ABC
Prince Harry delivered a strong speech on the 2024 ESPY Awards on Thursday evening … and in it, he paid homage to Pat Tillman‘s mother — this regardless of her earlier scathing criticism of him.
ESPN introduced weeks in the past the Duke of Sussex would get the Pat Tillman Award for Service on the annual present — and days later, Mary Tillman ripped Harry and the community for the choice. She mentioned she was “shocked” by the selection … calling the royal, “a controversial and divisive individual.”
However Harry took the excessive street when it got here time to speak in regards to the honor onstage on the Dolby Theater in L.A. … taking a number of seconds out of his acceptance deal with to acknowledge Mary.
“Her advocacy for Pat’s legacy is deeply personal and one that I respect,” he mentioned to the packed home full of A-list celebs. “The bond between a mother and son is eternal and transcends even the greatest losses.”
Harry additionally thanked Pat’s widow, Marie Tillman Shenton … earlier than he talked in regards to the purpose he was getting the award — his function within the creation of The Invictus Video games Basis, which helps wounded and injured vets.
Harry — who served his nation throughout two excursions in Afghanistan — expressed gratitude and appreciation for all of the women and men who’ve sacrificed a lot via their service through the years.
“This award belongs to them,” he mentioned, “not to me.”
The gang — which included Harry’s spouse, Meghan Markle — gave Harry a standing ovation earlier than and after the speech. On X, former Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III praised him for the entire phrases he delivered onstage.
As we beforehand reported, whereas Mary was initially upset over the selection for the award … previous recipients instructed TMZ they had been in favor of it — with U.S. Air Drive Grasp Sgt. Israel Del Toro Jr., who obtained the Tillman honor in 2017, calling Harry a worthy recipient.
For ESPN’s half, it defended its resolution within the wake of Mary’s criticism, saying in an announcement on July 1 the Prince and his basis do “incredible work and ESPN believes this is a cause worth celebrating.”
