Hegerberg has also given her take.
Martin Solveig, the co-host of the Ballon d’Or award ceremony, has apologised to Lyon striker Ada Hegerberg after he asked her to twerk on stage during the prestigious award ceremony.
Hegerberg was announced as the first ever winner of the women’s Ballon d’Or on Monday and after taking to the stage to collect the award, French DJ and co-host Solveig asked her if she could twerk.
The 23-year-old striker declined and then delivered an excellent speech where she encouraged more women to play football.
Martin Solveig really asked Ada Hegerberg, the first ever Ballon D'Or winner, to twerk. The absolute disrespect bruh. pic.twitter.com/Mtc5DBjS7a
— Aaron West (@oeste) December 3, 2018
She said: “I would like to say a huge thanks to France Football for letting us have this opportunity to have this award. 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. I would like to end this speech, with some words to young girls all over the world. Please believe in yourself.”
Unfortunately, Solveig’s remarks have taken some of the attention away from the extraordinary achievement of the three-time women’s Champions League winner.
Since facing a barrage of criticism, Solveig has apologised for his actions.
Accompanied by a video where he apologises further to Hegerberg, he wrote on Twitter: “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.”
He later added: “I explained to Ada Hegerberg 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.”
In an interview with the BBC, Hegerberg sought to play down the incident.
“He came to me afterwards and was really sad that it went that way. I didn’t really think about it at the time to be honest. I didn’t really consider it a sexual harassment or anything in the moment,” she said.
Here’s Solveig’s apology.
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
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
