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A raunchy joke by ESPYs host about DJ Khaled somehow flew right by the Disney censors
During ABC's broadcast of the 2026 ESPYs, host and Saturday Night Live star Marcello Hernandez slipped an innuendo-laden joke about DJ Khaled past Disney's standards and practices team, drawing amused attention online. The line played on a long-running internet rumour about Khaled's personal habits, and its inclusion in a live network broadcast was notable given Disney's typically strict content controls for the family-oriented network.
While introducing boxers Jake Paul and Mike Tyson alongside DJ Khaled, Hernandez quipped that the trio "simply refuse to go down," a phrase widely understood as a nod to a 2018 online rumour about Khaled. The joke was one of several risqué moments in Hernandez's ESPYs monologue, which also saw him take aim at Jake Paul, Tiger Woods and Bill Belichick.
In short
- Marcello Hernandez made a raunchy DJ Khaled joke on ABC's ESPYs
- The line referenced a 2018 internet rumour about Khaled
- It reportedly slipped past Disney's content censors unnoticed
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The case for
Awards shows like the ESPYs cater to adult audiences and air in primetime slots when younger viewers are less likely to be watching. Comedy at such events has traditionally included edgy humour and innuendo as part of the appeal, and this particular joke, whilst cheeky, remains relatively mild compared to stand-up comedy or cable programming. The amused reaction online suggests audiences found it entertaining rather than offensive, and the line's passage through standards demonstrates it wasn't deemed egregiously inappropriate by professional content reviewers.
The case against
Network television operates under stricter content regulations than cable or streaming platforms, and Disney's family-friendly brand positioning means younger viewers may well be watching the ESPYs. Including sexually-charged innuendo in such a broadcast undermines stated content standards and normalises jokes that mock individuals' personal lives for laughs. The fact that the joke referenced an internet rumour specifically about Khaled suggests it was aimed at ridiculing him, which crosses from general ribaldry into something more pointed and potentially hurtful.
Explained simply
The ESPYs is an annual awards ceremony broadcast by ESPN on ABC that celebrates sports achievements and moments. The 2026 edition was hosted by Marcello Hernandez, a comedian and cast member on Saturday Night Live.
During his opening monologue, Hernandez made a joke whilst introducing DJ Khaled, a Grammy-winning music producer and media personality, alongside boxers Jake Paul and Mike Tyson. The quip referenced an internet rumour about Khaled that has circulated online since 2018.
The joke attracted online attention because Disney, which owns ABC, is known for maintaining particularly strict content standards on its broadcast channels. That a sexually suggestive line slipped through the network's review process was notable to viewers familiar with the company's usual approach to live television.