In Mary Tillman’s opinion, the 2024 ESPY Awards aren’t winning themselves any glory by choosing to honor Prince Harry in her late son’s name.
“I am shocked as to why they would select such a controversial and divisive individual to receive the award,” she told the Daily Mail of ESPN opting to award the Duke of Sussex—who is a British Army veteran—the 2024 Pat Tillman Award for Service during the ESPYs on July 11.
In announcing Harry as the recipient of the Tillman award, which 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 U.S. Army Ranger,” ESPN noted the royal’s two tours in Afghanistan and his subsequent cofounding of the Invictus Games for wounded servicemen and women.
But Pat’s mom, who said she was not consulted before the pick was announced, had her reasons for voicing her disapproval.
“There are recipients that are far more fitting,” Mary continued. “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.”
E! News has reached out to Harry’s rep for comment but has not yet heard back.
Pat was a first-team All-American at Arizona State who was drafted 26th by the Arizona Cardinals in 1998. Playing safety, he turned down a $3.6 million contract to enlist in the U.S. Army following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and served in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
He was 27 when he was killed April 22, 2004, in Spera, Afghanistan, by what Defense Department and congressional investigations later determined was friendly fire.
Tom Cruise led a tribute to Pat at the 2004 ESPYs that July.
