Prince Harry to receive ESPY Award
Strong headwind for the Royal
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Prince Harry is set to receive an ESPY Award in July. Now there is criticism, including from the mother of the veteran after whom the award is named.
Prince Harry, 39, will be honored in July for his work with the Invictus Games Foundation. A few days ago it was announced that the royal will receive the “Pat Tillman Award for Service” at the ESPY Awards. But there is now strong opposition to this, including from the mother of the veteran after whom the award is named.
The Pat Tillman Award for Service is an award given to an individual with a strong connection to sports who has served others in a way that reflects the legacy of former NFL player and U.S. Army Ranger Pat Tillman (1976-2004). Tillman joined the military after September 11, 2001, and was killed by gunfire from fellow soldiers while deployed to Afghanistan in 2004.
Pat Tillman’s mother speaks out against Harry being the winner
According to the British “Daily Mail” Tillman’s mother Mary says she was not asked about the decision to give the award to Prince Harry. “I am shocked that such a controversial and divisive person has been chosen,” the newspaper quotes her as saying. In her opinion, there are people who are “far more suitable”. “There are people who work in the veterans community and do great things to support veterans. These people do not have the money, resources, connections or privileges that Prince Harry has. I believe these people should be recognized.”
Petition against Prince Harry
A petition was even opened on the “change.org” platform over the weekend, calling on the organizers to reconsider their decision. It states: “Although Prince Harry is a former military officer, he has been involved in controversies that call into question his suitability for an award of this magnitude.” By Sunday evening (June 30), the petition had almost 10,000 signatures.
The ESPY Awards have been presented annually by the ESPN media group since 1993, primarily to athletes. In 2023, the award went to members of the Buffalo Bills football team who revived a teammate on the field. ESPN said in the announcement that Prince Harry would be honored “in honor of his tireless commitment to the veteran community through the power of sports.”