The 2024 ESPY Awards presentation featured the customary glitz, glamour, and celebration of sports excellence. However, one of the evening’s most electric moments came not from the exploits of an elite professional athlete, but from the passionate remarks of a war veteran. Sergeant Israel Del Toro entered the stage to present an award, but he used the chance to give a passionate speech that enthralled the crowd and earned a long standing ovation.
Sergeant Del Toro, an Afghanistan combat veteran who was seriously injured by an IED detonation, didn’t hold back in his words. He voiced great resentment and harsh criticism of Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, for recent remarks he made concerning veteran treatment and benefits.
“Prince Harry likes to talk a big game about supporting veterans, but the simple fact is he has no real understanding of the sacrifices we’ve made,” Del Toro said the captivated audience. “Harry never served a day in his life, so how could he possibly know what it’s like to put your life on the line for your country?” The crowd exploded in loud shouts and applause, apparently responding to the sergeant’s angry statements.
Del Toro went on to accuse Harry of attempting to virtue signal and gain attention to himself by commenting on veterans’ concerns without any understanding or life experience. “It’s easy for someone like Harry, born into wealth and privilege, to claim he cares about veterans,” the actor remarked. “But words are cheap. We want to see tangible results, not just heated words. Harry has no understanding what it’s like to battle for the treatment and benefits you were promised after being injured in conflict.”
The audience’s roar of approval only grew louder as it was evident many in attendance wholeheartedly agreed with Del Toro’s scathing rebuke of the royal. The sergeant’s voice grew more emotional as he continued, “I’ll never forget the day I nearly died on that battlefield in Afghanistan—the pain, the fear, the uncertainty of whether I’d ever see my family again. That’s the kind of trauma most people can’t even begin to imagine. And we ask so little in return—just the promise of quality healthcare and support for us and our families. But too often that promise is broken.”
Del Toro paused momentarily, appearing to collect himself before speaking again. “When someone like Prince Harry, who’s never had to bear that burden, starts lecturing us about veteran care, it’s a slap in the face. He has no right to tell us how to fix these problems when he’s never even begun to understand them.”
The crowd erupted into another thunderous standing ovation, many wiping tears from their eyes as they showed their unwavering support for Del Toro and the other brave men and women who have sacrificed so much for their country.
After the ovation went down, the sergeant ended his speech with a direct challenge to the missing Prince Harry. “If you truly want to help soldiers, Harry, please spend some time with us. Come observe the hardships we confront, the fights we fight even after we leave the battlefield. Perhaps you’ll earn the privilege to speak on our behalf. Until then, keep your speculations to yourself.”
Del Toro’s heated statements appeared to capture the sentiments of many veterans and military families who have grown tired of misinformed outsiders attempting to mould the narrative surrounding veteran care and benefits. The sergeant’s passionate defence of his brothers and sisters in arms struck a deep chord with the audience in the room, as well as many more who watched at home.
As Del Toro left the stage, the crowd maintained their standing ovation, refusing to sit down until the sergeant had fully exited. It was a display of respect and solidarity that left little doubt about where the hearts and minds of those in attendance lay on this issue. For Sergeant Israel Del Toro, it was a moment to powerfully give voice to the frustrations of the veteran community, and the audience made it clear they were listening.
In a world often dominated by celebrity culture and superficial platitudes, Del Toro’s raw and heartfelt speech was a stark reminder of the real sacrifices made by those who serve their country. His words underscored the importance of genuine understanding and action over empty rhetoric, calling for a deeper commitment to addressing the needs of veterans.
The 2024 ESPY Awards may have celebrated athletic achievements, but it was Del Toro’s impassioned rebuke that left an indelible mark on the evening, highlighting the ongoing struggles and resilience of the veteran community.