Prince Harry’s recent appearance at the ESPY Awards, where he was honored for his work with the Invictus Games, was expected to be a highlight of celebration.
However, it quickly spiraled into a public relations nightmare.
Instead of basking in the accolades for his dedication to supporting injured veterans and active-duty personnel, he found himself facing criticism for allegedly snubbing a group of veterans present at the event.
The ESPY Awards, renowned for celebrating excellence in sports, recognized Harry with the Pat Tillman Award.
But rather than being a moment of pride, it ignited a firestorm of backlash.
A staggering 70,000 people signed a petition demanding the revocation of the award, questioning Harry’s qualifications for such an honor.
The discontent reached a peak when Mary Tillman, mother of the late NFL player and Army Ranger Pat Tillman, publicly expressed her disapproval of Harry receiving this prestigious accolade.
Adding fuel to the fire, reports emerged that Harry had overlooked a group of veterans, including Medal of Honor recipient Israel del Toro, who were special guests at the event.
An anonymous source revealed to podcaster Kinsey Schofield that Harry failed to acknowledge or engage with these veterans, who were seated in a less prominent area of the venue.
This apparent oversight was particularly glaring since even the head of the ESPY Awards took the time to greet the veterans before mingling with the main guests.
The veterans themselves expressed their disappointment in a letter, describing the incident as a well-orchestrated snub.
They noted that when Harry’s name was announced, some veterans reacted with groans, feeling that his speech lacked a genuine connection and resembled a political address rather than a heartfelt tribute to those he claimed to support.
In a surprising twist, Israel Del Toro Jr., who received the Pat Tillman Award in 2017 and is an Air Force Master Sergeant injured in Afghanistan, came to Harry’s defense during an interview with TMZ.
He praised Harry for his commitment to helping veterans.
However, a recent Reddit post shed light on an intriguing moment: during a speech at an Air Force Ball in San Antonio, Del Toro received a standing ovation but notably did not mention Prince Harry at all.
This omission could suggest a deliberate distancing from Harry amidst the ongoing controversy.
So, what does this mean for Prince Harry?
His apparent neglect of the veterans at the ESPY Awards, combined with the backlash surrounding his award, paints a picture of a royal struggling to navigate the complex world of public relations.
Related Stories
