Prince Harry ‘Stunned’ by Backlash Over Controversial Award Nomination
Prince Harry has been nominated for the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the ESPY Awards, recognizing his work with the Invictus Games. However, the decision has sparked significant backlash, even drawing criticism from the late soldier’s mother.
Harry is expected to attend the prestigious ceremony on July 11. The award honors Pat Tillman, an ex-football pro who left a $3.8 million contract to join the US Army after 9/11 and tragically died in a friendly fire incident in Afghanistan. Last week, Tillman’s mother, Mary, expressed her disapproval of Harry’s nomination.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Mary said, “I am shocked as to why they would select such a controversial and divisive individual to receive the award. There are recipients that are far more fitting. There are individuals working in the veteran community that are doing tremendous things to assist veterans. These individuals do not have the money, resources, connections, or privilege that Prince Harry has. I feel that those types of individuals should be recognized.”
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams also weighed in, telling The Sun, “It’s a very, very sad situation, and I think this is one of the reasons Mary Tillman, the mother of Pat, believes that Harry isn’t fit, and that is a wasted opportunity. In my opinion, I think it’s been a tragedy all round.”
The ESPY Awards (Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly), organized by sports TV network ESPN, aim to recognize unsung heroes in the world of sport. Last year, the Pat Tillman Award was given to members of the Buffalo Bills football team’s training staff after they successfully resuscitated a player on the field.
ESPN has chosen to honor Prince Harry for his “tireless work in making a positive impact for the veteran community through the power of sport.” Despite this, the decision has not been without controversy. The Telegraph reported, “anything relating to his military record and work with veterans, it is a particularly bitter pill to swallow, one source admitted.”
Sources told the publication, “Harry’s legacy on Invictus, the things he has achieved, that’s his real passion. 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.”
As Prince Harry grapples with the mixed reactions to his nomination, the controversy highlights the complex legacy he carries and the diverse opinions surrounding his public and private endeavors.