Comedian <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/a-list-comedian-shane-gillis-returning-host-snl-second-time-being-fired-sketch-show" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shane Gillis</a> hosted ESPN&#8217;s &#8220;ESPY Awards&#8221; on Wednesday night and shocked the crowd with a number of jokes about Jeffrey Epstein, the WNBA, its top star Caitlin Clark, and January 6th.
Gillis, who was warmly received by the online crowd, joked about the theories surrounding the death of Epstein, a convicted sex offender.
“Actually there was supposed to be an Epstein joke here, but I guess it got deleted,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Probably deleted itself, right? Probably never existed, actually. Let’s move on as a country and ignore that.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Shane Gillis ripped the Epstein handling during his monologue for the Espy awards on ESPN tonight:
“Actually there was supposed to be an Epstein joke here, but I guess it got deleted. Probably deleted itself, right? Probably never existed, actually. Let’s move on as a country… <a href="https://t.co/ym3Brte8fZ">pic.twitter.com/ym3Brte8fZ</a>
— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) <a href="https://twitter.com/seanmdav/status/1945660250688012546?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 17, 2025</a></blockquote>
During the monologue, Gillis also made a crack about how unpopular the WNBA is by getting the audience to applaud for his podcast co-host&#8217;s wife, introducing her as a WNBA all-star.
&#8220;Four-time WNBA all-star Brittany Hicks is here &#8212; give it up for Brittany everybody,&#8221; Gillis said to big cheers from the audience. &#8220;I&#8217;m joking around, that&#8217;s my friend&#8217;s wife. I knew none of you knew WNBA players. That&#8217;s crazy you clapped for that.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
This might have been Shane Gillis’ best joke of the night.
Introducing his friend’s wife as a 4x WNBA All Star and the crowd totally bought it 😂 <a href="https://t.co/qofeQGJ75X">pic.twitter.com/qofeQGJ75X</a>
— OutKick (@Outkick) <a href="https://twitter.com/Outkick/status/1945696537104764931?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 17, 2025</a></blockquote>
Addressing Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark, Gillis joked, &#8220;When Caitlin Clark retires from the WNBA, she&#8217;s going to work at a Waffle House so she can continue doing what she loves most: fist-fighting black women.&#8221;
Clark has routinely been the target of cheap shots from other players in the WNBA.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
&#8220;When Caitlin Clark retires from the WNBA, she&#8217;s going to work at a waffle house so she can continue doing what she loves most: fist fighting black women&#8221;
— Shane Gillis 😭😭😭 <a href="https://t.co/X45GWByr6o">pic.twitter.com/X45GWByr6o</a>
— BricksCenter (@BricksCenter) <a href="https://twitter.com/BricksCenter/status/1945637600745730362?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 17, 2025</a></blockquote>
Gillis also took on former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, 73, who&#8217;s now dating a 24-year-old woman.
&#8220;A bookie is what Bill Belichick reads to his girlfriend before bedtime,&#8221; the comedian joked. &#8220;They read, ‘Very horny caterpillar,’ ‘The Little Engine That Could But Needed A Pill First,’ and of course, the classic, ‘Good Night Boobs.'&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Shane Gillis: &#8220;They let me do it. This is Disney. They allowed that&#8230; Yeah, we should&#8217;ve taken that out. I had doubts going into that. That didn&#8217;t work all week.&#8221; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ESPYs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ESPYs</a> <a href="https://t.co/Hjttc3J1B4">pic.twitter.com/Hjttc3J1B4</a>
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) <a href="https://twitter.com/awfulannouncing/status/1945650193036390444?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 17, 2025</a></blockquote>
President Donald Trump and the January 6 Capitol breach were also referenced in the Gillis monologue. &#8220;Donald Trump wants to stage a UFC fight on the White House lawn,&#8221; he said. &#8220;The last time he staged a fight in D.C., Mike Pence almost died.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Shane Gillis: &#8220;Donald Trump wants to stage a UFC fight on the White House lawn. The last time he staged a fight in D.C., Mike Pence almost died&#8230; Actually, there was supposed to be an Epstein joke here, but I guess it got deleted&#8230;&#8221; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ESPYs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ESPYs</a><a href="https://t.co/lneVij5IDY">pic.twitter.com/lneVij5IDY</a>
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) <a href="https://twitter.com/awfulannouncing/status/1945642027842216029?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 17, 2025</a></blockquote>
Gillis was widely praised online for the daring jokes, while X users highlighted some of the shocked reactions from the ESPY crowd:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
everyone in the audience while shane gillis delivers the funniest ESPYs opening of all time <a href="https://t.co/dJFJrEGbOq">pic.twitter.com/dJFJrEGbOq</a>
— greg (@gandalf_thegreg) <a href="https://twitter.com/gandalf_thegreg/status/1945653002330939759?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 17, 2025</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Shane Gillis was hilarious but you can see how soft society has become that he’s gotta awkwardly feel like the devil for making funny jokes
— NBA Slime (@TerryFranconia) <a href="https://twitter.com/TerryFranconia/status/1945638365837009274?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 17, 2025</a></blockquote>
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/even-snl-can-t-deny-that-shane-gillis-is-funny">Even SNL Can’t Deny That Shane Gillis Is Funny</a>

