Prince Harry is set to receive the Pat Tillman Award for Service at this year’s ESPY Awards. However, the decision has been met with criticism from Mary Tillman, the mother of the late war hero Pat Tillman, after whom the award is named.
The Pat Tillman Award is named in honor of Pat Tillman, a former NFL star who turned down a $3 million football contract to join the army following the 9/11 attacks. Pat Tillman tragically lost his life in Afghanistan due to a friendly fire incident. Prince Harry is being recognized for his efforts with the Invictus Games foundation, which he founded to support wounded veterans. Despite this, Mary Tillman has publicly expressed her disapproval of his nomination.
According to ESPN, the Pat Tillman Award is given to a person with a strong connection to sports who has served others in a way that reflects the legacy of Pat Tillman, who was both an NFL player and a U.S. Army Ranger. Traditionally, this award is not given to well-known figures, but this year, the Duke of Sussex was chosen. Prince Harry served for ten years in the British Armed Forces, including two tours in Afghanistan, and has been involved in veteran support through the Invictus Games, which recently celebrated its tenth anniversary.
Mary Tillman released a statement expressing her shock and disappointment over Prince Harry being selected for the award. She criticized the choice, calling Harry a controversial and divisive figure. Mary Tillman believes that there are more deserving individuals working within the veteran community who should be recognized, especially those who do not have the same wealth, resources, and connections as Prince Harry.
On TalkTV, royal expert Kinsey Schofield and host Kevin O’Sullivan discussed Mary Tillman’s statement. They acknowledged the significance of the story and Pat Tillman’s legacy in the United States. O’Sullivan read Mary’s statement, noting its strong language. Both journalists agreed that while Prince Harry should be proud of the nomination, he should also consider the feelings of Pat Tillman’s mother and possibly rethink accepting the award on July 11.
O’Sullivan asked Schofield whether she thought Prince Harry would accept the award. Schofield responded that although she believes he will accept it, she hopes he would choose to decline out of respect for Mary Tillman. She suggested that Prince Harry could express gratitude for being considered but ultimately pass on the award to honor Mary Tillman’s wishes.
Additionally, Pat McAfee from ESPN criticized the nomination, calling it one of the most embarrassing decisions in the history of the show. He questioned whether the ESPYs committee had properly considered their choice and predicted that they would face significant criticism, which he believes they deserve. Furthermore, a petition has been launched urging ESPN to reconsider giving the honor to Prince Harry.
