The controversial debate over Prince Harry’s nomination for the Pat Tillman Award for Service continues. This time, one news outlet reports the Duke of Sussex is in a lose-lose situation on whether he accepts the award or not.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, left Britain in June 2020 to set up a new life raising their two children in America. Though this ‘stepping down’ was described as a way to remove themselves from the often vicious media coverage of the royal pairing, the two still consistently find themselves in the limelight. From a Netflix special, to the bombshell Oprah Winfrey interview, the couple want to share ‘their’ side of the story, somewhat at the expense of public criticism. Harry has been nominated for a prestigious American Award of late, suggesting the American public have welcomed him with open arms. However, massive backlash to his nomination suggests that might not be the case.
Prince Harry to receive veteran accolade of the highest honor
Prince Harry has been nominated to receive a highly culturally significant award in the United States. The Pat Tillman Award for Service is given to honor “esteemed” individuals “who have made significant contributions to others, echoing the legacy of former NFL player and U.S. Army Ranger, Pat Tillman,” it reads on the Duke and Duchess’s official website.
Awarded to people who have showed courage and service, it would be a great honor for the royal, who served his country in the British Armed Forces for 10 years. Additionally, the Prince is the founder of the Invictus Games Foundation, a platform supporting injured servicemen. Many have praised Harry for ‘changing the World’ with the Invictus Games, now celebrating its tenth year. With the game’s promotion of inclusivity and dedication to veterans, one could feel the Duke deserves this award.
The accolade is set to be presented on July 11 during the EPSY Awards (Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly) hosted by ESPN.
Harry is too ‘controversial and divisive’ to win
There has been sufficient backlash to the British Prince receiving this esteemed American Award.
The loudest voice has been Mary Tillman, the late war hero’s mother, who has called out Harry for being a “controversial and divisive individual” in shock over the selection.
Mary has continued to say, “There are recipients that are far more fitting.” Begging the sports network to rethink their choice.
A recent broadcast on TalkTV had ‘royal expert’ Kinsey Schofield also slamming the prince, stating he shouldn’t want to “offend the mother of the hero, the dead war hero it is named after.” In Schofield’s opinion, the Duke of Sussex should not accept the award.
“I think that the only solution is for him to decline and say he’s so privileged that they thought of him, but he, you know, out of respect for Mary Tillman, he’s going to pass on this one.” Kinsey shares.
Additionally, ESPN’s own Pat McAfee has shared the sentiment that the 39 year-old’s nomination is ‘probably one of the most embarrassing things they’ve ever seen on this show.’ He has critiqued the EPSY committee in their selection, saying ‘they will get a lot of criticism, and they deserve it.’
Finally, 60,000 voices of the public have joined the debate, signing a petition that begs ESPN to rethink the honor.
Harry now finds himself ‘between a rock and a hard place’
Recent coverage on News.com.au has stated, “So far Harry has not said a peep as the Tillman Award clamour grows louder and louder with the general direction of the criticism, based on comments on the online petition, seeming to be that a) he is not American and b) he is viewed by many as having done a bunk on his homeland and family.”
They state that Prince finds himself between a ‘rock and a hard place’. Continuing, “Should the ESPYs or Team Sussex bow out and change their mind, it would be an embarrassing climb down. Yet should things go ahead, it will be with something of a shadow hanging over it all and what should have been a public relations coup marred somewhat.”
Honestly, we agree, the royal has got himself in a lose-lose situation. It’s a shame that the public can’t see past the way he’s presented himself over the past four years since leaving The Firm and focus on his incredible charity work like the Invictus Games.
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