Tonight, Prince Harry will accept the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the ESPYs, but there’s already controversy surrounding his selection.
Critics, including Tillman’s mother, are questioning why Harry was chosen for the honor. However, royal butler Grant Harrold says Harry and Meghan are used to ignoring such criticism and focusing on their lives.
“They’re probably just living their usual lives, avoiding TV and newspapers,” Harrold shared. “People talk about them all the time because they’re so famous.”
Earlier this week, it was reported that Harry was surprised by the negative reaction. He has a long military history and founded the Invictus Games to support veterans. He served in the British Army for ten years with two tours in Afghanistan.
“Harry has always been very private,” Harrold mentioned. “I bet he copes by just continuing as normal. He’d never want to upset anyone and might even refuse the award if he thinks it causes too much trouble.”
ESPN defended their choice by praising Harry’s work with the Invictus Games Foundation, which they said greatly benefits veterans through sports.
💫 Stay updated on celebrity news Get the latest entertainment news delivered straight to your inbox.
“With support from the Tillman Foundation,” ESPN stated, “we honor Prince Harry for his contributions.”
But Mary Tillman disagrees. In an interview with the Daily Mail, she called Harry’s selection “divisive.” She emphasized that other veterans’ advocates deserve recognition more than someone with Harry’s resources.
“I’m shocked they’d pick someone so controversial,” she told them. “There are many people doing amazing things for veterans without Harry’s advantages.” 💔