The 2026 ESPYS, held Wednesday night in New York City, were supposed to be a celebration of the year's best in sports. Instead, they've become the center of controversy after host Marcello Hernandez—best known for his work on Saturday Night Live—delivered a joke about Tiger Woods that many are calling 'classless.'
Hernandez didn't hold back during his opening monologue, taking aim at Woods with a punchline that referenced the golfer's 2017 DUI arrest. Woods was arrested in Florida after his SUV rolled over on a residential street, an incident that has followed him ever since. The joke went like this: 'I want to congratulate Caleb Williams, the quarterback for the Chicago Bears, who will be on the cover of the new Madden video game. Congratulations to Caleb. And… Tiger Woods will be on the cover of Grand Theft Auto.'
The crowd let out a mix of laughter and awkward silence as Hernandez paused, then added, 'I love you, Tiger. I'm a big fan, man… It's just, it was written so well.' But the online reaction was far less forgiving. Social media lit up with criticism, with many fans accusing the ESPYS of crossing a line.
'Stole his jokes from a decade old South Park episode. What a hack. No one knows who this guy is and he's making jokes about Gillis, one of the biggest comics in the game. Sad,' one user wrote on X (formerly Twitter). Another added, 'Did a 15 year old come up with these? What an embarrassment of a night for this dude.' The sentiment echoed across multiple posts, with some noting that the joke was not only insensitive but also unoriginal.
'1. This is a South Park joke 2. The phrasing is so weak coming from a comedian,' one fan pointed out. Others simply called the moment 'awkward and not funny,' questioning whether the ESPYS could have done better. 'Just classless,' another user wrote, while one fan wondered, 'Tiger Woods jokes in 2026?'
The backlash isn't entirely surprising, given that Woods has been a polarizing figure in sports media for years. However, this incident adds to a broader pattern of 'classless' moments in sports entertainment. Just this year, Alix Earle's Wimbledon wardrobe sparked a similar backlash, and the term has been used to describe everything from Cristiano Ronaldo's bitter World Cup exit to Wimbledon crowd turning on Aryna Sabalenka. The ESPYS, however, are supposed to be a night of celebration, not a stage for cheap shots at a living legend.
Hernandez, who hosted the show alongside appearances from Myles Garrett, Jalen Brunson, and Eileen Gu, likely hoped to bring an edgy, comedic tone to the event. But for many viewers, the joke landed with a thud. The criticism was swift and sharp, with one user summing it up: 'This dude is unbelievably corny and unfunny.' Another simply called the bit 'awkward and not funny,' questioning whether it was the best the ESPYS could offer.
Despite the backlash, some defended Hernandez, arguing that comedians often push boundaries and that Woods, as a public figure, is fair game. But the overwhelming sentiment online suggests that the joke missed the mark, especially given Woods' history and the ongoing sensitivity around DUI incidents. The ESPYS have yet to comment on the controversy, but the damage to the show's reputation may already be done.
As for Woods, he's been focused on his comeback and recent leadership role in the PGA Tour overhaul, which includes new championship and challenger series unveiled for 2028. Whether he'll respond to the joke remains to be seen, but for now, the ESPYS are left to deal with the fallout of a moment that many feel was anything but classy.
