An online debate is brewing over whether or not tennis legend Venus Williams initially intentionally snubbed Prince Harry by remaining seated as he was called to accept the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the ESPY Awards.
The Duke of Sussex was given the honor due to his work on behalf of veterans involved with the Invictus Games. It was not without controversy, despite Harry’s exemplary service record as an Apache combat pilot.
Video from the ESPYs shows Venus remaining seated as Harry is called to accept the award. She does not clap while others in the vicinity do. It almost appears as if she is glaring at Meghan Markle.
Video does show her standing next to Markle later on, the New York Post reports, and there would seemingly be no reason for animosity between the two parties.
Still, some viewers suggested Williams eventually stood only due to pressure from those around her who gave Markle’s husband a rousing ovation.
Did Venus Williams Snub Prince Harry?
I guess we’ll let individual readers decide whether or not Venus Williams snubbed Prince Harry at the ESPY Awards.
Some viewers on X also claimed the Prince and Markle left the award show immediately after he won the Pat Tillman Award.
There is some conversation between Harry and Venus before his wife interjects, but the tennis star appears to push back from him while the Prince’s body language appears almost apologetic.
What exactly is going on here is anybody’s guess.
#HarryandMeghan taking their time leaving the ESPYS after the award-they bounced immediately-blocking the stage, & ppl are yelling for them to move. Looks like talking to Alexis Ohanian & daughter, #MeghanMarkle turns her back on her & herds Harry. Venus Williams ignores them. pic.twitter.com/99ylgw1U3u
— Princess CarParkle (@unreMARKLEble) July 12, 2024
Venus’s sister Serena hosted the awards show and joked: “Please, Harry and Meghan, try not to breathe too much tonight. This is my night and I don’t want to be overshadowed by accusations you guys are taking up too much oxygen.”
Some Felt Harry Wasn’t Deserving
Many fans felt Prince Harry wasn’t deserving of an award that honored the sacrifice of Pat Tillman.
The former NFL player turned down a multi-million dollar contract to enlist in the Army after the September 11 attacks. He was tragically killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan in 2004, sacrificing his life in service to his nation.
One of those who didn’t think the Duke was deserving was Tillman’s mother.
“I am shocked as to why they would select such a controversial and divisive individual to receive the award,” she told the Daily Mail.
“There are recipients that are far more fitting. There are individuals working in the veteran community that are doing tremendous things to assist veterans,” she continued.
“These individuals do not have the money, resources, connections or privilege that Prince Harry has. I feel that those types of individuals should be recognized.”
While his work with the Invictus Games is what earned him the honor, his legacy there has also been tainted.
The Duke of Sussex is the founding patron of the Invictus Games. The event is an international Paralympic-style multi-sport event featuring hundreds of wounded veterans.
That said, veterans were recently asking him to step away because the event had become “too royal”.
Royal biographer Angela Levin claimed the event was “more about Harry and wife Meghan Markle than the veterans themselves.”
Walking out of the ESPYs after winning the Pat Tillman award shows it’s all about them as well.
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