Mike Tyson misidentifies Shohei Ohtani's gender at ESPYs

Boxing legend Mike Tyson sparked widespread amusement and confusion during the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, when he appeared to be unaware that baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani is a man. The incident occurred at the David H. Koch Theater in New York City as Tyson presented the award for Best Single-Game Performance alongside fellow presenter Jake Paul and DJ Khaled.

Tyson announced Ohtani as the winner for his legendary performance in Game 4 of the 2025 National League Championship Series, where the Los Angeles Dodgers star hit three home runs and pitched six scoreless innings against the Milwaukee Brewers. Paul then informed the audience that Ohtani, who is managing a knee injury, could not attend the ceremony and had sent his gratitude. As the segment concluded, Tyson was caught on a hot microphone turning to Paul and asking, "Shohei's a guy?!" Paul smiled and confirmed that Ohtani is indeed a man.

The moment quickly went viral on social media, with many fans expressing disbelief that Tyson, a global sports icon, seemed unfamiliar with one of the most prominent athletes in the world. Critics noted that Ohtani's image was displayed prominently on screens during the...