Why is ESPYs host Shane Gillis controversial?
- - - Why is ESPYs host Shane Gillis controversial?
Taijuan Moorman and Brendan Morrow, USA TODAYJune 25, 2025 at 12:59 AM
Comedian Shane Gillis is set to host the 2025 ESPY Awards, and the news has some fans remembering his past controversies.
The 37-year-old standup comedian will host the award show honoring achievements in sports, which airs live Wednesday, July 16 (8 ET/PT).
Gillis, who is currently on a nationwide tour and also stars in the Netflix sitcom "Tires," has become one of the biggest names in comedy in the last several years, but not without criticism.
In 2019 Gillis was set to be a new cast member on "Saturday Night Live" but was fired before he got to appear on the show. Days after the announcement of his casting, Gillis faced backlash over a 2018 podcast clip where he used an anti-Asian slur, mocked stereotypical accents and said that "an Asian trying to learn English bothers me."
Comedian Shane Gillis looks on during the second quarter of action between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Memphis Grizzlies at Wells Fargo Center, Nov. 2, 2024, Philadelphia.
Shane Gillis named ESPY Awards host: How to watch, recent hosts
Gillis apologized after the video resurfaced, and said at the time he is a "comedian who pushes boundaries" and that he would be "happy to apologize to anyone who's actually offended by anything I've said."
"If you go through my 10 years of comedy, most of it bad, you're going to find a lot of bad misses," he continued. "My intention is never to hurt anyone but I am trying to be the best comedian I can be and sometimes that requires risks."
The sketch show brought Gillis back to host in February 2024 and March 2025, to the mixed reaction of viewers.
Lorne Michaels says NBC made call to fire Shane Gillis from 'SNL'
Gillis has since continued to generate controversy with some of his comedy that critics have deemed offensive, including his first "SNL" monologue, where he joked about having family members with Down syndrome and said, "You remember when you were a little boy and you loved your mom? You remember when you were gay?"
But the outcry has not derailed Gillis' career, and he has since been enjoying success with his tours and comedy specials like 2023's "Shane Gillis: Beautiful Dogs" on Netflix. He also co-created and stars in "Tires," which recently released a second season June 5, but has not as of yet been renewed for a third.
Contributing: Doc Louallen
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Shane Gillis hosting the ESPYs: His controversies, explained
Source: AOL Entertainment
