Comedian Shane Gillis hosted the ESPY Awards ceremony on Wednesday night, but his monologue was met with mixed reactions from the audience and viewers at home. Early in his set, Gillis called out famous basketball star Diana Taurasi, referring to her as “Deanna” instead of “Diana.” Taurasi visibly shook her head before Gillis apologized for the mistake.
Gillis continued on, making jokes about Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein, which drew both praise and criticism. His reference to WNBA player Caitlin Clark, joking that she would fist fight Black women after retiring from basketball, sparked discomfort among some in the audience. Others praised his criticism of Trump, but others criticized the racially charged joke.
Gillis’ past comments on racism, homophobia, and misogyny had led to him being dropped from Saturday Night Live in 2019. He returned as a guest host in 2024. The incident has sparked debate about whether Gillis is truly sorry for his past behavior or just pushing boundaries again.
Despite the controversy, some of Gillis’ jokes landed well with the audience, such as one about NBA player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick’s girlfriend, Jordon Hudson. The ceremony also honored other notable athletes, including Simone Biles, who won awards for best championship performance and best comeback, respectively.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/jul/17/gillis-draws-boos-and-laughs-amid-jabs-at-caitlin-clark-and-donald-trump-at-espys-ceremony