Getty Image
When Prince Harry was given the Pat Tillman Award for Service during this year’s ESPY Awards it surprised almost everyone who was watching because it made very little sense.
It was stated that he received the award for serving for 10 years in the British Armed Forces as well as for creating the Invictus Games Foundation, “a free platform for international wounded, injured and sick (WIS) armed forces personnel, serving or veteran, providing a safe and secure space for the community.”
Reactions to the move by ESPN were not kind.
Pat Tillman’s mother was among those who felt giving Prince Harry the award, which is supposed to honor “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,” was not only strange, it was disrespectful.
“I am shocked as to why they would select such a controversial and divisive individual to receive the award,” said Tillman’s mother Mary.
“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.”
ESPN would later try and defend giving Prince Harry the award, doubling down on his creation of the Invictus Games as the main reason, but now a new report claims the whole thing was merely the result of a “backroom deal.”
According to sources who spoke to RadarOnline.com, “Disney was really responsible” for Prince Harry receiving the award.
“ESPN is owned by Disney and Harry’s buddy Bob Iger is the CEO of the company!” said the insider.
Radar also points out that Harry and his wife, former actress Meghan Markle, signed a media deal with Disney four years ago.
“Iger has a close relationship with all the royals after receiving an honorary knighthood last month,” a source claimed. “The word is Harry seized upon his connection to the [royal] family to pitch him new opportunities at the network and Bob’s listening — despite [Harry’s] estrangement from the family.”
The source also claimed that giving Prince Harry the Pat Tillman Award was a “calculated move to pave the way for new projects,” but “nobody expected this kind of blowback, which has already probably scuttled the plan.”