DJ Martin Solveig Has Apologised For Asking Female Footballer To Twerk After Historic Award Win
"I wish for the focus to be shifted back to celebrating Ada Hegerberg becoming the first woman to be awarded a Ballon d'Or."
French DJ Martin Solveig has apologised for asking Norwegian footballer Ada Hegerberg if she knew “how to twerk” after she won the Ballon d’Or, a prestigious award recognising her as the world’s best footballer.
Held by magazine France Football, the prestigious Ballon d’Or ceremony is held each year in Paris. Hegerberg’s win is historic: while the award’s been around since 1956, she is the first female player to win.
While DJing the event, Solveig jokingly asked Hegerberg if she knew how to twerk, to which she responded with a curt “No”. The moment followed her acceptance speech, which focused on how she hoped to inspire more young girls to follow their passions.
“It is a huge step for women’s football and the work you have put down is such an important thing for women’s football and together we will make a difference,” she said. “I would like to end this speech, with some words to young girls all over the world. Please believe in yourself.”
Solveig’s comment prompted a wave of criticism online from the wider sports community.
Tennis star Andy Murray took to his Instagram story to incredulously ask why “women have to put up with this shit”, while sports journalists like Aaron West and Leah Harding slammed the moment as ‘disrespectful’ and ‘not okay’.
Norway's @AdaStolsmo is the first woman to win a #BallonDor since the ceremony started in 1956. A major achievement for women and sports. And to celebrate, the DJ asked her to twerk.
No. Not ok. Ever.
Two steps forward. Several steps back. #AJNewsGrid pic.twitter.com/W1yuK3oI1c
— Leah Harding (@LeahHardingAJE) December 3, 2018
Solveig soon after posted an apology to Twitter alongside a backstage photo with Hegerberg, saying “she understood it was a joke.” Talking to BBC Sport, Hegerberg said she “didn’t consider it sexual harassment”.
He later followed it with a longer statement on Instagram, saying the joke came within a context of having just danced together to Frank Sinatra.
Read the statement below, and watch video of Hegerberg’s acceptance speech (in French) below.