<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script>
<script async src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div data-widget-host="revcontent" data-pub-id="165152" data-widget-id="290588"></div><script src="https://delivery.revcontent.com/165152/290588/widget.js"></script>

Shane Gillis Shocks ESPY Crowd With Unfiltered Jokes About Epstein, WNBA, And Caitlin Clark

CONTINUE READING

Kyle Busch’s Death Exposes The ‘Silent Killer’ Warning Signs Everyone Should Know

James Talarico Keeps Denying The Vegan Label. Video Suggests Otherwise.

Kevin Hart Disses Cancel Culture, Defends Comic Who Told George Floyd Joke

OnlyFans Girl Drops Warning: No Man Will Date You

Spencer Pratt Torches Drew Carey With One Epstein Comment

How James Talarico Is Trying To Rewrite The Bible On Abortion

Entertainment

Caitlin Clark

ESPN

Jeffrey Epstein

U.S.

WNBA

A video goes viral showing a baby being refused his mother by two gay "dads". This is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will have an important discussion today about surrogacy. 

Hour 1

The Matt Walsh Show

Ep. 1765 - This Video Is One Of The Worst Things I've Seen In A Long Time 

The Strait of Hormuz officially opens for business (kind of), the Pope makes “shocking” comments on immigration, and President Trump promises UFO disclosure at TPUSA. 


The Michael Knowles Show

Ep. 1956 -  Pope Leo's "SHOCKING" Immigration Comments EXPLAINED

A false miscreed has corrupted our leadership class.


The Andrew Klavan Show

Ep. 1275 - Dumb, Dumber and Progressive

President Trump announces a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, a murder-suicide involving former Democratic Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shakes Virginia, and France and Britain hold a conference to secure the Strait of Hormuz – after the Iranian conflict ends. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.

- - -

Ep. 2738

- - -

Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3

- - -

Today's Sponsors:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text 'WIRE' to 83848 to learn more.

Pocket Hose - Text MORNING to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply.

Morning Wire

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26 [Member Exclusive]

A ceasefire goes into effect between Israel and Lebanon, a tragic murder-suicide rocks Virginia, and Dairy Queen deploys AI in the drive-thru. Get the facts first with Evening Wire.
- - -
Ep. 2737
- - -
Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3 
- - -
Today’s Sponsor:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text “WIRE” to 83848 to learn more.


Evening Wire: Lebanon Ceasefire Begins & Murder-Suicide Rocks VA | 4.16.26

The Pendragon Cycle

Menu

— Entertainment —

Shane Gillis Shocks ESPY Crowd With Unfiltered Jokes About Epstein, WNBA, And Caitlin Clark