Fans wondered if Venus Williams shaded Prince Harry at the 2024 ESPYs while he accepted the Pat Tillman Award For Service.
During Thursday’s ceremony, Williams sat down next to the royal and his wife, Meghan Markle, when he was called on stage to accept the award.
A proud Markle, 42, immediately shot up and clapped for Harry, 39, who went on stage to get his awards. Members of the audience followed Markle’s example and gave him a standing ovation.
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The tennis legend, however, remained seated and didn’t clap for the California-based royal.
Williams, 44, was later spotted standing up with the rest of the audience while Harry gave his speech.
During his acceptance speech, the father of two spoke about how the purpose of the Invictus Games is to create a “community” that focuses on bringing “people together no matter one’s nationality, background or personal struggles.”
Despite Williams standing up for Harry and being seen attentively listening to him, many fans took to social media to share their divided opinions on the situation.
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“I’m loving Venus at the moment. But let’s be honest. Should any wife LEAD the standing ovation for her husband? Especially if she’s in the front row? And is Meghan doing this for Harry? It seems more performative to draw attention to herself,” one person criticized on X (formerly Twitter).
“Venus is not standing and not clapping. She knows this is a bought award,” another person claimed.
“Are they still butt hurt that Venus and that whole front row shaded Harry… the video was even crystal clear,” someone else shared.
“Venus did not stand up or clap… ooooh the shade. And the side eye from the audience was strong,” a social media person pointed out.
“I love Venus Williams. Thank you for not putting on a fake face and hiding your true feelings about this ridiculous man,” someone added.
However, other people theorized that Williams couldn’t see what the rest of the attendees were doing because she was in the front row.
“A lot of people are not standing – everyone else probably just felt pressured to,” someone pointed out.
“Lots of people not clapping?” another user tweeted.
However, a source assured Pvnew that there is “no story here” because “you can see in the video she stood up to show her support.”
A rep for Williams didn’t return Pvnew’s request for comment.
Notably, Markle has been friends with Venus’ sister and the host of the ESPYs, Serena Williams, for over a decade.
The “Suits” actress previously gushed that they “hit it off immediately” before she got invited to her and Harry’s 2018 wedding.
Serena took the opportunity to tease the famed couple and jokingly asked them to “try not to breathe too much tonight,” because she does “not want to be overshadowed by the accusations that you guys are taking up too much oxygen.”
Harry accepted the Pat Tillman Award –– which is named after Tillman, a former NFL player who died while serving in the army –– after the late serviceman’s mom, Mary Tillman, criticized the award show’s decision.
“I am shocked as to why they would select such a controversial and divisive individual to receive the award,” she told the Daily Mail last month. “There are recipients that are far more fitting. Individuals are working in the veteran community that are doing tremendous things to assist veterans.”
The royal didn’t acknowledge the controversy, but he did shout out Mary and her “advocacy for Pat’s legacy.”
“The bond between a mother and son is eternal and transcends even the greatest losses,” he said in part.
