In a night filled with both celebration and controversy, Prince Harry received the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the ESPY Awards. His acceptance of the award, which honors his creation of the Invictus Games, drew mixed reactions. The Duke of Sussex appeared visibly moved as he took the stage at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, with Duchess Meghan making a surprise appearance to support her husband from the front row.
The Invictus Games, founded by Prince Harry in 2014, is a multi-sport event for wounded, injured, and sick servicemen and women, both active duty and veterans. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the games, celebrated with a special event in London and a visit to Abuja, Nigeria. Despite the significant achievements of the Invictus Games, the award announcement sparked controversy due to Harry's contentious public profile.
During her opening monologue, tennis legend Serena Williams, a longtime friend of Meghan, acknowledged the royal couple's presence.
"It's, well, actually only pretty often that I get to be in a room with actual royalty, and tonight is no exception," Williams said, humorously adding, "Prince Harry and Meghan are here. Let's give it up for them. But please, Harry and Meghan, try not to breathe too much tonight. Because this is my night, and I don't want to be overshadowed by the accusations that you guys are taking up too much oxygen, okay?"
Prince Harry’s acceptance speech for the Patt Tillman Award for Service is worth 5 min of your time. There is no doubt that he is worthy of this award and no doubt that what he is doing is changing lives for the better. pic.twitter.com/bqUsM6lYZE — Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) July 12, 2024
In his acceptance speech, Prince Harry expressed deep gratitude for the recognition, emphasizing that the award belonged to the veterans and service members who participate in the Invictus Games. "This award is not for me but for the veterans and service members who make the Invictus Games happen every year," he said. He made a point to keep U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant Israel "DT" Del Toro Jr., U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Elizabeth Marks, and U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Kirstie Ennis on stage, highlighting their contributions.
Harry also honored the Tillman family, particularly Mary Tillman, Pat Tillman'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," he said. His speech underscored the struggles faced by military personnel both during and after their service, and the critical role of the Invictus Games in supporting their recovery.
Despite the warm reception from many in attendance, the award faced criticism. Mary Tillman had earlier expressed her surprise at the choice of Prince Harry, questioning why a more fitting recipient from the veteran community was not selected. Her sentiments were echoed by others who felt that Harry's high-profile status overshadowed the contributions of lesser-known individuals working tirelessly to support veterans.
The controversy did not deter ESPN from standing by its decision. "ESPN, with the support of the Tillman Foundation, is honoring Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, specifically for the work of The Invictus Games Foundation as it celebrates its 10th year promoting healing through the power of sport for military service members and veterans around the world," the network said 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."
The ESPY Awards, known for honoring outstanding athletes and teams, also recognize inspiring and courageous individuals with special awards. The night featured other notable moments, including A'ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces winning the best women's sports athlete and JuJu Watkins taking home the best breakthrough athlete award. Host Serena Williams kept the audience entertained with her humor and grace.
In the face of criticism, Prince Harry's acceptance speech focused on the positive impact of the Invictus Games and the importance of continuing to support veterans. "Moments like these help us reach those that need Invictus the most and reduce more than 20 veterans a day taking their own lives in this country alone," he said, reminding the audience of the broader mission behind the games.
