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One ESPN Star Hated Shane Gillis's Jokes At The ESPYs

Originally posted on The Spun | By Tzvi Machlin | Last updated Jul 17, 2025 2:19 PM ET

ESPN took a bit of a gamble by inviting comedy superstar Shane Gillis to host the ESPYs yesterday. But while many fans clearly loved seeing Gillis knock some of the stars of sports down a peg with his jokes, one ESPN star didn't appreciate it.

Longtime ESPN personality Sarah Spain didn't seem to appreciate Gillis' jokes at all. Taking to X, she criticized Gillis for "hacky" jokes, insulting Black athletes and not making any jokes she thought were clever.

"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.

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.
— Sarah Spain (@SarahSpain) July 17, 2025

Spain has no shortage of people who can't stand her, so they were out in force after seeing her insult Gillis.

"Imagine typing up a whole paragraph because a joke hurt your feelings," one user on X mocked.

"Everyone already knew you would be offended. You didn't even need to post about it," another wrote.

"Another keyboard victim who laughs at other jokes but gets offended at the one that hits her hard. It’s very weird that u lack the concept of: ESPYS HIRES COMEDIAN, COMEDIAN MAKES JOKES. The best joke is that professional women can be beaten by middle schoolers, old retired players, or a single guy," wrote a third.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 01: Sarah Spain attends the premiere of ESPN Fifty/50 Exhibition & "37 Words" at The Paley Center for Media on June 01, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

When someone called Spain out for her comments, she tried to deflect by asserting that she "didn't say a thing" about the ESPYs themselves.

"I didn't say a thing about the awards. Learn how to read," she declared.

That didn't seem to discourage people from calling her out once again:

"You’re such a whiner. 'Learn to read,' as the person was making a counter point to your stupid post. Learn how to not be a giant clown."

"I would suggest you learn how to not be so insufferably vapid, but that seems to be your brand."

"Commenting on the 'ESPY awards' isn’t commenting on the 'awards.' Parsing like a middle schooler. Big brain stuff, Sarah."

The moral of the story seems to "Don't yuck someone else's yum."

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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