Shane Gillis It is clear that he and Deshaun Watson Massage jokes on Espys 2025.
Gillis, 37, initially said he wanted to “skip the joke of 29-year-old Watson” while hosting the ESPY Awards in Los Angeles on Wednesday, July 16, and then barely mentioned it on the stage.
“Okay, bring it back and I’ll joke. I didn’t write this,” he noted. “Please put your hands on my eyes where you can see – when Deshawn Watson did the massage, they said what they said.”
Gillis playfully blamed the Espys writer after hearing the crowd’s response, adding: “I don’t agree, either. I swear to God that I don’t want to tell this.”
Alison Brie Then came on stage, citing Watson’s joke, saying, “I mean, it’s not Shane Gillis who asked me to go out after that joke.”
Former Houston Texan quarterback accused of sexual assault by massage therapist in 2021 Ashley Solis. She eventually filed a civil lawsuit against Watson, claiming that he exposed himself during the massage and deliberately stroked her hand with his penis. In the days after Solis’ allegations, more than 20 other women accused him of his actions and filed their own civil lawsuits.
“I haven’t read the complaint yet, but I know this: I’ve never used anything to any woman [other] Watson wrote through X in 2021. The plaintiff’s attorney claimed it was not about money, but before the lawsuit was filed, he made a baseless six-figure settlement demand, which I quickly refused. Unlike him, it has nothing to do with money for me – it’s about clearing my name and I’m looking forward to doing it. ”
Two separate Texas grand juries refused to sue Watson for any criminal charges after 10 women filed a criminal lawsuit. The civil case still exists, with the NFL conducting a separate investigation, which resulted in an 11-game suspension and a $5 million fine from the NFL.
“What I want to say is that I am very sorry for all the women I have had an impact on this situation. The decisions I have made in my life put me in this position and I definitely want to come back. But I want to keep moving forward, grow, grow, learn, and show that I am a real character and I want to keep moving forward.”
Watson settled 23 civil lawsuits before trading from the Texans to Cleveland Browns in a $230 million deal. He started his third season with the Browns in September 2024.
As far as Gillis is concerned, he has his own controversy. He was previously hired as a featured player Saturday Night Live In 2019, he was fired four days later after his “Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast” resurfaced online. At the time, the show acknowledged in a statement that they “didn’t know his previous remarks” before the show, apologizing that “the review process did not meet our standards.”
Gillis settled the controversy through social media writing before he quits, “I’m a comedian and they miss it sometimes.
Gillis later issued a second statement noting that he respected the show’s decision. He then presided over SNL twice.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
