In a few days, Prince Harry will receive an award named in honor of a fallen soldier and promising NFL player.
If you’re confused, you’re not alone.
On Thursday, ESPN announced that the royal would be the recipient of the esteemed Pat Tillman Service Award at this year’s 2024 ESPY Awards, a decision that Tillman’s own mother was devastated by.
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(Karwai Tang/WireImage/Gene Lower/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
“I’m shocked why they would choose such a controversial and divisive person to receive the award,” Mary “Danny” Tillman told the Daily Mail. “There are recipients who are more suitable. There are those who work in the veterans community. People are doing tremendous things to help veterans.”
“These are people who don’t have the money, resources, connections or privileges that Prince Harry has. I think these types of people should be recognized,” she said.
Mary Tillman is confused that ESPN gave her son’s award to Prince Harry. (Pete Souza/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
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Harry served in the British Army for ten years and was recognized for his contribution to the Invictus Games, an international sporting event for wounded servicemen and women. He launched the international campaign in 2014 and retired from active duty a year later.
Prince Harry served in the British Army for 10 years. (Sayed Khan/AFP via Getty Images)
The upcoming Invictus Games will be held in Dusseldorf, Germany in July.
“This award is for our entire service community,” the Duke of Sussex said after learning he would receive the award, People reported. He will accept the honor in Hollywood next month.
The Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan Markle recently visited Nigeria and met with children ahead of the Invincible Games. (KOLA SULAIMON/AFP via Getty Images)
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Recent recipients include Buffalo Bills training staff (2023), retired U.S. Army Command Master Sergeant Gretchen Evans (2022), professional football player Marcus Rashford (2021) and professional boxer Kim Clavell (2020).
The award was established in 2014, ten years after former Arizona Cardinal Tillman was killed by friendly fire in combat in Afghanistan. After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, he turned down a multi-year contract and more than $3 million in enlistment fees.
Pat Tillman played for the Arizona Cardinals before enlisting in the Army. (Gene Lore/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
Pat Tillman tragically passed away in 2004. (Getty Images)
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“He always wanted to do the right thing — not that he did the right thing all the time, but he tried — and whenever his friends were in trouble, he would defend them,” his mother recently told ESPN . “I just think [the 9/11 attacks and their aftermath] Football became trivial… I think he felt he should have done more.
Mary wasn’t the only one to express disdain for ESPN’s choice. Popular sports analyst Pat McAfee refuted the decision on his own show, saying: “When you do something like this, you know the human nature, the sports fans, the people who just have common sense in their brains. Respond immediately.
McAfee said the decision to name Prince Harry was “an attempt to piss people off”.
Representatives for Prince Harry and ESPN did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital.
