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ESPN announced that Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex would be the recipient of the Pat Tillman Award in recognition of his service in the British Armed Forces and work with the Invictus Games.

The award will be passed over at the ESPYs ceremony in LA- the Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly – an event that honours the top athletes and sports performances of the year.

However, there seem to be a few people who are really not chuffed that Harry is getting this award and Tatler reports that Harry is “stunned” at the negative reaction to his win, finding it a “bitter pill to swallow”.

Backlash ensued the moment ESPN announced that Harry had won the award – which is named in honour of Patrick Daniel Tillman Jr., a former NFL player turned US Army Ranger who died in 2004 in Afghanistan at just 27 years old.

Most surprisingly was criticism from Tillman’s mother, Mary Tillman, who told The Daily Mail that she thought there were other “far more fitting” people who should have won the award, among other comments.

But ESPN is sticking to their guns, and backing Harry. Not only is the (ex?) royal a veteran of the British Army where he served for 10 years, including two tours in Afghanistan, but he also founded the Invictus Games 10 years ago to help wounded, sick, and injured servicemen and servicewomen, both veterans and those still serving, find community through sport.

On paper, it sounds like he’s just the man for the award.

The network said Harry was chosen for “his tireless work in making a positive impact for the veteran community through the power of sport.”

After the backlash surrounding Harry’s selection, ESPN told TMZ Sports in a statement “While we understand not everyone will agree with all honorees selected for any award, The Invictus Games Foundation does incredible work, and ESPN believes this is a cause worth celebrating.”

Harry is really disheartened by all the negative press around this award, especially as it relates to his work with the military and with veterans, which are causes extremely close to his heart.

“Harry’s legacy on Invictus, the things he has achieved—that’s his real passion,” a source told The Telegraph. “This is the space in which he truly feels at home. It is something he deeply cares about. The reaction certainly took the shine off the award.”

Either way, all eyes are on ESPN and the award ceremony, which will be held in Los Angeles, airing this Thursday, July 11, at 8 p.m. on ABC, hosted by Meghan Markle’s longtime friend, Serena Williams.

A television consultant who works for both Disney and ESPN said that Harry’s involvement in the ESPYs would draw “insane eyeballs” to the televised show, per Tatler.

“The fact that so many people are talking about Harry and this honor will delight those at the top. They will stand firm on him getting it and also, behind closed doors, be excited that such a decision has prompted such interest in this night. Like it or loathe it, Harry draws interest.”

The fact that Meghan is rumoured to be attending the ESPYs doesn’t hurt the gaggle of media attention either.

[source:marieclaire]