The 2026 ESPYs opened Wednesday night with a three-minute dance number from the Savannah Bananas, and the segment quickly became a target of criticism online. Social media reaction turned sharply negative soon after the show began, with many viewers focusing on the performance rather than the awards themselves.
According to the reaction described in the coverage, the opening routine was met with widespread backlash across timelines overnight. The criticism appeared to build fast, turning the Savannah Bananas' appearance into one of the most talked-about parts of the broadcast.
The response also reflected a broader sense of indifference some viewers seem to have toward the annual ESPN awards show. The snippet suggests the ESPYs no longer command the same level of attention they once did, making the rough reception to the opening number stand out even more.
By the end of the night, conversation around the ESPYs appeared to be driven less by who won and more by how the show started. For the Savannah Bananas, the high-profile opening slot delivered visibility, but much of it came in the form of blunt online criticism.
