The Savannah Bananas were ripped by viewers after opening the 2026 ESPY Awards on Wednesday night as Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy demanded the team to “get off my TV.”
The viral baseball team kicked off the annual sports awards show at New York City’s David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center with a choreographed performance of its first original song, “The Show Starts Now.”
Dressed in their signature yellow uniforms, the Bananas danced, lip-synced and showed off their trademark on-field antics before DJ Khaled appeared onstage to introduce the rest of the ceremony.
Bananas player and Broadway star Derek Klena led the performance of the song, which was produced by Grammy-winning songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, who composed music for the hit musical “Dear Evan Hansen” and the 2017 film “The Greatest Showman.”
But the opening number quickly drew fire online, led by Barstool Sports founder Portnoy.
“GET THE F—ING BANANAS OFF MY TV!!!!” Portnoy wrote on X.
In a video of his reaction to the broadcast, he added, “What the f—? What the f— is this? Get the Bananas off my f—ing screen. What the f— are the Bananas doing?
“What is this, the ESPYs? I don’t even know what channel this is on. I was watching ‘Chronicle’ on ABC, I look up and the Bananas are on my TV.
“This guy’s doing a pirouette. Get the Bananas off my TV!”
Other viewers on X also blasted the Bananas’ grand performance.
“This is an abomination and blasphemy against baseball,” one person wrote.
“They turned the ESPYS into a halftime show,” another posted.
“Good thing I’m not watching. I would’ve turned it off instantly,” another user said.
“Ruining baseball tbh. Kids all dressing like clowns on the field these days with egos to boot,” someone else wrote.
However, other fans rushed to defend the Bananas, who brought their show to Yankee Stadium for the second straight year in April.
“It’s sad how many sports fans lack self awareness. Like this is an event sponsored by Disney that celebrates adults who are the best at playing GAMES!! Lmaoo have a little fun and go Bananas!!” one fan wrote.
“I think it’s amazing. It could be the single cheesiest thing I’ve ever seen. It’s a perfect self meme. Move over Ashley Simpson,” another added.
The ESPYs, hosted by “Saturday Night Live” star Marcello Hernandez, moved from Los Angeles to New York this year, with performances from Slick Rick, Ghostface Killah and De La Soul also featured during the broadcast.
ABC has televised the ESPYs every year since 2015, except in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced the show to air on ESPN instead.
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson was among the night’s biggest winners, taking home Best NBA Player, Best Championship Performance and Best Athlete in Men’s Sports before the Knicks capped the night by winning Best Team.
