🎤 Shane Gillis Takes the Stage: Host of the 2025 ESPY Awards

Date: July 16, 2025 | Event: ESPY Awards (Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Awards)
Location: Dolby Theatre, Los Angeles | Broadcaster: ABC & ESPN+
Host: Shane Gillis, comedian and actor The Times of India+15Decider+15New York Post+15

Who Is Shane Gillis?

Born in 1987 in Pennsylvania, Shane Michael Gillis is a stand-up comedian, actor, and podcaster known for his sharp observational and shock humor Wikipedia. Rising through the comedy scene with the “Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast,” he gained broader recognition after a brief (and ultimately controversial) stint on Saturday Night Live in 2019 Decider+2Wikipedia+2AP News+2. Since then, Gillis has starred in the Netflix specials Beautiful Dogs and the series Tires—earning acclaim and building a reputation as a bold comedic voice New York Post+15Wikipedia+15Decider+15.

A Bold Opening Monologue

As host of the 33rd ESPYs, Gillis kicked off the night with a monologue packed with risqué jabs at sports celebs and current events:

He quipped about Deshaun Watson’s massage scandal, joking, “Put your hands where my eyes can see…” OutKick+11Hindustan Times+11DKPittsburghSports.com+11.
He roasted Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for drawing fouls, saying: “SGA is here. Everybody sitting around him is in foul trouble” Decider+2PFSN+2Wikipedia+2.
His joke about Caitlin Clark drew mixed reactions: “When Caitlin Clark retires… she’ll work at a Waffle House so she can keep fist-fighting black women.” Instagram+8Hindustan Times+8Hindustan Times+8
He even touched on Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump, quipping, “There was supposed to be an Epstein joke… guess it got deleted.” PFSN+3Larry Brown Sports+3BroBible+3.

Reaction: A Night of Divided Opinions

Gillis’s monologue polarized both the audience inside the theatre and social media users:

Some praised his fearless style, while others called it “cringey,” with comments like “s**t was weak” trending online Instagram+15PFSN+15YouTube+15.
Aware of the mixed reception, Gillis playfully acknowledged it live, saying, “I see a lot of you don’t like me, and that’s okay…” PFSN+6Hindustan Times+6Decider+6.

What Are the ESPY Awards?

The ESPYS—short for Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Awards—are ESPN’s annual celebration of athletic achievement since 1993. They recognize standout performances, moments, teams, and athletes across nearly two dozen categories, and raise funds for the V Foundation for Cancer Research YouTube+8Wikipedia+8AP News+8.

The 2025 ceremony featured 22 award categories, special honors to figures like Oscar Robertson, Diana Taurasi, and Alex Morgan, and performances by artists like Busta Rhymes and Clipse New York Post+2Decider+2Page Six+2.

📅 Event Highlights

Air Time: July 16, 8 p.m. ET on ABC, with Showtime preshow on ESPN+ at 7 p.m. Instagram+15Decider+15Page Six+15
Hosts & Presenters: Shane Gillis, with cut-ins by celebrities and athletes such as Angela Bassett, Russell Wilson, and Billie Jean King X (formerly Twitter)+15Page Six+15New York Post+15
Streaming Options: Available on ABC, ESPN+, Disney+, Hulu + Live TV, DIRECTV, Sling TV, YouTube TV, and FuboTV Decider

Final Thoughts

Shane Gillis’s debut hosting gig at the ESPYs was daredevil comedy in action—edgy, divisive, and unmistakably his. Whether he struck gold or drew boos, one thing’s clear: he lived up to expectations as a “comedic firestarter.”

Would you like a full transcript of his monologue, deeper analysis on public reactions, or a breakdown of ESPY winners?

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