The Sussexes are two of the “most unpopular figures in the US”, a royal commentator has said after Pat Tillman’s mother Mary took aim at ESPN for giving the duke an award honouring her son’s legacy.
Sky News host Rita Panahi says a petition has already been launched to demand ESPN rescind the honour given to Prince Harry.
The Duke of Sussex is set to receive the Pat Tillman Award for Service, created in honour of NFL player-turned-US Army Ranger Pat Tillman, who joined the military after the 9/11 attacks.
Mr Tillman’s mother, Mary Tillman, over the weekend spoke out on the issue, saying she was “shocked” by the decision to give Prince Harry the award.
“Not only is he a divisive, controversial figure, but what has he done to deserve such an honour? You would think there would be so many more worthy people who would be better suited to take this award,” Ms Panahi said.
Mary Tillman this week hit out at the sports network after it awarded the Duke of Sussex the Pat Tillman Award, which honours the legacy of her NFL star son who died in action after joining the US military following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
Mary Tillman this week hit out at ESPN after the sports network awarded the Duke of Sussex the Pat Tillman Award. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images for Invictus Games Foundation
An online petition calling for ESPN to “rethink” the award has so far accumulated about 48,000 signatures.
Speaking to GB News on Tuesday, royal commentator Nile Gardiner said the renegade prince and his wife Meghan Markle are “two of the most unpopular figures in the US today”.
“Harry and Meghan’s narcissism does not go down very well in the United States and America,” he said.
“Most American people really love the Royal Family, okay. They do not look kindly upon Harry and Meghan trashing them in the United States and does not go down very well.
“They’re very divisive figures, and this award is very, very controversial. There’s a huge backlash in the United States, and it’s an illustration of just how unpopular Harry and Meghan are on both sides of the Atlantic.”
Many Americans quickly took to the comments section of the petition to voice their outrage, with one person contrasting the differences between Mr Tillman and the Duke’s Army service.
“Pat Tillman sacrificed his life for duty and country! Harry walked away from duty and country & spit on his commander in chief, country, duty & family on his way out,” they said.
“All for a Hollywood dream! I’m appalled as an American that you would give him this award. It now means nothing!
‘To Di For’ podcast host Kinsey Schofield says there’s a lot of pushback over the decision to honour Prince Harry at the ESPY sports awards this month.
“ESPN – one of their most highly paid, highly rated – Pat McAfee, on his show, they described this nomination as probably the most embarrassing thing they’ve seen in their entire lives,” Ms Schofield told Sky News host Rita Panahi.
“This is their employer and they questioned whether the ESPY’s awards committee even did their homework on its candidate search in the first place.”
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Another person said “Harry is the complete opposite of Pat Tillman” and he should be “removed” as the award recipient because he is an “embarrassment”.
Mr Tillman’s mum told the Daily Mail there are recipients “far more fitting” like “individuals working in the veteran community that are doing tremendous things to assist veterans.”
“I am shocked as to why they would select such a controversial and divisive individual to receive the award,” she said.
The baffled mother also pointed out that Harry is already famous and has received plenty of awards in his life, so ESPN should have chosen someone else who’s never been in the spotlight.
ESPN on Tuesday doubled down on its decision to bestow the major sports award on Prince Harry and cited his work founding the Invictus Games Foundation.
“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 emailed to SkyNews.com.au.
“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.”
Sky News host Rita Panahi says a petition has already been launched to demand ESPN rescind the honour given to Prince Harry.
The Duke of Sussex is set to receive the Pat Tillman Award for Service, created in honour of NFL player-turned-US Army Ranger Pat Tillman, who joined the military after the 9/11 attacks.
Mr Tillman’s mother, Mary Tillman, over the weekend spoke out on the issue, saying she was “shocked” by the decision to give Prince Harry the award.
“Not only is he a divisive, controversial figure, but what has he done to deserve such an honour? You would think there would be so many more worthy people who would be better suited to take this award,” Ms Panahi said.
The Pat Tillman award was created in 2014 and has been given to a person with a strong connection to sports who has served others in a way that echoes the legacy of the US hero, who was tragically killed in Afghanistan in 2004.
He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart medals.
Despite being marred in controversy over his royal life, Harry — who served the British military for 10 years, including two tours in Afghanistan as a helicopter pilot — has been lauded for his role in launching the Invictus Games.
The Games, created in 2014, serve as a multi-sport, Paralympic-style games for wounded or injured servicemen and veterans.
“This one is for our entire service community,” Harry said after learning that he will receive the Pat Tillman Award.
The ESPY award ceremony on July 11 will be held in the Los Angeles Dolby Theatre hosted by tennis legend Serena Williams.