ESPYS Host Shane Gillis Using Caitlin Clark in a Racist Joke Falls Flat: “This Passes for Humor?”

WNBA and Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark was the subject of the opening monologue at this year's ESPYS courtesy Shane Gillis.

ESPYS Host Shane Gillis Using Caitlin Clark in a Racist Joke Falls Flat: “This Passes for Humor?”

Shane Gillis tried to bring out a racist joke involving Caitlin Clark (Image via FirstSportz)

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Caitlin Clark is trying to stay healthy in her sophomore season in the WNBA. Two injuries kept her out of 10 games, and now, she has missed her 11th after aggravating her groin injury in their win against the Connecticut Sun.

Despite some flashes of brilliance, the Indiana Fever star has not been able to build on the stellar rookie campaign she produced last year. She had focused on building muscle, as well as improving her game, but so far, it has not helped matters.

Some radical views claim that the physicality she faces might have had caused those injuries. However, both her quad strain, and groin injury are usually caused by soft tissue stress. Yet, many believe Clark has been facing the brunt of her peers since her rookie season.

Last year, body checks, bumps, and grabbing became synonymous with her. This season, whenever she plays, some of it has continued to the extent where comedian Shane Gillis decided to use that in a joke while hosting this year’s ESPYS.

When Caitlin Clark retires from the WNBA, she’s going to work at a waffle house so she can continue doing what she loves most: fist fighting black women.

Shane Gillis said

His reference to Caitlin Clark fighting black women in the WNBA saw a few claps emanating from those inside Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Fellow comedian Druski was one of them who seemed to appreciate the joke. However, that was not the reaction fans had watching from home.

Fans slam Shane Gillis for poor Caitlin Clark joke

Those watching from home believe this racist reference could not even pass off as a joke. It was lame, and felt as if Shane Gillis was trying to force a few laughs on in an otherwise dull monologue. WNBA fans particularly pointed out that his joke was uninformed at best.

All the evidence so far has been of the black athletes taking their frustrations out on Caitlin Clark. In his efforts to avoid controversy by stoking that topic, his joke ended making it worse. Check out examples of such reactions below.

Caitlin Clark is known to be one of the better trash talkers in the league. Some believe her words draw those physical reactions from her opponents. Even then, she has not laid a finger on her peers.

At the same time, the WNBA has enough controversy on its own for a comedian to stoke another one. Thankfully, the joke did not manage to invoke further reactions, and fans believe Gillis’ words were dull enough to hopefully die down over the next few days.

Shane Gillis fools ESPYS crowd with another WNBA joke

After his first joke involving the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year fell flat, comedian Shane Gillis decided to have another go at the WNBA. He turned to the audience inside the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles and said:

Shane Gillis tried another WNBA joke at the ESPYS
Shane Gillis tried another WNBA joke at the ESPYS (Image via Open Source/X)

4x WNBA All-Star Brittany Hicks is here. Give it up for Brittany, everybody…. I’m joking around; that’s my friend’s wife, I knew none of you knew WNBA players.

Shane Gillis said

ESPN’s cameras showcased the woman Gillis was pointing at. Even she knew something was amiss and caught the joke. However, the rest of the audience’s reaction indicates they did not appreciate this one too.

Gillis’ opening monologue involving NFL players drew a lot of applause. But these two WNBA jokes left fans shaking their heads. This was not anything like the monologues from the past. Even NFL Hall of Famer Peyton Manning‘s monologue drew more laughs than this.

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