As the host of the ESPY Awards, comedian Shane Gillis gave a monologue that got a lot of people talking and split fans. His performance, which was recognized for being honest, gave the annual sports festival a unique comic voice. The crowd, which included well-known athletes and media professionals, had quite different reactions, which shows how unique Gillis's humor is in a mainstream situation.
Important Jokes and How They Were Received
Gillis's speech had a lot of gags that people instantly started talking about. His jokes were about anything from current sports stars to previous scandals, and they often went too far and got heated reactions.
The Caitlin Clark Waffle House Joke
A joke on WNBA standout Caitlin Clark was one of the most talked-about parts. Gillis said, "Caitlin Clark will work at a Waffle House when she retires from the WNBA so she can keep doing what she loves most: fighting Black women." This phrase, which made fun of Clark's rough play in the WNBA and a cliché about Waffle House, got both laughs and criticism right away. The joke was meant to make fun of Clark's numerous fights on the court, since he is a white athlete in a league with a lot of Black players. A lot of people quickly reacted online, arguing on what it meant and whether it was appropriate.
People are arguing a lot about Shane Gillis's Caitlin Clark Waffle House joke during the ESPYs. Was it funny or too much?
Bill Belichick and Jordon Hudson
Gillis also looked into Bill Belichick, the former coach of the New England Patriots, and his younger girlfriend, Jordon Hudson. "He won six Super Bowls," he joked. He is seeing a 24-year-old who is really attractive. If you guys had won six Super Bowls, you might not be seated next to a fat, ugly dog woman. This joke got a few laughs, but a lot of people thought it was a really mean thing to say to the partners of sportsmen in the audience. Some people who saw or attended found it uncomfortable because it was so direct.
"Maybe if you guys won six Super Bowls, you wouldn't have to sit next to a fat, ugly dog wife," Shane Gillis said about Bill Belichick at the ESPYs. Ouch.
Trump and Epstein: Political Humor
Gillis made fun of Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein in a political way. He joked that Trump wanted to hold a UFC fight in the White House and said, "The last time he staged a fight in D.C., Mike Pence almost died." He pointed to the teleprompter and said, "There was supposed to be an Epstein joke here, but I guess it got deleted." It probably deleted itself, didn't it? In fact, it probably never existed. We should forget about that and move forward as a country. These comments, which were surprising for an ESPYs audience, showed that Gillis was prepared to break the rules of awards show comedy. Some people in the audience clapped for the Trump joke, which suggests that they liked the political criticism.
WNBA and Megan Rapinoe Jokes
Gillis made fun of the WNBA and some players, such Megan Rapinoe, in addition to the Caitlin Clark insult. He said, "Megan Rapinoe isn't here." Good. People had different emotions to this short, direct comment about the U.S. soccer player, who is recognized for her activism. This kind of quiet, edgy comedy is a big part of Gillis's approach for his fans. But in a context that was meant to honor sports achievements, it caused problems. People who thought he was being dismissive when he kept bringing up the WNBA also criticized him for hurting the league's burgeoning popularity.
The Tribute to Norm Macdonald
Gillis's tribute to Norm Macdonald, who presented the ESPYs in 1998, was a moment that comedy fans loved. Gillis told Macdonald's famous O.J. Simpson joke: "This year, Travis Hunter won the Heisman Trophy." Since Charles Woodson, he is the only defensive player to win the Heisman. Well done, Travis Hunter. They can never take away the fact that you won the Heisman. Unless you kill your wife and a waiter. People who knew about Macdonald's funny history and the controversy surrounding his firing from Saturday Night Live liked this callback. But for a lot of people in the audience, especially younger athletes, the joke's historical context was probably lost, which made things awkwardly quiet.
Shane Gillis's tribute to Norm Macdonald at the ESPYs was a perfect throwback. "Unless you kill your wife and a waiter..."
Shane Gillis's Style of Comedy in the Spotlight
People generally say that Shane Gillis's comedy is unvarnished and provocative. He generally uses observational humor, and a lot of the time he makes fun of delicate topics. His appearance at the ESPYs was a clear illustration of how his style can appeal to a wide range of people, which is different from his regular stand-up specials or podcasts.
Discomfort of the Audience vs. Intent to Make Them Laugh
A common motif in the monologue was how some audience members seemed uncomfortable. Gillis's jokes often walk a fine line, using the audience's reaction, or lack of one, as part of the joke. His stand-up is known for his "unbothered" approach, in which he admits when a joke didn't go over well and keeps going. At the ESPYs, this was even worse, with cameras showing those who weren't smiling and people who were groaning. Some others thought this showed that the comic was dedicated to his style no matter where he was. For some, it revealed that the performance and the audience weren't on the same page, which made for an uneasy viewing experience.
