ESPY Awards Host Resorts to Racist Joke Involving Black Women, Targeting Caitlin Clark in Controversial Manner
At the recent 2025 ESPY Awards, comedian Shane Gillis found himself in hot water after making an offensive joke about WNBA star Caitlin Clark. During his opening remarks at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, Gillis compared Clark to himself, stating that they were both "whites from the Midwest who have nailed a bunch of 3s." However, his joke took a turn for the worse when he suggested that upon Clark's retirement, she would work at a Waffle House "so she can continue doing what she loves most, fist fighting black women."
This racially and gender insensitive joke drew immediate backlash from social media users, who criticised Gillis' comments as inappropriate and offensive. The audience responded awkwardly, with laughter and groans, reflecting the mixed reaction to the joke.
The Real LG, a popular sports account on Twitter, was among those who spoke out against the joke, tweeting "@espn@ESPYS this joke is disgusting and uncalled for. You should be making a statement that you do not condone jokes of this nature. Do better." Similarly, Kaye McGee, another Twitter user, stated, "Let's be clear about this, espn are known for doing stupid racist shit, and guess what... they get away with it."
Caitlin Clark, the WNBA star at the centre of the joke, also spoke out against the comments, calling them a disservice to the people in the league, the organization, and the WNBA. She stated that nobody in the WNBA should face racism, hurtful, disrespectful, or hateful comments and threats.
In response to the backlash, Gillis expressed his willingness to apologise to anyone offended by his jokes, claiming that being a comedian is a job that occasionally "requires risks." However, his past controversies have left some questioning his intentions and comedic judgement. In 2019, Gillis was fired from "Saturday Night Live" just days after it was announced that he would join the show, following the resurfacing of a clip of him using an anti-Asian slur on his podcast. Despite this, Gillis has been invited back to host SNL twice, in February 2024 and March 2025, marking a significant career comeback.
ESPN, the network that hosted the ESPY Awards, has yet to make a direct statement regarding the backlash from Gillis' jokes. Craig Lazarus, ESPN's vice president and executive producer of The ESPYs, noted that Gillis is a top comedian and a huge sports fan, making him an easy choice for the role. However, the network's decision and Gillis' jokes have sparked debate about the balance between comedy and sensitivity in public events.
In a positive move, the WNBA announced that they will donate proceeds from the sale of their 'Bigger than Ball' women's empowerment merchandise to groups working against racial inequities. Clark, the WNBA star who was the subject of Gillis' joke, made these comments during an interview following her team's playoff exit in September 2023. The WNBA has also stated that they oppose racism in all its forms and will work to bring measurable and meaningful societal change.
As the fallout from the 2025 ESPY Awards continues, it remains to be seen whether Gillis will face further consequences for his controversial joke.
Social media users, outraged by Shane Gillis' offensive joke during the ESPY Awards, condemned the racial and gender insensitivity of his remark, calling on ESPN to make a statement condemning jokes of that nature.
General-news outlets and crime-and-justice forums have been discussing the backlash, raising questions about the balance between comedy and sensitivity in public events.
