Arsenal icon Thierry Henry says the comments that drew heat at the Ballon d'Or ceremony were never meant to be taken seriously.
He's one of the most celebrated sons of the French Caribbean diaspora, with Guadeloupean and Martinican roots, and now Thierry Henry is answering back. The Arsenal legend has defended himself after criticism of several remarks he made during Monday's Ballon d'Or ceremony, insisting they were simply "jokes".
Henry was one of the high-profile faces at football's biggest night of individual glamour, and a few of his lines didn't land well with everyone watching. Social media picked them apart, and the debate quickly spilled beyond the ceremony itself.
The former France and Barcelona star has now moved to calm things down. His message is that the remarks were lighthearted banter in a room full of football royalty, not a serious attempt to put anyone down.
For a man whose career has been defined by big moments and bigger opinions, this is familiar territory. Since hanging up his boots, Henry has become one of the most recognisable voices in football media, and with that reach comes a lot of scrutiny. Whether the explanation satisfies his critics or not, it's clear he'd rather the conversation go back to the players on stage.
