Huge blow to Prince Harry as petition launched after ‘incredibly hurtful’ decision
Prince Harry has been nominated for the Pat Tillman Award, a decision which has not gone down well with everyone.
A petition has been set up to prevent Prince Harry being awarded the Pat Tillman Award for Service at a ceremony in Hollywood next month over concerns he is not a “suitable” candidate. Pat Tillman was an American NFL player who then enlisted in the US Army in 2002, serving in Iraq and Afghanistan before he was killed by friendly fire in 2004.
The award was set up in his name to honour “given to a person with a strong connection to sports who has served others in a way that echoes the legacy” of Mr Tillman. The Duke of Sussex being honoured in such a way has not gone down so well in the US, where Harry now lives with his wife Meghan Markle and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
Pat Tillman’s mother Mary criticised the decision to award Harry, saying: “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 recognised.” ESPN explained that they had chosen to honour the Duke for his “tireless work in making a positive impact for the veteran community through the power of sport” with his Invictus Games.
A statement from ESPN read: “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. 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.”
But this explanation has not stopped a petition being launched urging ESPN to rethink their decision, as it claims Harry has been “involved in controversies that call into question his suitability to receive an honour of this magnitude”. The petition also said “awarding this honour to someone who does not reflect the award’s intent diminishes its value and disrespects Tillman’s memory.” A inside source told GB News: “It’s incredibly hurtful that the family had no say in this. Pat Tillman was a unifying force for good. Harry is divisive… There are many unsung heroes who are far more deserving.”
Harry’s next Invictus Games is set to be held in Canada in 2025, with the Games in 2027 potentially returning to the UK as a hosting bid has been put in. Last year’s tournament in Germany saw three new countries taking part for the first time – Israel, Colombia and Nigeria – with Harry and Meghan later being invited to visit the latter.
The Sussexes spent three days visiting some of Nigeria’s major cities and taking part in Invictus-related activities in what some dubbed an ‘unofficial royal tour’.
