DJ Martin Solveig created the controversy by asking Ada Hegerberg, the first winner of the Women's Golden Ball Monday, if she knew the "twerk", a sensual dance with very explicit shaking, before apologizing, pleading "a bad joke ".
"Do you know how to twerker? Asked the musician, in charge of the animation of the ceremony, in French, the Norwegian player from Lyon, who answered him not by turning his head.
Martin Solveig: finally a female gold ball, it was time
2 minutes later mdr: #BallonDor pic.twitter.com/W6IJ6286nR
This short sequence provoked an uproar on social networks, where Internet users were indignant at the "sexime" and the "total lack of respect" of the French DJ, aged 42, towards the scorer (23 years). Once the ceremony was over, Martin Solveig reacted quickly in an apology video posted on Twitter: "I am amazed by what I am reading on the Internet. Of course, I did not want to offend anyone, " he said.
Sincere apologies to the one I may have offended. My point was: I do not invite women to twerk and dance on a Sinatra song. Watch the Full Sequence People who have followed me for 20 years I am especially good with women pic.twitter.com/pnZX8qvl4R
- Martin Solveig (@martinsolveig) December 3, 2018Read also
Lyonnaise Ada Hegerberg first woman in history rewarded
"It comes from my misuse of the English language, and from my poor understanding of the English language culture, which is clearly not enough. I did not know it could be seen as an offense, especially when we look at the entire sequence, which we ended up dancing together on Frank Sinatra, " he continued.
"It's a joke, maybe a bad joke and I wanted to apologize to those I could have offended. Sorry, " he added. "He came to see me afterwards and he apologized. I did not see the situation like that, like the others. We danced a little, I had the Ballon d'Or, and that's the most important thing for me. I did not find that sexist, " said Hegerberg in the mixed zone after the ceremony.
Would that have been asked of a man? "That's a good question," she said, before pleading for a better recognition of women's football. "It's also the men who will help women's football. It takes the help of the most senior people in the system, FIFA, UEFA ... There is still work to be done, " said the striker Norwegian.