Popular comedian, actor, and podcast host Shane Gillis just added another unexpected title to his resume: host of the 2025 ESPY Awards.
Yep, it’s official — Gillis will be running the show on July 16, and it’s already making headlines for all the right (and maybe wrong?) reasons.
At 37 years old, Gillis is in the prime of his fame. His comedy career has skyrocketed over the past few years, fueled by viral stand-up clips, his “Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast,” and the hit Netflix series "Tires", which just launched a well-received second season. Some fans and critics alike are saying it’s an upgrade over season one.
Shane Gillis hosting the ESPYS is not without controversy
Let’s be honest, this isn’t exactly the safe, sanitized ESPYS we’re used to. Gillis is known for edgy, no-filter comedy.
On a recent "Saturday Night Live" appearance, he joked about alcohol and drug use in one sketch, and his stand-up has frequently touched on topics like race, sexuality, and masculinity in ways that have drawn criticism (and a very public SNL firing back in 2019).
ESPN played it safe with previous ESPY hosts
This is a bold pivot for ESPN, which has historically played it safe with ESPY hosts - think Steph Curry, Peyton Manning, Danica Patrick.
All elite athletes, all squeaky clean public personas. Even last year, the show ran without a host to avoid controversy during the Hollywood strikes.
So... why Gillis? Maybe this is part of a larger shift for ESPN, the same way they’ve leaned into the unpredictability of "College GameDay" with Pat McAfee, they could be testing out a more unfiltered vibe for the network.
Regardless, one thing is for sure: with Gillis’s rising popularity, this year’s ESPYS will have a lot more people tuning in.