Ballon d’Or title winner Ada downplays ‘twerk’ request
15 Goals, Hegerberg has scored for Olympique Lyonnais this year
paris — Norwegian striker Ada Hegerberg said the introduction of a women’s Ballon d’Or was a ‘big step forward’ for the game, playing down suggestions her historic victory was overshadowed after being asked to perform a ‘twerk’ live on stage.
The Lyon star — whose prolific form in front of goal helped the French club secure a third successive Champions League victory — edged out Danish forward Pernille Harder to claim the inaugural prize at a ceremony in Paris on Monday.
But the 23-year-old was asked if she would perform a provocative dance by French host DJ, Martin Solveig, and appeared embarrassed as she rejected the request.
Solveig, who was criticised over the internet, said he was taken aback by the stormy reaction online. The awards co-host in Paris provoked a torrent of complaints about sexism with his question about the sexually suggestive dance, which received a blunt “No” from the unamused Norwegian striker.
Solveig, a musician and radio host, apologised in person to Hegerberg and said he was “astonished” at the reaction. “Guys I’m a little bit amazed, astonished by what I’m reading on the internet,” he said in a video on Twitter.
“Of course I didn’t want to offend anyone. This was from a distortion of my English level and my English culture level which is obviously not (high) enough. “This was a joke, probably a bad one and I want to apologise for the one I may have offended,” Solveig added.
Hegerberg later said: “He came to see me after and apologised. The Ballon d’Or is the most important thing. It’s historic, it’s incredible, a great day for women’s football.”
Hegerberg, one of seven players from the all-conquering Lyon side to feature among the 15 nominees, dismissed suggestions that the night was marred by the “twerk” request. “I didn’t feel it was like that at all to be honest and I am sad if people thought about the situation like that.”
Hegerberg was Lyon’s top scorer with 15 goals — with one coming in the Champions League final in Kiev in May, as Lyon came from behind to beat VfL Wolfsburg 4-1 after extra time and retain the trophy. Harder had put the Germans in front in that game.
Lyon also won the French title for the 12th season in succession, with Hegerberg top-scoring with 31 goals, and she continues to bang in the goals for her team who are top of the table again this season.—