Comedian Shane Gillis, known for his boundary-pushing humor and a career marked by controversy, has been named the host of the 2025 ESPY Awards, ESPN announced. The 37-year-old stand-up comic, who was infamously fired from Saturday Night Live in 2019 after offensive remarks surfaced, will take the stage on July 16 at The Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles to emcee one of the biggest nights in sports. Gillis’s selection has reignited discussions about his past, his redemption arc, and whether his edgy comedic style suits an event celebrating athletic excellence and philanthropy.
The Rise and Fall at SNL
Born in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, Shane Gillis built a following in the stand-up comedy scene with his brash, unfiltered humor. In 2019, he seemed to secure his big break when he was announced as a new cast member for SNL’s 45th season. The excitement was short-lived. Within hours of the casting news, clips from a podcast he co-hosted with fellow comedian Matt McCusker, Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast, went viral for all the wrong reasons.
In the unearthed episodes, Gillis used racist slurs and made homophobic comments. In one particularly inflammatory segment, he described ordering food at a Chinese restaurant, saying, “The translation between you and the waiter is such a f***ing hassle,” adding that an “Asian trying to learn English bothers me more” than other distractions. In another clip, Gillis and McCusker ranked comedians by race and gender, with Gillis stating, “White chicks are literally the bottom,” while praising Asian comedian Ali Wong. The podcast episodes were quickly scrubbed from YouTube, but the damage was done.
The backlash was swift and fierce. Social media erupted, with critics condemning Gillis’s remarks as offensive and harmful. Days later, SNL announced his dismissal. A spokesperson for the show explained, “We want SNL to have a variety of voices and points of view… We were not aware of his prior remarks that have surfaced over the past few days. The language he used is offensive, hurtful and unacceptable. We are sorry that our vetting process was not up to our standard.”
Gillis addressed the controversy on social media, describing himself as “a comedian who pushes boundaries.” He acknowledged that his decade-long comedy career included “a lot of bad misses” and offered to apologize to “anyone who’s actually offended,” emphasizing that his intent was never to hurt but to take risks for the sake of comedy. The apology did little to quell the criticism, and Gillis’s SNL dreams were over—temporarily.
A Resilient Comeback
Rather than fading into obscurity, Gillis leaned into his stand-up roots. He self-released a comedy special on YouTube in 2021, Shane Gillis: Live in Austin, which garnered a loyal following. His unpolished, irreverent style resonated with fans who appreciated his willingness to tackle taboo topics. In 2023, he signed with Netflix to release Beautiful Dogs, a stand-up special that further cemented his place in the comedy world.
Gillis also ventured into scripted television, co-creating and starring in Tires, a Netflix sitcom that premiered in 2023 and has run for two seasons. The show follows Will, a bumbling auto-repair shop manager (played by Gillis), whose efforts to save his family’s business are undermined by his chaotic cousin and a rowdy crew. The series, co-starring Steve Gerben and John McKeever, has been praised for its sharp humor and relatable underdog narrative.
In a surprising twist, SNL invited Gillis back—not as a cast member, but as a host. In February 2024, he took the stage for his first hosting gig, opening with a self-deprecating nod to his firing: “If you don’t know who I am, please don’t Google that.” His monologue, which touched on his controversial past, drew mixed reactions. Some praised his boldness, while others felt he failed to address the gravity of his earlier remarks.
Gillis returned to host again in March 2025, leaning further into political and cultural humor. He joked about Donald Trump’s return to the White House, Bill Cosby, and compared liberals to Star Wars’ Sith, saying, “It’s like the Sith. You, like, lose yourself.” The performance fell flat with the live audience and online critics, who labeled it “disastrous.” Despite the criticism, Gillis’s ability to secure a second hosting stint underscored his resilience and growing influence.
The 2025 ESPY Awards
Now, Gillis is set to host the 2025 ESPY Awards, an event that honors athletic achievements, celebrates unforgettable sports moments, and raises funds for the V Foundation for Cancer Research, founded by ESPN and the late basketball coach Jim Valvano. The ceremony, airing live on ABC at 8 p.m. ET/PT on July 16, will also stream on ESPN+, with on-demand access available the next day on Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+.
“I’m excited to be at The ESPYS this year,” Gillis said in a statement. “I like sports so this should be a good time.” ESPN’s Craig Lazarus, vice president and executive producer of The ESPYS, called Gillis “one of the top comedians today” and a “huge sports fan,” making him an “easy choice” to host.
The ESPYs have a history of high-profile hosts, with tennis legend Serena Williams breaking barriers in 2024 as the first Black female athlete to emcee the event. Last year’s ceremony honored athletes like Shohei Ohtani, Patrick Mahomes, A’ja Wilson, Max Verstappen, and Caitlin Clark. Nominations for 2025, including categories like Best Breakthrough Athlete, Best Comeback Athlete, and Best NFL Player, are yet to be announced.
A Polarizing Choice
Gillis’s selection as host has sparked debate. Supporters argue that his comedic talent and passion for sports make him a fitting choice for the ESPYs’ lighthearted, celebratory tone. Critics, however, question whether a comedian with a history of offensive remarks should represent an event tied to a charitable cause like cancer research. Gillis’s edgy humor, which often courts controversy, could either energize the audience or risk alienating viewers.
Currently, Gillis is touring the U.S., performing in cities like Detroit, Houston, and Orlando. His ESPYs gig, sandwiched between stops in San Jose and Oklahoma City, marks a high-profile moment in his comeback. Whether he can navigate the spotlight without reigniting old controversies remains to be seen.
As the 2025 ESPYs approach, all eyes will be on Gillis to see if he can balance his provocative style with the event’s mission to celebrate sports and support a worthy cause. For better or worse, his hosting stint promises to be one of the most talked-about moments of the night.