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Prince Harry was “stunned” after he received backlash for being elected as the recipient of the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the 2024 ESPY.
The official announcement by ESPN sparked controversy and criticism from various quarters, including the late hero’s mother, Mary Tillman, New York Post reported.
The Duke of Sussex, 39, is due to be honoured with the Pat Tillman Award for Service for his invictus games work at the glitzy ESPY Awards in Los Angeles on July 11.
“This is the space in which he truly feels at home, it is something he deeply cares about. The reaction certainly took the shine off the award,” the insider said.
Mary, the mother of the person after whom the award was named, expressed her astonishment last week regarding Prince Harry being chosen as the recipient. She stated: “I am shocked as to why they would select such a controversial and divisive individual to receive the award.”
She further emphasized that there are more deserving recipients, particularly those actively involved in the veteran community who are making significant contributions to support veterans. Mary pointed out that these individuals lack the financial resources, connections, and privileges that Prince Harry possesses, yet they are the ones who truly deserve recognition for their efforts, as per The Daily Mail.
The latest backlash began almost straight after ESPN announced on June 27 that Harry would be given the Pat Tillman Award for Service.
Defending its decision, ESPN said that his work on the Invictus Games “is a cause worth celebrating.” The Pat Tillman Award for Service is given to individuals who have made significant contributions that echo the legacy of the former NFL player and US Army Ranger, who enlisted after the September 11 terrorist attacks and was later killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan in 2004. Tillman was posthumously awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart for his service, according to the New York Post.
A petition urging ESPN to reconsider its decision garnered nearly 68,000 signatures within ten days.
Pat McAfee, a former NFL player, also shared his thoughts on the matter, suggesting that ESPN, as a global leader in sports, should celebrate athletics. However, he believed that their current actions were deliberately intended to provoke outrage, as per the Daily Mail.
McAfee proposed the creation of a separate category specifically for the duke, humorously suggesting a title along the lines of “ESPY for Royal Family member who doesn’t want to be called ‘Royal Family member’ who loves sports.”
The official announcement by ESPN sparked controversy and criticism from various quarters, including the late hero’s mother, Mary Tillman, New York Post reported.
The Duke of Sussex, 39, is due to be honoured with the Pat Tillman Award for Service for his invictus games work at the glitzy ESPY Awards in Los Angeles on July 11.
“This is the space in which he truly feels at home, it is something he deeply cares about. The reaction certainly took the shine off the award,” the insider said.
Mary, the mother of the person after whom the award was named, expressed her astonishment last week regarding Prince Harry being chosen as the recipient. She stated: “I am shocked as to why they would select such a controversial and divisive individual to receive the award.”
She further emphasized that there are more deserving recipients, particularly those actively involved in the veteran community who are making significant contributions to support veterans. Mary pointed out that these individuals lack the financial resources, connections, and privileges that Prince Harry possesses, yet they are the ones who truly deserve recognition for their efforts, as per The Daily Mail.
The latest backlash began almost straight after ESPN announced on June 27 that Harry would be given the Pat Tillman Award for Service.
Defending its decision, ESPN said that his work on the Invictus Games “is a cause worth celebrating.” The Pat Tillman Award for Service is given to individuals who have made significant contributions that echo the legacy of the former NFL player and US Army Ranger, who enlisted after the September 11 terrorist attacks and was later killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan in 2004. Tillman was posthumously awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart for his service, according to the New York Post.
A petition urging ESPN to reconsider its decision garnered nearly 68,000 signatures within ten days.
Pat McAfee, a former NFL player, also shared his thoughts on the matter, suggesting that ESPN, as a global leader in sports, should celebrate athletics. However, he believed that their current actions were deliberately intended to provoke outrage, as per the Daily Mail.
McAfee proposed the creation of a separate category specifically for the duke, humorously suggesting a title along the lines of “ESPY for Royal Family member who doesn’t want to be called ‘Royal Family member’ who loves sports.”