A lot of talk on social media
People on social media instantly started talking about the monologue. Some people praised Gillis for being brave, while others criticized him for making jokes that were seen as vulgar or inappropriate. This online reaction was similar to the mixed reception at the Dolby Theatre, which shows that people in general have different ideas about what is funny in public places.
Responses from athletes and the media: praise and criticism
There were a lot of different reactions from athletes and media people who were at the ESPYs or who wrote about them afterward. Some people thought Gillis's performance was refreshing, while others strongly disagreed.
Sarah Spain, an ESPN commentator, was one of the people who spoke out strongly against it. She said that Gillis's act contained "Hacky 'no one knows the WNBA' jokes... and degrades Black women over and over again. COOL. This response shows that some people in the audience and the media thought Gillis's jokes were out of touch or rude, especially the ones about the WNBA.
ESPN star Sarah Spain says Shane Gillis's act at the ESPYs was "hacky" and "no one knows the WNBA," and he keeps insulting Black women. That's cool.
On the other hand, a lot of Gillis's admirers and some people who were there thought his performance was exactly what they had hoped for. They liked that he was prepared to tell edgy jokes in a place that is frequently thought to be too clean. A lot of people said the same thing: "Shane Gillis's ESPYs monologue: 'It went about precisely how we all imagined it was going to happen. I don't know why this happened. This means that people who know Gillis's work probably saw the ending coming and, for some, even liked how awkward it was.
Shane Gillis said in his ESPYs speech, "It went about exactly how we all thought it would." I don't know why this happened.
Some jokes worked better in person than they did on TV, according to reports from inside the venue. This is frequent in live broadcasts, as camera angles and microphone placement can change how the audience seems to react.
ESPN's Pick: A Risky Bet?
It was a big deal that ESPN chose Shane Gillis to host the ESPYs because he has a history of making controversial comments. Gillis had been booted from Saturday Night Live before for making inappropriate comments, although he later hosted the show twice. His appearances on ESPN's College GameDay, including a notable conversation with Nick Saban, showed that he had worked with the network before.
ESPN's decision to hire Gillis for a big event like the ESPYs seems like a smart one. The network probably thought about the chance of more viewers and buzz versus the chance of a backlash. For a network that wanted to reach a bigger audience, especially one that liked a more straightforward type of comedy, Gillis was a calculated gamble. The outcome, which was talked about a lot, definitely got people's attention, which was one of the goals of that bet.
The ESPYs Monologue in the Context of History
Comedians have a hard time with monologues at awards shows, especially the ESPYs. The crowd is made up of athletes, not professional comedians, therefore they may not be used to being the butt of jokes. This makes it especially hard to find your way around the world of comedy. Some past ESPYs hosts have used safer, more celebratory humor, while others, like Norm Macdonald, have used a more aggressive tone.
Gillis's performance stood out because he was honest and didn't tone down his comic voice for the mass audience. Some hosts try to appeal to everyone, but Gillis seemed to put his own style first, which made it evident that people had different opinions. This is different from the more cautious tone that is common in many modern awards ceremony monologues, which often put avoiding offense ahead of making cutting, maybe polarizing jokes.
Highlights from the Full Transcript
There were a number of other things in the monologue that made people have different feelings about it. Gillis made a joke about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, saying, "SGA is here." "Everyone sitting around him is in foul trouble," he said, which is a comment on how elite players are safeguarded in the NBA. He also talked about Aaron Rodgers joining the New York Jets and said, "Aaron Rodgers didn't get the (COVID-19) vaccine because he thought it would hurt him." "And then he joined the New York Jets," a dig at how bad the team has been in the past.
There were also comments about Karl-Anthony Towns and a short, presumably confused Juneteenth joke aimed at Maxx Crosby. Gillis also talked about the "tush push" move that the Philadelphia Eagles made famous, and he did a skit with fellow comedian Druski. These times made it even clearer that Gillis is eager to talk about a wide range of sporting topics in his usual forthright way.
The Shane Gillis ESPYs speech will probably be remembered as a time when a comedian's unique style connected with a large, typically conservative, audience. The replies ranged from strong acclaim to scathing criticism, which shows that people are still talking about where the line is between comedy and public areas and what hosts of awards shows are expected to do. The performance helped Gillis's reputation as a comedian who doesn't back down, which might help him reach more people but also make him more polarizing. We don't know what the long-term effects on his career will be, but the event definitely made a memorable chapter in his public life.