PR professionals weigh in on Prince Harry’s ESPY controversy

Pat Tillman was a safety for the Arizona Cardinals who gave up his NFL career and pledged $3.6 million to turn in as a military Ranger on September 11, 2001. He was shot and killed in Afghanistan on April 22, 2004, NPR reports, although the Army has not disclosed how Pat died until recently.

ESPN and Pat Tillman Substructure selected Prince Harry to win the 2024 award because of his work with the Invictus Games. On the other hand, the declaration was temporarily met with a complaint.

Representatives for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex did not respond to Trade Insider’s request for comment.

Some people believe Prince Harry didn’t deserve the Pat Tillman Award

The Invictus video game is a worldwide celebration of wounded veterans. Following his two tours in Afghanistan as a pilot for the British Armed Forces, Harry became an inaugural patron of the Invictus Games.

The Games celebrate their tenth anniversary in May each year, and 23 countries are represented each week.

On June 27, ESPN announced that Harry would receive the Pat Tillman Award “in recognition of his tireless work in positively impacting the veteran community through the power of sports.”

Pat’s mother, Mary Tillman, recently told the Daily Mail that she was “shocked” by ESPN’s plan to give the royal an award.

“I am puzzled as to why they chose such a controversial and divisive figure to receive the award,” he advised at the inauguration. “There are recipients who are far more suitable. There are individuals working in the veteran community who are doing tremendous work to assist veterans.”

Mary said, “These individuals do not have the money, resources, connections or privilege that Prince Harry has.” “I think these types of individuals should be recognized.”

Mary no longer paints for Pat Tillman Substructure or plays any role in deciding who wins the award once a year. A trade.org petition urging ESPN to reconsider awarding the award to Harry also gained popularity online, gathering more than 76,000 signatures as of Friday.

Harry received a similar complaint when he was honored with the Living Legend of Gliding Award in January.

Despite the debate, ESPN and Pat Tillman Substructure stood by their decision, as the organizations shared in a comment with Trade Insider ahead of the ESPYs.

“ESPN, in collaboration with the Tillman Foundation, is honoring Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, specifically for the work of the Invictus Games Foundation as it brings healing through the power of sports to military service members and surrounding veterans. Celebrating its 10th year of promotion in the world,” ESPN noted in its comments.

“While we understand that not everyone will agree with all of the honorees selected for any award, the Invictus Games Foundation does incredible work, and ESPN believes it is a cause worth celebrating,” comments Continued.

Prince Harry commemorates Mary Tillman in his acceptance speech

Harry attended the ESPYs with his wife, Meghan Markle.

As Pace accepted his award, Harry focused on his speech at the Invictus Games, beginning with thanking Pat’s country, his widow, Mary Tillman Shenton, president and co-founder of Pat Tillman Substructures.

He also immediately talked about Mary Tillman, pointing to her relationship with Princess Diana.

Harry noted, “His advocacy for Pat’s legacy is extremely personal and I respect that.” “The bond between mother and son is eternal and transcends even the greatest loss.”

Harry noted that he commissioned the award as “a voice on behalf of the Invictus Games Foundation and the thousands of veterans and service personnel from more than 20 countries who have made the Games a reality.”

Ivan Nierman, CEO and founder of global PR company Red Banner, told BI that even though Harry’s work with the Invictus Games is “commendable”, and he tried to change the narrative around the award with his accent, it could be He was conscious of Harry and rejected the award altogether.

“Harry deserves recognition for the work of the foundation and his advocacy on behalf of soldiers,” Neerman said. “If he really wanted to maximize the PR opportunity for himself, it would have been rejecting the award and saying he wasn’t going to accept it and then flipping it to recognize other people who The recipients were worthy.”

He said, “I think it would have been a very bold and smart PR move that probably would have won him more points with the public than accepting the award.”

Harry and Meghan’s PR techniques are becoming outdated

Nierman noted that the Sussexes’ appearance at the ESPYs “put Meghan and Harry back on the hot seat instead of shining a light on others who could have received awards.”

Harry and Meghan have consistently been accused of overshadowing others in the public eye. Serena Williams, host of the 2024 ESPYs and the couple’s close friend, pushed back against that train of thought during the show’s opening monologue with a funny story.

Williams noted, “It’s well, very often indeed that I get to be in a room with actual royalty, and tonight is no exception.” “Prince Harry and Meghan are here. Let’s leave it to them.”

He added, “But please, Harry and Meghan, try not to breathe too much tonight.” “Because it’s my night, and I don’t want to be affected by accusations that you guys are taking in too much oxygen, okay?”

Nierman told BI he thinks the latest backlash against Harry is sensible, given that he has previously spoken about his royal life in his 2022 Netflix documentary, “Harry & Meghan” and in Harry’s 2023 memoir, “Spare.” Already told.

Nierman noted, “I believe they were completely outmaneuvering the royal family in terms of their PR strategy because they were willing to do big things and be bold and write a tell-all book and make a Netflix documentary. “

“I don’t think the public finds it that interesting anymore,” he said.

A week and a half after the upcoming “Spare” was published, Harry and Meghan are still transitioning into their post-royal life.

For example, their Spotify and Netflix ventures have no longer taken off to the level the couple had hoped. Despite “Harry & Meghan” being Netflix’s most-watched debut documentary, the pair have yet to serve the streamer with any other luck. Additionally, he ended his partnership with Spotify in 2023 and reportedly did not receive a total payment of $20 million from the industry because he did not create enough content.

Meghan, a former blogger, will soon go back to the roots of her lifestyle. He recently shared a glimpse of his vintage project, American Riviera Orchard.

Meanwhile, clothing and military service remain touchstones for Harry through things like the Invictus Games and fund polo events, making the warm reaction to the prince even more difficult in relation to his community character.

Harry can move in the right direction again

Although Harry was criticized at the ESPYs, he and Meghan have certainly received attention leading up to 2024.

Hiring two notables to their press team later in April, Harry and Meghan went on a hit quasi-royal tour of Nigeria in May, which is busy webhosting the Invictus Games.

And in March, Mison Harriman, a photographer who worked with Meghan and Harry, defended her when UK tabloids accused her of doctoring photos of the couple. Harry and Meghan’s dignified move comes as Kensington Palace is being widely criticized for releasing an altered photo of Kate Middleton and her children.

Now, Harry may want to take a cue from Prince William, who has had a string of definitive press moments in new weeks, to move in the right direction again.

From sharing a carefree photo with his kids on his birthday to taking part in Taylor Quiz’s era tour, the Time King has come across as approachable and relatable recently.

“William has done things that humanize him a little bit in the public eye,” Nierman said. he said, pointing to cheering for the Prince of Wales for England at the ECU Championship and dancing to a live performance of the Quicks.

He added, “It just creates or promotes a side of William that people haven’t seen much – the softer, sillier, more approachable side.”

This is a significant change, as allowing access has long been Harry’s secret weapon, as royal experts have told BI so far. By staying true to his well-worn playbook, Harry can once again turn the tide of community spirit.