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Tonight is the night of the highly anticipated ESPYs awards show, but Prince Harry still finds himself at the center of controversy even on the day of the event. The petition demanding that Harry not accept the award he is set to receive has now reached its goal of 150,000 signatures, showing the immense backlash against the decision.
With less than 12 hours to go before the ceremony begins, pressure is mounting on both Harry and ESPN. Many feel Harry is a poor choice for an award that is supposed to honor those actively working to improve the lives of veterans. Harry's defenders argue his creation of the Invictus Games provides important opportunities for ill and injured military personnel, but critics say there are more deserving recipients.
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Adding fuel to the fire, Prince Harry decided to issue a rare statement about the upcoming Invictus Games that will take place in Vancouver in early 2023. While supporters see this as highlighting the good work of the Games, to many it came across as a blatant PR move designed to shift the narrative away from the growing controversy over his ESPY award. By focusing on congratulating the British team and touting the expansion to winter sports, some felt Harry was trying to remind people of all he has supposedly done for veterans through the Games.
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However, those questioning the merits of the Invictus Games itself say the statement only raised more concerns. With just 500 total competitors set to take part across 20 countries, they argue very few veterans are actually able to benefit. There are also questions about what happens to participants after the "euphoric high" of competing wears off without any sustainable support systems in place. To some, it looks like an elaborate publicity stunt that mainly serves to boost Harry and Meghan's brand over truly helping veterans long-term.
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Admiral Lord Allen West, former Royal Navy Chief, added fuel to the fire saying Harry "ought to think very hard and long about accepting this particular award as it doesn't travel well with people in the military." He believes it shows Harry's "lack of experience and understanding of the commercial sector." This theory that ESPN is only rewarding Harry for publicity gained traction, that the network wins from headlines while badly damaging Harry's reputation with veterans themselves.
The criticism from Pat Tillman's mother also cannot be ignored. As an avid advocate for veterans, she has been very vocal in expressing that there are far more worthy recipients who have dedicated their lives to the cause rather than those using it for commercial gain or self-promotion.
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So as Harry prepares to accept a major award tonight, controversy swirls. The petition against his recognition continues gaining signatures by the thousands. His poorly timed PR statement only drew more scrutiny of his and Meghan's alleged motives. And respected military voices and veteran supporters publicly question whether he truly understands or helps their community. All this means the ESPYs ceremony is shaping up to be the latest chapter in an ongoing saga that shows no sign of losing steam. No matter the outcome tonight, this debate over Prince Harry's role and recognition is one that will continue reverberating industry-wide for some time to come.
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