Report: ESPN reacts to Shane Gillis ESPY monologue backlash

ESPN has reacted to the backlash Shane Gillis has received for his monologue during the ESPY Awards on Wednesday night. According to TMZ Sports, ESPN is not upset with Gillis’ monologue and appreciates his hard work on the show.

The live monologue featured Gillis making fun of athletes like Caitlin Clark and Megan Rapinoe. Shane Gillis also made jokes about Jeffrey Epstein and Diddy. TMZ Sports said ESPN has had a great relationship with Gillis for a long time.

Gillis also made fun of the relationship between Bill Belichick and Jordon Hudson and called out NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. TMZ Sports was told that Gillis was simply doing stand-up comedy, meaning not everyone was going to like his routine.

While ESPN didn’t have any issues with Gillis’ ESPY monologue, a former ESPN reporter didn’t feel the same way. Sarah Spain went to social media to call out Gillis for his joke about women athletes.

Shane Gillis talks about the Eagles’ Super Bowl run

“In a year of crazy growth for women’s sports choosing an ESPYs host who doesn’t even try to make clever jokes about women athletes (he at least *attempted* for the men) he goes with hacky ‘no one knows the WNBA’ bits, ‘Pinoe is a bad time’ & repeatedly insults Black women. COOL,” Spain wrote.

ESPN announced last month that Gillis would host the 2025 ESPYS at The Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The 37-year-old has emerged as one of the top comedians in Hollywood and is known for being a huge sports fan.

“I’m excited to be at The ESPYS this year,” Gillis said in a press release. “I like sports so this should be a good time.” Earlier this year, Gillis was in a Super Bowl commercial with Post Malone and Peyton Manning. He was also in an Under Armour commercial praying for Notre Dame to win a national championship.

In an interview with Pete Sampson of The Athletic, Gillis talked about being a Philadelphia Eagles fan and what stood out to him during their Super Bowl run this past season. “I was at the game when Saquon [Barkley] hurdled that guy,” Gillis said. “I saw it live, and that’s the most incredible play I’ve ever seen. I’ve watched football my whole life. I’ve never seen someone do that. That’s insane. He had so many really incredible moments. The Super Bowl was wonderful. They just killed the Chiefs.”

We’ll have more on this story shortly.