The extremely inappropriate request was made just moments after she received the award.
Lyon and Norway striker Ada Hegerberg won the inaugural Women’s Ballon d’Or award on Monday evening, but her accomplishments have already been overshadowed when she was asked “Do you know how to twerk?” on stage almost immediately after winning the award.
Hederberg (23) has scored over 250 career goals, and the award recognises the best player in the world, with second place going to Wolfsburg and Denmark striker Pernille Harder, while Germany midfielder Dzsenifer Marozsan came third.
Hederberg told those in attendance that “I want to say thanks to my team-mates because this would not have been possible without them, my coach or our president Jean-Michel Aulas. I also want to thank France Football. This is a huge step for women’s football.”
However, the award show’s host, DJ Martin Solveig, chatted to Hederberg directly following the win and asked her to “twerk” on stage in front of the audience, which she quickly shut down:
Lyon striker Ada Hegerberg, first female Ballon D'Or winner after scoring over 250 career goals at the age 23, asked to twerk on stage in front of footballing giants and the public watching. Disgusting and really ruined her moment she deserved. Poor. pic.twitter.com/FSz0ozz2T4
— Seán Walker (@SeanWalkerSport) December 3, 2018
Following on from this, many viewers took to Twitter to criticize Solveig for the extreme inappropriateness of the question:
Wow – Martin Solveig asks Ada Hederberg – who has just won the inaugural women's Ballon d'Or – if she can twerk.
Her reaction is as you would expect. https://t.co/La5gzxvQsP
— Jeremy Smith (@jeremysmith98) December 3, 2018
Ada Hegerberg.
UEFA Women's Champions League winner. Three times.
First female ever to win the #BallondOr.
Being asked about twerking.
Blatant sexism in 2018.pic.twitter.com/SnkKxoRNhG
— DW Sports (@dw_sports) December 3, 2018
What a disgrace. The pinnacle of Hegerberg’s career and she has to deal with this misogyny. “Do you know how to twerk” is never an appropriate question, especially for the best female footballer in the world. Ballon d’Or keeps diminishing its credibility more and more. https://t.co/2IVjzUUu2G
— EiF (@EiFSoccer) December 3, 2018
The host asked the women Ballon d'Or winner Hegerberg to twerk 😡
Mbappe face says it all. #BallonDor2018 pic.twitter.com/bEvqZaBAZK— Troll Football Media (@Troll__Footbal) December 3, 2018
Ada Hegerberg (@AdaStolsmo) won the first-ever female #ballondor (best soccer player in the world) today. After her acceptance speech, she was asked to twerk on stage. Ridiculous. pic.twitter.com/bh5D3AWAOw
— Jeff Eisenband (@JeffEisenband) December 3, 2018
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
