The Ballon d’Or is an annual soccer (or soccer, as we’d say within the US) award introduced by France Football. It has been awarded since 1956, although 2018 marks the primary 12 months Women’s Ballon D’Or has been held. The first ever feminine winner the Ballon D’Or, Ada Hegerberg, ahead for Lyon and Norway, was excited to obtain the award. Unfortunately, the occasion was marred by host Martin Solveig’s inappropriately timed joke.
After accepting their awards, Ballon D’Or recipients would carry out a brief dance on stage along with the host. Already an ill-conceived idea, the scenario was made worse when Solveig requested Hegerberg if she knew twerk… the music was by Frank Sinatra.
A four-second clip the interplay, depicting Solveig’s query and Hegerberg’s seemingly aggravated response, devoid another context, shortly made its rounds on social media. Watch the total clip, courtesy BBC, beneath.
Out context, with out information that one other winner beforehand did a dance earlier than Hegerberg accepted her award, it’s simple to see how this might be thought of sexist. Following the unfold the clip, Solveig confronted 1000's feedback on Twitter calling for him to be “fired” and calling him a “sexist pig.”
Over the final day, Solveig has issued three separate apologies.
“I defined to Ada] and he or she instructed me she understood it was a joke,” Solveig wrote. “Nevertheless, my apologies to anybody who could have been fended. Most importantly, congratulations to Ada.”
On the carpet after the awards, Hegerberg was requested concerning the incident and admitted it was an “ill-conceived” joke however didn’t see it in any respect as sexist.
“He got here to after the presentation and apologized,” she mentioned. “I didn’t take it that manner in any respect. I acquired to bounce a bit and I acquired the Ballon D’Or, and that’s all that was in my thoughts. It was nothing particular. …] It didn’t come to my thoughts in any respect. I feel there are loads different topics to debate if we speak about sexual issues.”
Andy Murray was amongst these on social media who criticised Solveig’s remark, notes The Guardian, calling it “one other instance the ridiculous sexism in sport.”
“What questions did they ask Mbappé and Modric?” the British tennis participant added on Instagram. “I’d think about one thing to do with soccer. And to everybody who thinks I’m overreacting and it was only a joke … it wasn’t. I’ve been concerned in sport my entire life and the extent sexism is unreal.”