Prince Harry’s olive branch to Pat Tillman’s mom at ESPYs doesn’t quiet controversy

Prince Harry gave a humble, heartfelt speech as he accepted the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the 2024 ESPY Awards Thursday, trying to downplay himself as the recipient while paying tribute to Tillman’s mother, Mary, who had not been happy that the “controversial and divisive” British royal was to receive a trophy in her son’s name.

But, as with everything involving Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, the public remained fiercely divided over Harry’s decision to go ahead and accept the award named for the San Jose-reared NFL player and war hero who died in Afghanistan in 2004. Among those questioning Harry’s choice to accept the honor was a retired British military leader, Admiral Lord Alan West, who said earlier this week that the renegade son of King Charles III risked the wrath of military veterans by allowing organizations like ESPN to shower him with awards because of his high profile.

ESPN had said that Harry, who served in the British Army for 10 years and undertook two tours in Afghanistan, deserved the award because of his contributions to the veteran community through the Invictus Games. In 2014, Harry founded the games, which support wounded, injured, and sick servicemen and women through international sporting events.

In his speech, Harry said, “The truth is, I stand here not as Prince Harry, Pat Tillman Award recipient, but rather as a voice on behalf of the Invictus Games Foundation and the thousands of veterans and service personnel from over 20 nations who have made the Invictus Games a reality. This award belongs to them, not to me.”

As Meghan beamed in pride from the audience, Harry also thanked the Pat Tillman Foundation and Marie Tillman Shenton, Pat Tillman’s widow. The foundation helped ESPN decide to honor the Duke of Sussex, and Marie Tillman Shenton smiled when Harry mentioned the foundation and her name. Harry then extended an olive branch to Mary Tillman by saying, “Her advocacy for Pat’s legacy is deeply personal and one that I respect.”

“The bond between a mother and son is eternal and transcends even the greatest losses,” he continued, evoking the memory of his own mother, Princess Diana, who died in a car crash when he was 12.

Mary Tillman told the Daily Mail last month that she was “shocked” that ESPN was giving Harry the award, which has in the past gone to people who are not household names. She said there are recipients who are more fitting, who “do not have the money, resources, connections or privilege that Prince Harry has.”

Social media lit up after Harry’s speech. ESPN’s X post on Harry’s speech received more than 1.9 million views and 2,300 replies overnight. Some people praised the Montecito-based duke for his “inspiring” work with the Invictus Games and said he appeared to be “a good, honest man.”

But many others questioned his decision to accept the award. They accused him and Meghan of “buying” this and other awards in the United States for publicity. Others said that Harry was using vets and a “real hero” like Pat Tillman “as a shield” to avoid backlash. Someone else also said it was “disingenuous” of Harry to mention Mary Tillman: “If he felt so strongly about her bond with her son and the award he should have declined to accept it.”

Critics also mentioned Harry’s choice to leave royal duties in 2020 and move to California — which effectively ended his ability to receive royal military appointments and honors in the U.K. They also picked apart the way Harry ended his speech by addressing veteran, telling them: “We will leave no one behind.” They pointed out that Harry spent the next couple years after moving to California complaining about royal life and “trashing” his family members in interviews and in his memoir “Spare.” To Harry’s vow to “leave no one behind,” someone said: “Except our families, our old friends and those for whom we have no use any more.”

ESPN’s choice to give Harry the Pat Tillman Award was opposed by more than 75,000 people who signed an online petition, saying the award should go to someone who exemplifies “duty, honor and sacrifice.” Tillman had walked away from a lucrative NFL contract with the Arizona Cardinals to enlist in the U.S. Army Rangers after 9/11. The 27-year-old died in a friendly fire incident while serving in Afghanistan.

Popular ESPN analyst Pat McAfree suggested that his network was giving Harry the award “to piss people off” — that is, to capitalize on the controversy. McAfee’s co-host Boston Connor also said that it was “probably the most embarrassing thing I’ve seen in my entire life” while guest Ty Schmitt called presenting the award to Harry “a gimmick.”

As in the past, Thursday night’s ESPYs was a glitzy star-studded event, with a number of sports celebrities in attendance, including Patrick Mahomes and Caitlin Clark. The ceremony was hosted by tennis legend Serena Williams, who is Meghan’s close friend.

When Williams opened the awards, she gave a shout-out to Harry and Meghan in the audience, referring to them as “actual royalty.” She also jokingly warned them to not “overshadow” her.

“This is my night,” Williams she quipped to the couple. “I don’t want to be overshadowed by you two breathing too much oxygen.”