement of technology and the search for notoriety on social networks. “This city just showed you that it is full of people willing to believe in good,” Batman would say.