Savannah Bananas Draw Mixed Reactions at 2026 ESPY Awards
During the opening ceremony of the 2026 ESPY Awards on Wednesday night, the Savannah Bananas found themselves at the center of controversy. Barstool Sports’ Dave Portnoy voiced his discontent, urging the team to “get off the TV.” This incident certainly got people talking.
The charismatic baseball team kicked off the show at the David H. Koch Theater in New York City with a choreographed rendition of their original song, “The Show Starts Now.” Dressed in their signature yellow uniforms, the Bananas dazzled the audience with their dance moves and signature antics before DJ Khaled took to the stage to carry on with the rest of the awards.
Leading the performance was Bananas player and Broadway star Derek Klena, supported by Grammy-winning songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, who are known for their work on “Dear Evan Hansen” and “The Greatest Showman.”
However, the Bananas’ lively number didn’t sit well with everyone. Portnoy initiated an online outcry, making his feelings clear. He wrote, “Please remove the banana from the TV!” on social media.
In a subsequent video, he expressed his confusion: “What? What is this? Get the banana off the screen. What is the banana doing?” He remarked that he was confused about even what channel he was watching, stating, “I was watching ‘The Chronicle’ on ABC. When I looked up, I saw a banana on the TV.”
Other online users chimed in as well, with one declaring, “This is a disgusting blasphemy against baseball.” Another commented, “They turned the ESPYS into a halftime show.” And yet another viewer seemed relieved they hadn’t tuned in, saying, “I’m glad I didn’t watch it. I would have turned it off immediately.”
Some felt that the performance was just an unfortunate moment for the sport, pointing out, “You’re not going to ruin baseball. Kids these days have egos and dress like clowns on the field.”
But it wasn’t all negative. Defenders of the Bananas praised their lively spirit, with one fan reflecting, “Sad that so many sports fans lack self-awareness. This is like a Disney-sponsored event celebrating the adults who are the best at playing games!! Let’s laugh, have some fun, and go eat bananas!!”
Another supporter mused about the performance, saying, “I think it’s amazing. Might be the cheesiest thing I’ve ever seen. Perfect self-meme. More than Ashlee Simpson.”
Hosted by “Saturday Night Live” comedian Marcello Hernandez, this year’s ESPYs transitioned from Los Angeles to New York, featuring a wide array of performances, including Slick Rick and Ghostface Killah.
The ESPYs, which have been broadcast by ABC since 2015 (except for a year during the pandemic), saw New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson emerge as a major winner, claiming titles such as NBA Player of the Year and Best Championship Performance, in addition to his team being named Team of the Year.
