American veteran Pat Tillman’s mother has spoken out after Britain’s Prince Harry was picked to receive an award that was set up to honor her late son.
Mary Tillman said there were other “far more fitting” recipients for the Pat Tillman Award, which was set up by ESPN in 2014 to recognize people “with a strong connection to sports” who have served others “in a way that echoes” her son’s legacy.
“I am shocked as to why they would select such a controversial and divisive individual to receive the award,” she told British newspaper the Daily Mail over the weekend. “There are individuals working in the veteran community that are doing tremendous things to assist veterans,” she added. “These individuals do not have the money, resources, connections or privilege that Prince Harry has.”
Tillman confirmed to NBC News that she had made the comments, but she declined a further interview.
NBC News has reached out to the Archewell Foundation — an organization founded by Harry and his wife, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex — for comment.
Harry was selected for his “tireless work in making a positive impact for the veteran community through the power of sport,” ESPN said in a statement announcing this year’s recipient.
He was set to receive the award at the ESPYS in Los Angeles on July 11.
Pat Tillman turned down a three-year, $3.6 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals to enlist in the military in May 2002. Deeply moved by the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Tillman said he felt an obligation to make his life count.
“My great grandfather was at Pearl Harbor, and a lot of my family has … gone and fought in wars, and I really haven’t done a damn thing as far as laying myself on the line like that,” Tillman told NBC News on Sept. 12, 2001.
While serving in Khost Province in southeastern Afghanistan in April 2004, Tillman was killed during a firefight. Initially said to have been killed by enemy fire in a battle with the Taliban, the U.S. military later revealed that Tillman was killed by friendly fire.
Harry, a fellow Afghanistan veteran, served two tours in the country, before he went on to found the Invictus Games, an athletic competition for sick and wounded service personnel and veterans, in 2014.
In a statement late last month, the Invictus Games Foundation quoted Harry as saying the Pat Tillman Award was “for our entire service community.”
Emily Nash, royal editor of Hello! magazine, told NBC News on Monday that there “was a sense from some quarters that Harry already has a platform, he has already been recognized for his work in this field and perhaps this honor should go to those unsung heroes working behind the scenes.”
Nonetheless, a petition asking ESPN to rethink the honor for Harry had received nearly 30,000 signatures by Monday afternoon.
“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,” an ESPN spokesperson told NBC News on Monday.
