Mother of Pat Tillman has criticised the decision to give Prince Harry the memorial award at ESPY

[PrincessMee]

Mary Tillman says " There are recipients far more fitting. He publicly disrespected his family , ran away from service to his country. He is unworthy of this award"

She feels there are recipients far more fitting.

I think she speaks for many.

I saw he had been nominated for this award and I was having trouble thinking what Harry might have actually done to deserve it. Invictus is, of course, an excellent initiative but I don’t think Harry has had to particularly work hard or dedicate himself to the cause for Invictus to succeed. He was undoubtedly one of the driving forces initially setting it up, but he was not alone and I can think of no personal sacrifice or hardship that it entailed for him. So I don’t really understand on what basis he has been given the award. The cynic in me would think money or some other exchange has taken place 🤷‍♀️

I have heard of concerns. It really needs to be about the veterans and the sport and it's just being used for other purposes eg money and celebrity.

If nothing else this shows why the Royal family present awards rather than accepting them. It's a much better look when you come from wealth and privilege to lift others up, to shine the light on what others are doing rather than put yourself in the spotlight.

I can why Harry would want the validation of an award, because he does seem rather needy, but I think he would have been wise to decline. Didn't the debacle around the Legends of Aviation award teach him anything?

How could he even get up there on stage knowing that is what Mary Tillman thinks of him. The Aviator award was one thing but this time surely he would be thinking "hmmm maybe not". It's about ordinary people. Is he really so self obsessed that he can't see this? How could he have the brass neck to turn up and accept? This is going to be notable. I'm sure he will spin it as not for him but for all the ordinary people who work for Invictus. It's not a group award though.

This is gaining a lot of negative attention in the US. I’m actually surprised at the level of vitriol towards H in the comments over there. It’s fully deserved though. I mean what has he actually done to deserve this award?

I think the US is now seeing H & M for what they really are.

I don't think there's vitriol on here, it's all valid criticism. We're commenting on his behaviour, for which he provides ample evidence.

I think that there are many occasions where people are nominated for awards that they are not deserving of. This is just another example of it. I do agree that Pat Tillman’s mother should have input into the nominees and I also agree that the award needs to go to someone who is exceptional, just like Pat Tillman was.

This is going to be a bit of a test for Harry. I hope that he shows some decency and commonsense and does not accept the award.
That's the very least he can do.

Who is it who gets to nominate the winner of this award? If it’s a board, do we know who is on it?

The event is being hosted by Serena Williams.

Yes indeed.

The diplomatic thing to do would be to nominate a worthy winner instead of himself, after a private consultation with Mary Tillman.

For example, he could recommend an Invictus athlete who worked exceptionally hard to translate the Warrior Games into the inaugural Invictus Games in London in 2014, or ditto the Games in the US in 2016. That would be seen as a symbolic award on behalf of all.

So he won't do that.

Unless he's made to.

Oh dear. That somehow makes the whole thing even worse 😬

"Harry's nomination for prestigious award allegedly left 'deserving American military members' in tears

"Prince Harry has come under fire in the US for his new honour as majority of Americans think the Duke does not deserve it."

This is not a good look.

https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1204824-prince-harrys-new-honour-angers-americans

Is she on the board, do we know? Was this anything to do with her?

I'd like to know that too!

This is when the grey suits step in and do their job, I cannot believe Harry or even his supporters could not see that this would ruffle feathers. The award hasn’t even been given to the founders of the warrior games. PR wise it would have been better exposure for Harry to have asked if it could be diverted to Invictus, he could have had ex American wounded veterans to receive the award on behalf of Invictus. Now it’s a bit of a mess, including the videos of Harry and his “unconscious bias”.

Odd things happening with links on the Foundation now.

I have read the panel includes Tillmans widow, but not from any reliable source.

According to the ESPY Awards' process, winners are chosen through global online fan voting from candidates selected by the ESPY Select Nominating Committee. However, McAfee slammed the process, suggesting it lacked due diligence.

No chance of gerrymandering the vote there, nonononono.

OUR VALUES

Pat inspired us all to live our lives to fullest, and we've shaped this foundation around key principles that mattered to Pat the most.

SERVICE
Dedicated to service beyond self in and out of uniform

SCHOLARSHIP
A lifelong learner, passionate about intellectual growth

HUMBLE LEADERSHIP
Selflessly committed to leading by example

IMPACT
Determined to unite others and
advance ideas that change the world.

It is not difficult to see why reservations have been expressed.

I agree that Prince Harry, while being an earnest contributor, doesn't qualify for the award.
He is not brave and honourable in the way he communicates spitefully about his own flesh and blood. Many a soldier fought for King, Queen and country. Him slagging off about his closest makes him too disloyal to receive the award..

Thank you, @TallestSally . I think we know who that rules out.

Hopefully his advisors step in and hopefully he'll listen to them.

I don’t really have a problem with how and why he got nominated, but the fact Harry or his representatives didn’t understand how divisive this could be.

If he does accept it, it will be interesting to hear how he is introduced "Welcome, Harry, Duke of Sussex, who has ........??"