ESPY's Hot Joel McHale Fully Supports Caitlyn Jenner Receiving Arthur Ashe Award For Courage
Caitlyn Jenner has a spirited fan in Joel McHale.
The famed funnyman is set to serve as host of this month's ESPY's, where the 65-year-old Jenner is slated to receive the Arthur Ashe Courage Award following a year where the former Olympic gold medal winner transitioned from male to female.
"There's no question that this is a monumental and historic moment," McHale told People magazine. "I mean, she's the first. To [transition from male to female] is courageous and difficult. I can't imagine that it was an easy decision or process."
While some have been critical of ESPN's decision to award Jenner, the "Community" star can't think of a more deserving person than the 1976 Olympic decathlon winner he remembers from back then as "the biggest athlete next to Muhammad Ali."
Not everyone has shared McHale's view about Jenner being so worthy. Soon after it was announced she would be so rewarded, Connor Cruise, the 20-year-old son of Tom Cruise, took to Twitter to rail against the decision.
"Really?? Winning the AA award for courage?? Ashton is gonna come out and yell PUNK'D," he said in a series of posts People magazine reports have since been deleted.
"Don't get me wrong. Do what you feel like doing and don't let anyone stop you. But everyone is taking this way too seriously ... There are so many more important things that should be talked about ... And SO MANY MORE IMPORTANT PEOPLE that actually deserve an award."
ESPN has since released a statement defending the company's decision and explaining the award is meant to honor those whose feats travel far further than just the sports arena, transcending the games through the most courageous actions.
"Sometimes that courage is demonstrated over the course of a lifetime and sometimes it is demonstrated in a single act that shines a light on an important contemporary issue," the statement continued.
"This year, we are proud to honor Caitlyn Jenner embracing her identity and doing so in a public way to help move forward a constructive dialogue about progress and acceptance."
The ESPY Awards will air Wednesday, July 15, at 8 p.m. on ABC
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