“Completely Butchering Katie Ledecky’s Name”: Twitter Calls Out ESPYs for Making a Blunder in Katie Ledecky and Megan Rapinoe’s Name During Award Function

The 2022 ESPY Awards took place on Wednesday, and Katie Ledecky won the Best Female Athlete Award. Meanwhile, USWNT star Megan Rapinoe accepted the Best Play honors. With their incredible achievements in their sport, there’s no surprise from fans that they won.

And while their sports are wildly distinct, their fans are united on one front. The presenters had no idea how to pronounce their names. And the fan responses range from finding it hilarious to being deeply offended.

Katie Ledecky and Megan Rapinoe win at the ESPYs

25-year-old Katie Ledecky has 10 Olympic medals (7 gold) under her belt, along with 19 World Championship titles. She’s the most decorated female swimmer and widely regarded as the swimming GOAT. She gave an inspiring acceptance speech, urging the youth to find something they love and pursue it.

“Something that can inspire somebody else, something that can help somebody else, anything that can change our world,” she said. “There are so many heroes, not just in sports, but all around us… look to those people as role models, and go for the gold.”

Soccer star Megan Rapinoe, who recently received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, has helped the USWNT bring home two World Cup titles and an Olympic gold medal. She made a stunning appearance, flipping off the cameras on the red carpet. She won the Best Play award and took a moment to mention Brittney Griner.

“Like what are we doing here dressed up like we are when our sister is detained abroad? We haven’t done enough, none of us. We can do more, we can support her more, and just let her know that we love her so much,” she said.

READ MORE: Just Like Michael Phelps, Katie Ledecky Also Comes From a Rich Swimming Background – Here’s Everything You Need to Know

Fans react to the presenters butchering their names

Their incredible accomplishments in their sport and outside of it make Katie Ledecky and Megan Rapinoe quite famous. Ledecky has certainly reached GOAT status with her dominance in the pool, and Rapinoe continues to make headlines every day with her activism and incredible plays on the soccer field.

So how exactly did the presenters mispronounce their last names? It is a fact that baffled quite a lot of fans. 

Especially when the ESPYs did a celebration of Title IX on the show. Title IX is the federal civil rights law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school or any other education program that receives funding from the federal government.

It became quite an awkward situation for the presenters.

We hope the next these two accomplished sportswomen step onto the stage to receive an honor, the pre-show prep for presenters goes a little better.

WATCH THIS STORY: Simone Biles and Megan Rapinoe Squashed Between Joe Biden-Donald Trump