The Savannah Bananas faced a wave of criticism online after opening the 2026 ESPY Awards with a musical performance. Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy was among the most vocal critics, expressing strong disapproval of the team's appearance on the broadcast.
The viral baseball team performed their original song, "The Show Starts Now," to kick off the awards ceremony, held at New York City’s David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center. Dressed in their signature yellow uniforms, the team incorporated choreographed dancing and lip-syncing, along with their characteristic on-field antics. The performance preceded an introduction to the rest of the awards show by DJ Khaled.
Derek Klena, a Savannah Bananas player and Broadway performer, led the musical number. The song was reportedly produced by Grammy-winning songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, known for their work on the musical "Dear Evan Hansen" and the film "The Greatest Showman."
However, the opening performance quickly drew negative reactions on social media platform X. Portnoy posted a series of messages, including one that read, "GET THE F—ING BANANAS OFF MY TV!!!!" In a video, he further questioned the performance, asking, "What the f— is this?" and urging the team to be removed from the screen.
Other viewers joined in the criticism. Comments on X included descriptions of the performance as an "abomination and blasphemy against baseball" and noted that "They turned the ESPYS into a halftime show." Some viewers expressed that they would have changed the channel if they were watching, and one comment suggested the performance was contributing to a negative trend in youth baseball culture.
Conversely, some fans defended the Savannah Bananas' performance. Supporters argued that the ESPYs, an event celebrating athletic achievements and sponsored by Disney, should embrace a more lighthearted and entertaining approach. One fan commented that the performance was "amazing" and a "perfect self meme."
This year's ESPY Awards were hosted by "Saturday Night Live" star Marcello Hernandez. The ceremony relocated from Los Angeles to New York for 2026 and also featured musical performances by artists such as Slick Rick, Ghostface Killah, and De La Soul. ABC has broadcast the ESPYs annually since 2015, with the exception of 2020 when the ceremony aired on ESPN due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Among the night's award recipients, New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson received accolades for Best NBA Player, Best Championship Performance, and Best Athlete in Men’s Sports. The Knicks also secured the award for Best Team.