Kirby Lee-Imagn Images / ESPN
Marcello Hernandez made a joke about previous ESPYS host Shane Gillis
The ESPY Awards, ESPN’s attempt at creating an Academy Awards for Sports, were held in New York City at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center on Wednesday, July 15, with Saturday Night Live star Marcello Hernandez as its host. Hernandez made a joke about comedian Shane Gillis, last year’s host, during his opening monologue.
The 28-year-old Saturday Night Live cast member and stand-up comic hosted the awards show in New York City — the first time the ESPYs have been held in New York since 1999 — and opened his monologue with a shot at last year’s host Shane Gillis.
Gillis’ monologue during the 2025 ESPY Awards was went down awkwardly, with Gillis telling the audience to “lighten up” while also defending himself after joke didn’t land by saying, “I didn’t write it.”
“Well, I see a lot of you don’t like me and that’s okay. That went about as exactly how we all thought it was gonna go, I don’t know why this happened,” Gillis said toward the end of his set.
SNL star Marcello Hernandez made a joke about comedian Shane Gillis while hosting the 2026 ESPY Awards
A year later, Gillis found himself going from the host to the butt of the joke. The joke was not only aimed at Gillis but also the stereotype of the type of American his comedy is associated with.
“I personally think it’s crazy that I get to host the ESPYS. This is an American dream,” Hernández said. “I also want to shout out last year’s host, Shane Gillis. He is watching from home like a true American — on his couch, drinking a beer, while a Hispanic guy does his job.”
“I also want to shout out last year’s host, Shane Gillis. He is watching from home like a true American- on his couch, drinking a beer, while a Hispanic guy does his job.”
– Marcello Hernández in his ESPYs monologue pic.twitter.com/Mcol5IYL5Z
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) July 16, 2026
Hernandez’ monologue was 10-minutes-long, so he got in shots at plenty of other people, including Bill Belichick and his 48-years-young girlfriend Jordon Hudson.
“In 1973, hockey players didn’t wear helmets, basketball had no three-point line, and in 1973, Bill Belichick was the age his girlfriend is now,” Hernández joked.
Some of the big winners at this year’s ESPYS included:
Best Comeback Athlete: Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
Best Breakthrough Athlete: Alysa Liu, U.S. figure skating
Best Athlete – Men’s Sports: Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
Best Athlete – Women’s Sports: A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
Best Team: New York Knicks
You can watch Hernandez full monologue from the 2026 ESPYS below.