In an incident which has sparked outrage across the world, Ada Hegerberg of Norway, the first player to be awarded women’s Ballon d’Or award on Monday, was asked by the presenter DJ Martin Solveig to twerk.
Hegerberg responded with a swift ‘no’ and immediately turned to leave the stage but eventually stayed back to dance to a different Frank Sinatra number.
What kind of question is this? And why are these guys laughing? This is disgusting, I’m so sorry for Ada Hegerberg pic.twitter.com/FHUnZPSRqO
— Siavoush Fallahi (@SiavoushF) December 3, 2018
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Later, Solveig took to his official handle and apologised for what he called was a misunderstood situation.
“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,” Solveig wrote on Twitter.
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
Speaking about the incident, Hegerberg admitted that Solveig did come to her afterwards and was ‘sad’ about how the things went on the stage.
“He came to me afterward and was really sad that it went that way. I didn’t really consider it a sexual harassment or anything in the moment. I was just happy to do the dance and win the Ballon d’Or to be honest,” goal.com quoted Hegerberg, as saying.
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The 23 year old Norwegian star told young girls all over the world to ‘please, believe in yourself.’ Hegerberg, who was named the UEFA Women’s Player of the Year in 2016, defeated the likes of Denmark’ Pernille Harder, Lyon team-mate Dzsenifer Marozsan, Brazilian forward Marta and Australia’s Sam Kerr to claim the prestigious Ballon d’Or.
She has also won the French league, Coupe de France and Champions League three times apiece with her football club, Olympique Lyonnais.