2015 ESPYs to award Caitlyn Jenner with Arthur Ashe Courage Award

The Arthur Ashe Courage Award is one of the most prestigious honors held out every year at the ESPYs, and it has produced some of the greatest moments that we’ve seen at any televised awards show to date. Remember the super-touching speech from Stuart Scott in the past?

Today, the ESPN awards show (which is ironically airing on ABC June 15) tweeted out that Caitlyn Jenner will be honored during the upcoming telecast. Before the news broke about her new name today, Jenner was well-known as Bruce, who was a renowned Olympic athlete well before the days of “Keeping Up with the Kardashians.” Caitlyn’s Vanity Fair cover today (also see below) has led to her being one of the fastest in the history of Twitter to ever make it to a million followers. (If it hasn’t happened by the time you are reading this article, it will be in the very-near future.)

In a statement, Jenner had the following to say:

“In the past few months, the overwhelming outpouring of support from all over the world for my journey has been incredible … However, being honored with this award, which is named after one of my heroes, is truly special. For the first time this July, I will be able to stand as my true self in front of my peers.”

Obviously given the climate of the world, there is already some controversy and people threatening to not watch the show. Big surprise there. We imagine that for the most part the reaction to this will be positive, and it will bring a new audience and a new perspective to the sporting world.

We will have some other news related to Jenner as it starts to be unveiled. For now, you can share your thoughts below, and head over here to have some further TV news sent over to you via our CarterMatt Newsletter. (Photo: ABC.)