Prince Harry Acknowledges Pat Tillman’s Mother While Receiving ESPY After She Criticized ESPN For Giving Him Pat Tillman Award

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Prince Harry acknowledged Pat Tillman’s mother while receiving the Pat Tillman Award at the 2024 ESPY awards.

On Thursday night, the British Royal was awarded the Pat Tillman Award for Service for his work with the Invictus Games, an international sporting event for wounded servicemen and women.

In honor of his tireless work in making a positive impact for the veteran community through the power of sport, Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex will receive the Pat Tillman Award for Service, an award 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, Pat Tillman.

After serving for 10 years in the British Armed Forces, including two tours of duty in Afghanistan as a forward air controller and Apache helicopter pilot, Prince Harry founded The Invictus Games Foundation, continuing his service by creating an international platform to support wounded, injured, and sick servicemen and women – both active-duty and veterans – who are navigating both physical and invisible injuries

During a recent interview with the Daily Mail, Tillman’s mother, Mary Tillman, slammed ESPN’s decision to give Harry the ESPY dedicated to her son.

Via Daily Mail

“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 recognized.”

On Thursday night, Harry addressed Mary Tillman while receiving his ESPY award.

“I’d also like to acknowledge the Tillman family, especially Mrs. Mary Tillman, Pat’s mother, 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.”

“The truth I stand here not as Prince Harry Pat Tillman Award recipient but rather a voice on behalf of the Invictus Games foundation, and the thousand of service personnel from over twenty nations who have made the Invictus games a reality. This award belongs to them.”