Pat Tillman’s mother slams ESPN for giving Prince Harry ESPY

Mother of late soldier and American football player Pat Tillman called out ESPN for giving an ESPY award named after his son Prince Harry.

Last week, ESPN announced several honorary awards that will be presented at the 2024 ESPYs on July 11. Among those honors, Prince Harry, Duke of Essex, will receive the Pat Tillman Service Award. He was chosen for the award for his work with the Invictus Games, a Paralympic-style competition for wounded veterans that he founded in 2014.

In a report of Daily Mail, Marie Tillman said she was “shocked” that ESPN chose Prince Harry.

“I’m shocked why they chose such a controversial and divisive person to receive this award,” Mary said. “There are recipients who are much more deserving of this award. There are people who work in the veteran community and do extraordinary things to help veterans.”

“These individuals do not have the money, resources, connections or privileges that Prince Harry has. I think these types of individuals deserve recognition.”

Pat was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals with the 226th overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft. He played only four seasons in the NFL before enlisting in the U.S. Army in 2002 after the September 11 attacks. He was killed two years later while deployed to Afghanistan. While the Army initially said Pat died as a result of an ambush, an investigation later revealed that he was killed by friendly fire.

“It’s incredibly hurtful that the family didn’t have a say,” another source told the Daily Mail. “Pat Tillman was a unifying force for good. Harry is divisive… There are many unsung heroes who deserve it far more.”