Prince Harry's recent Espy Award, recognizing his work with the Invictus Games, was meant to be a moment of triumph. However, the event took an unexpected turn when he was reportedly ignored by a group of ex-service personnel, including Medal of Honor recipient Israel Del Toro.
Harry, who received the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the Espy Awards for his dedication to supporting injured veterans and active service members through the Invictus Games, has found himself at the center of controversy. The backlash wasn't directed at the award itself but rather at Harry's apparent snub of a group of military veterans present at the ceremony.
The Espy Awards, which celebrate excellence in sports, saw Harry honored for his contributions. Despite this recognition, over 70,000 people signed a petition demanding the revocation of his award, questioning whether he truly deserved such an accolade. The criticism intensified when Mary Tilman, mother of the late NFL player and US Army Ranger Pat Tillman, publicly disapproved of Harry receiving the award.
The situation took a new twist with a report from an anonymous source shared with podcaster Kinsey Scoffield. According to this source, Prince Harry ignored a group of ex-service personnel, including a Medal of Honor recipient, who were seated in the upper levels of the venue, away from the main guests. Despite being aware of their presence, Harry reportedly made no effort to meet or acknowledge them. The head of the Espy Awards, in contrast, took the time to greet the veterans before joining the main guest reception, highlighting Harry's apparent oversight.
The anonymous letter described the incident as a "perfectly choreographed snub," expressing the group's disappointment. The veterans noted that when Harry's name was announced, some groaned, feeling that his speech was crafted to win favor rather than to genuinely connect with the audience.
Adding another layer to the controversy, Israel Del Toro Jr., a recipient of the Pat Tillman Award in 2017 and an Air Force Master Sergeant wounded in Afghanistan, defended Harry’s award in an interview with TMZ, praising the prince’s commendable work with veterans. However, a recent Reddit thread revealed that Del Toro, who was the guest speaker at the Air Force Ball in San Antonio, did not mention Prince Harry during his speech, despite receiving a standing ovation and applause from the audience.
The donation to the Wounded Warriors Project made in Del Toro’s name further highlighted the subtle distance from Harry amidst the growing controversy.
So, what does this all mean for Prince Harry? His apparent disregard for the veterans at the Espy Awards, combined with the backlash against his award, paints a picture of a royal figure struggling with public relations. The irony is palpable: while Harry aims to champion the cause of veterans, he seems to be stumbling in directly engaging with those he claims to support.
