ESPN Faces Backlash After Selecting Prince Harry To Receive Pat Tillman Service Award

After facing backlash, ESPN is defending its decision to recognize Prince Harry with the Pat Tillman Award for Service at this year’s ESPYs.

Last week, the network announced the honorees for some of its special awards for the 2024 ESPYs, which will be held on July 11 at the Dolby Theatre. Harry was chosen for the award named after the former Arizona Cardinal who left the NFL and enlisted in the army after 9/11. Tillman was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan in 2004 at age 27.

“ESPN, with the support of the Tillman Foundation, is honoring Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, specifically for the work of the Invictus Games Foundation as it celebrates its 10th year promoting healing through the power of sport for military service members and veterans around the world,” ESPN said in a statement on Monday.

“While we understand not everyone will agree with all honorees selected for any award, the Invictus Games Foundation does incredible work, and ESPN believes this is a cause worth celebrating.”

In a news release on Thursday, ESPN said the Pat Tillman Award for Service is given to “a person with a strong connection to sports who has served others in a way that echoes the legacy of the former NFL player and the U.S. Army Ranger, Pat Tillman.” Last year’s recipient was the Buffalo Bills training staff for its life-saving efforts during Damar Hamlin‘s cardiac arrest in 2023.

The release acknowledged Harry’s ten years of service in the British Armed Forces, including two tours in Afghanistan, and his founding of the Invictus Games Foundation, “an international platform to support wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women—both active-duty and veterans—who are navigating both physical and invisible injuries.”

Despite Harry’s accolades, Tillman’s mother, Mary Tillman, disagreed with the network’s decision to honor him. She told the Daily Mail that she was “shocked” by the network’s choice.

“There are recipients that are far more fitting,” she said. “Some individuals working in the veteran community are doing tremendous things to assist veterans. These individuals do not have the money, resources, connections or privilege that Prince Harry has. I feel those types of individuals should be recognized.”

ESPN personality Pat McAfee agrees. During an episode of his show on Friday, he said the network “is just obviously trying to piss people off” by presenting Harry with an award named after someone who was an “American hero” and “the definition of selfless.”

There is even an online petition calling for ESPN to reconsider its decision. As of Monday, it garnered more than 36,000 signatures.

Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, were banned from raising money for their Archwell Charity after it was declared delinquent in May.