The recognition was long due. December 3 marked a new beginning in women’s football but not in the way we expected it to be. Ada Hegerberg became the first female footballer to be honoured with Ballon d’Or, an award which was earlier exclusive to male footballers. Hegerberg was on cloud nine after creating history but was soon embarrassed by a stupid question from the host DJ, Martin Solveig as he asked her, “Do you know how to twerk?”.
The insulting question dampened the celebrations for the Norwegian forward as she immediately stopped smiling and said ‘no!’. That’s not how she would have imagined receiving her first Ballon d’Or. It almost looked like that she was about to leave the stage but reluctantly danced with French footballer David Ginola.
Martin Solveig really asked Ada Hegerberg, the first ever Ballon D’Or winner, to twerk. The absolute disrespect bruh. pic.twitter.com/Mtc5DBjS7a
— A West (@ayyy_west) December 3, 2018
Solveig was quick to realise that he had done something wrong as he apologised to Ada. The 23-year-old confirmed it as she said,
“He came to me afterwards and was really sad that it went that way. I didn’t really consider it sexual harassment or anything in the moment. I was just happy to do the dance and win the Ballon d’Or.”
The French DJ recorded a video apologising for his actions and clarifying what he said on the stage and how it was interpreted,
Sincere apologies to the one I may have offended. My point was : I don’t invite women to twerk but dance on a Sinatra song. Watch the full sequence People who have followed me for 20 years know how respectful I am especially with women pic.twitter.com/pnZX8qvl4R
— Martin Solveig (@martinsolveig) December 3, 2018
Later on, he tweeted another apology alongside a photo with Ada congratulating her for winning the inaugural Ballon d’Or (women),
I explained to @AdaStolsmo the buzz and she told me she understood it was a joke. Nevertheless my apologies to anyone who may have been offended. Most importantly congratulations to Ada pic.twitter.com/DATdg0TfQk
— Martin Solveig (@martinsolveig) December 3, 2018
There was no way people were to be convinced by the 42-year-old’s apology as he was slammed for his carelessness on the stage:
Imagine winning the first EVER women’s Ballon d’Or.
Then giving an unbelievable speech about how big this is for women’s football.
Then asking little girls to believe in themselves.
THEN being asked to twerk. Fuck off dude. pic.twitter.com/MkbL5KZalD
— Frances Silva (@fasilva11) December 3, 2018
Congratulations to Norwegian forward @AdaStolsmo on becoming the first winner of the Women’s Ballon d’Or!
As for the ‘presenter’ asking you to twerk live on TV? Looks like we have a new Idiot of the Day!
pic.twitter.com/GfAD2Ft6BH— AS Roma Women (@ASRomaWomen) December 3, 2018
You made the winner of the first ever women’s Ballon Dor feel very uncomfortable during what was meant to be HER moment. The moment she made history. The moment she worked all her life for. What a low apology. https://t.co/HsG8pubHHc
— Jasmina Schweimler (@JasSchweimler) December 3, 2018
Andy Murray on women’s Ballon d’Or winner Ada Hegerberg being asked to twerk on stage tonight… pic.twitter.com/XWhchKnWvW
— Stuart Fraser (@stu_fraser) December 3, 2018
Absolute trash: French DJ Martin Solveig asks Ada Hegerberg to twerk after receiving the first women’s Ballon d’Or award. (Love her response, though.) This is the crap female athletes deal with on a daily basis around the world.pic.twitter.com/y2TLe3v4u9
— Grant Wahl (@GrantWahl) December 3, 2018
Today was a groundbreaking day in the world of football as #AdaHegerberg was awarded the first ever women’s ballon d’or.
It was also another staunch reminder of how much work has to be done to combat misogyny after a creep asked her to twerk on stage. What a tool.
— Francis Maxwell (@francismmaxwell) December 3, 2018
Imagine working hard your whole life to win the most ‘prestigious’ of individual awards in football only for someone to ask you if you know how to twerk. Martin Solveig should be nowhere near these awards ever again
— Mitchell (@Procter__) December 3, 2018
‘Do you know how to twerk?’
‘No.’how are you this sexist that you’d think to ask a woman who has just been celebrated for earning the highest individual honor in her sport if she want to twerk?? this is right after making her dance. fuck Martin Solveig. pic.twitter.com/hvRB0YfsOu
— amadí (@amadoit__) December 3, 2018
The first female Ballon D’Or winner @AdaStolsmo makes a great speech telling the girls all over the world to believe in themselves. Then an idiotic French DJ Martin Solveig asks her to twerk
Idiots like this show us we can’t take gender equality for granted in sport and society
— Jan Aage Fjortoft (@JanAageFjortoft) December 3, 2018
French forward Kylian Mbappe was stunned by the unnecessary request too. It is a popular opinion that her achievements should have taken the centrestage instead of asking her if she knows ‘how to twerk’.
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