The 2026 ESPY Awards in New York took an unexpected turn when boxing legend Mike Tyson, serving as a presenter, was caught on a hot mic questioning the gender of Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani. The incident occurred shortly after Tyson, alongside Jake Paul and DJ Khaled, announced Ohtani as the winner of the award for best single-game performance.
As the trio left the stage, audio captured Tyson asking Paul, “Shohei’s a guy?” Paul, appearing somewhat unfazed, replied, “Yeah, he’s a guy.” The moment quickly went viral, fueling a broader conversation about the boundaries of celebrity and the reach of sports icons like Ohtani, who has become a household name in Major League Baseball.
The exchange highlights a curious intersection of pop culture and sports. While Ohtani is widely considered one of the greatest athletes of his generation—boasting multiple MVP awards and a historic 2025 postseason performance against the Milwaukee Brewers—the incident serves as a reminder that even global superstars have blind spots in the public consciousness. For Tyson, whose interests have historically leaned away from baseball, the name “Shohei” proved unfamiliar, leading to a genuine, if awkward, inquiry.
The stakes of this interaction are largely social, reflecting the nature of live television in the modern era. “Hot mic” moments have become a staple of viral media, often stripping away the polished nature of award ceremonies. While there is no official comment from Tyson’s representatives, the incident has drawn significant engagement, with many pointing to the contrast between Ohtani’s massive on-field impact and his still-evolving profile among non-baseball fans.