The Viral Truth Behind Karl-Anthony Towns' "Hey Girl" Moment: Unpacking The ESPYs Controversy And Public Backlash

The phrase "Karl-Anthony Towns Hey Girl" exploded across the internet and the NBA world in mid-2024, but its origin is not what many fans initially assumed. This viral search term is not a quote from the All-Star center himself, but rather the focal point of a major controversy involving a high-profile comedian and a joke that ignited widespread public backlash and debate about respect in sports media. As of December 2025, the incident continues to be a key reference point in discussions about the New York Knicks star's public image and the nature of controversial humor.

The incident occurred during the annual ESPYs awards show, an event meant to celebrate athletic excellence, when host Shane Gillis targeted the then-Minnesota Timberwolves (now Knicks) player during his opening monologue. The comment—and the subsequent silence from Karl-Anthony Towns—has since defined a unique, albeit unwanted, viral moment in his career, overshadowing his on-court achievements and recent blockbuster trade.

Karl-Anthony Towns: Biography and Latest Career Updates (2025)

Karl-Anthony Towns Jr., widely known by his initials KAT, has established himself as one of the NBA's premier big men, known for his elite shooting ability for a player of his size. His career has been marked by both statistical brilliance and significant personal challenges, making him a complex and compelling figure in the league.

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• Full Name: Karl-Anthony Towns Jr.
• Nickname: KAT
• Date of Birth: November 15, 1995
• Age (as of Dec 2025): 30
• Place of Birth: Edison, New Jersey, U.S.
• Nationality: American (also represents the Dominican Republic national team)
• Height: 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
• Weight: 248 lb (112 kg)
• College: University of Kentucky (2014–2015)
• NBA Draft: 2015 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1 (by the Minnesota Timberwolves)
• Current Team (2024-2025 Season): New York Knicks
• Career Highlights: 4x NBA All-Star, 2x All-NBA Team, 2016 NBA Rookie of the Year, 2022 NBA Three-Point Contest Champion.
• Personal Life: In a long-term, high-profile relationship with model and entrepreneur Jordyn Woods.
• Latest Career Update: Traded to the New York Knicks in September 2024, marking a major shift in the NBA landscape and pairing him with Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle in a new "Big Three" lineup.

The Full Context of the Shane Gillis ESPYs Joke

The "Hey Girl" phrase became permanently linked to Karl-Anthony Towns following his appearance at the ESPYs in July 2024. The host of the evening, comedian Shane Gillis, known for his controversial and often polarizing style of humor, used Towns as a target during his opening monologue, leading to immediate public outcry.

The Controversial Monologue

While discussing the successful season of the New York Knicks, Gillis acknowledged the presence of Towns, who was still officially a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves at the time but was widely rumored to be on the move. The comedian then delivered the line that sparked the controversy, saying, "Karl-Anthony Towns is here, hey girl."

The comment, delivered with a particular inflection, was immediately interpreted by many in the audience and on social media as a "gay joke," implying effeminacy or questioning Towns' masculinity. This type of humor—often referred to as a "troll"—is unfortunately not new in the sports world, but its delivery on a major televised awards show like the ESPYs drew significant attention and condemnation.

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Critics, including prominent sports analysts and fans, quickly deemed the joke "disrespectful" and "homophobic," arguing that it was an unnecessary and low-brow jab at a professional athlete. The backlash against Gillis was swift, with many calling for a higher standard of hosting for such a prestigious event. The incident instantly transformed the innocuous phrase "hey girl" into a viral search query tied to the NBA star.

Karl-Anthony Towns' Silence and the Public Reaction

In the wake of the controversy, Karl-Anthony Towns maintained a notable silence. While the NBA community and social media platforms were ablaze with commentary, KAT himself chose not to publicly address the joke or the comedian. This decision was seen by some as a dignified way to avoid giving the controversial comment more attention, a strategy often employed by high-profile figures when faced with targeted public mockery.

The Role of Public Image and Jordyn Woods

The "hey girl" joke also inadvertently tapped into a long-running, albeit unfounded, narrative about Towns' public persona. Due to his high-profile relationship with model and entrepreneur Jordyn Woods, and his often-fashionable, expressive style, Towns has occasionally been the target of "soft" or "built bad" comments from other media personalities, such as Gilbert Arenas. Gillis’s joke played directly into these pre-existing, unfair tropes.

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The relationship between KAT and Jordyn Woods is one of the NBA's most visible, with Woods frequently sharing supportive and affectionate posts about the basketball star. Their relationship has been a constant source of media attention, often highlighting a softer, more romantic side of Towns, which some critics in the hyper-masculine world of professional sports attempt to weaponize. The Gillis comment was a crude attempt to leverage this public image for a cheap laugh, which ultimately backfired on the host.

The public defense of Towns was robust. Fans and critics alike slammed Gillis for using a tired, homophobic trope, arguing that the joke was not only unfunny but also disrespectful to a player who has faced significant personal tragedy, including the loss of his mother to COVID-19. The overwhelming sentiment was that the comedian had crossed a line, making the ESPYs a "tough watch" for many viewers.

The Aftermath: A New Era in New York

The "Hey Girl" controversy occurred just weeks before the biggest career move of Karl-Anthony Towns' life: his trade to the New York Knicks. This move fundamentally alters the trajectory of his career and provides a clean slate, shifting the media spotlight from off-court jokes to on-court expectations at Madison Square Garden (MSG).

Topical Authority and Key Entities

The entire incident serves as a crucial case study in modern media and celebrity. The viral search term "Karl-Anthony Towns Hey Girl" is less about the athlete and more about the cultural entities surrounding him:

• Shane Gillis: The comedian whose controversial style was put under the microscope.
• The ESPYs: The major sports awards show that faced criticism for its choice of host and content.
• New York Knicks: The team that acquired KAT, shifting the narrative to basketball and the pressure of playing in the league's most demanding market.
• Jordyn Woods: The constant support system whose public relationship with Towns is often scrutinized.
• NBA World: The broader community that debated the appropriateness of the joke and the issue of respect for athletes' personal lives.

As Karl-Anthony Towns begins his tenure with the Knicks, the focus is firmly on his ability to help lead the franchise to a championship. While the "Hey Girl" moment will remain a searchable part of his digital footprint, it is ultimately a footnote created by a controversial host, not a defining quote from one of the NBA's most skilled and complex centers. His performance on the court in the 2025 season will be the ultimate determinant of his legacy.