Pat McAfee’s Big Night AHT pulled out all the stops in front of an announced crowd of 12,582 fans in Pittsburgh’s PPG Paints Arena. The variety show atmosphere was enhanced by a plethora of celebrity guests and musical performers, including Shane Gillis, Snoop Dogg, WWE’s Michael Cole, singer Jelly Roll, and the ever-available Oz the Mentalist. The highlight of the night featured Pittsburgh sports legends like Ben Roethlisberger, Paul Skenes, and Sidney Crosby, who attempted to throw a football to give away money to lucky attendees.
The show kicked off with McAfee emerging from a cloud of smoke on the runway stage, delivering a captivating blend of monologue and stand-up routine. Although the topics shifted, one constant was his airing of grievances. While it’s cliché for comedians to produce stand-up specials titled “Canceled” or “Cancel This!,” that’s essentially what McAfee’s opening act resembled.
There has been some international incidents#BigNightAHT pic.twitter.com/lAL2YQb3eC
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) April 10, 2025
He humorously recounted the various criticisms he’s faced, from Brett Favre suing him for defamation to being booed by Canadians, along with the potential legal complications related to Ole Miss student Mary Kate Cornett. “I never ever want to be a part of anything negative in anyone’s life,” he stated, sidestepping specifics. “We will try to figure that out and find some silver lining in a very terrible situation.” McAfee often deflects blame, suggesting that even his missteps are meant to be positive and entertaining. He excitedly remarked to the enthusiastic crowd, “I’ve been canceled 1,000 times.”
He reminisced about the time Aaron Rodgers guest-starred on his ESPN show, insinuating that ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel was a pedophile, humorously claiming that the American political system was turning against him.
I remember ALL of this #BigNightAHT pic.twitter.com/imXRxOtk1E
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) April 10, 2025
“I had right-leaning influencers saying ‘Pat McAfee is getting bent over a table by Mickey F*cking Mouse.’ Then Goofy tagged himself in, ‘This woke coward won’t stand up for his friend,’” he explained, noting that Rodgers returned to his show a few days later. The back and forth with both political sides led McAfee to a dramatic point where he described addressing the camera, “Hello beautiful people and welcome to our humble abode, the Thunderdome.” He remarked, “Both political parties, back-to-back nights, called me the worst human on earth. If I wasn’t from [Pittsburgh], I don’t think I’d be able to show up on Thursday.”
McAfee frequently highlights the criticism he attracts yet seems reluctant to consider the validity of his critics’ viewpoints. Ultimately, he moved on from his grievances as the show progressed but made a peculiar reference following a performance by Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa, stating that the event showcased individuals who had faced “rumors on the internet.”
This classic McAfee moment positioned him as a victim of a personal agenda while ignoring his own actions, which included taking shots at others, punching down, and demanding loyalty based solely on his prominent status.
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Comparing Pat McAfee to Donald Trump might seem excessive, yet watching the Big Night AHT was reminiscent of that parallel, particularly as he commanded the arena like a megachurch pastor. Despite his remarkable trajectory in sports media, the ongoing barrage of complaints and perceived injustices dominated his narrative.
This originally appeared in Awful Announcing’s daily newsletter “The A Block.” Subscribe today to stay updated with the latest sports media news and commentary in your inbox every M-F.
