Prince Harry was “stunned” by the response after receiving the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the 2024 ESPYs.
The 39-year-old Duke of Sussex will be honored at the glamorous ceremony on July 11 for his military experience and involvement with the Invictus Games.
Mary Tillman, the late hero’s mother, expressed dissatisfaction with ESPN’s decision, claiming she was not consulted.
Now, a source claims that the fallout has been a “bitter pill to swallow” for the Sussexes.
“Harry’s legacy on Invictus, the things he has achieved, that’s his real passion,” a source told the Telegraph.
The insider added that while Harry is no stranger to being under scrutiny, he particularly found discourse surrounding his military background upsetting.
“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.”
ESPN defended its choice to honor Harry, stating that his work on the Invictus Games is “a cause worth celebrating.”
The prestigious honor is bestowed upon persons who have made great contributions to the globe, echoing the legacy of the former NFL player and US Army Ranger who volunteered following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Tillman, a former Arizona Cardinals safety, served in Iraq and Afghanistan before being killed by friendly fire in 2004. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart.
According to the source, the situation is eerily similar to when Harry—who served in the British Armed Forces for ten years, including two tours of duty in Afghanistan as an Apache helicopter pilot and a forward air controller—was recognized as a Living Legend of Aviation.