Anger over ESPN's decision to award Caitlyn Jenner ESPY courage award instead of basketball star Lauren Hill

• Caitlyn Jenner, 65, will be awarded the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPY event in Los Angeles on July 15
• But some criticized the decision, saying that Lauren Hill, the 19-year-old basketball star who died of cancer in April, should have won instead
• There were also rumors that Jenner had been named as the winner ahead of wounded war vet Noah Galloway, who was a runner up
• ESPN denied there was a runner up and said it was proud to honor Jenner for starting 'a constructive dialogue about progress and acceptance'

By Lydia Warren For Dailymail.com

Published: 07:41 EST, 4 June 2015 | Updated: 12:13 EST, 4 June 2015

While Caitlyn Jenner will be honored with an ESPY courage award next month for coming out as transgender, some critics believe other, more deserving candidates have been overlooked.

Twitter users questioned why Jenner, who introduced herself as Caitlyn on the cover of Vanity Fair this week, will receive the honor instead of Lauren Hill, the 19-year-old basketball player who lost her battle with brain cancer in April.

'Elective surgery isn't courage or bravery,' one Twitter user named Kristin wrote on Wednesday. 'Fighting brain cancer with grace and dignity at 19 is. Lauren is most deserving.' 

'I googled courage,' added Brandon Saho of Fox19 as he shared a photograph of the teenager and used the hashtag 'LaurenHillEspy'.

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Criticism: Caitlyn Jenner, pictured on the Vanity Fair cover released on Monday, will receive an ESPY award for her courage next month - but some have asked why Lauren Hill, right, was not named for the award

Anger: One Twitter user said it was an 'embarrassment' that Jenner had been honored by the award

Shock: Another said that the 19-year-old cancer victim was 'most deserving' for the bravery award

'Lauren Hill deserves the ESPY award for courage, and it should not even be a discussion,' another user named Josh wrote. 'What an absolute embarrassment.'

Others pointed out that Hill, who had played for Mount St. Joseph, raised more than $1 million for cancer research before she passed away a year after being diagnosed with a brain tumor. 

Following Hill's death on April 10, she was remembered for her kindness, bravery and skills on the basketball court, and sports greats including LeBron James took to Twitter to express their admiration for the teen.

'Dear Lauren Hill, You are the true definition of strength, courage, power, leadership, etc etc! Your time spent on earth will never be forgotten,' the 30-year-old sports star wrote.

Jenner, 65, will be awarded the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPY event at the Nolia Theatre in Los Angeles, California on July 15.

On Tuesday, the former Olympian and reality TV star posted a link announcing her win to her Twitter account, adding: 'What the hell am I going to wear?'

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Courage: Hill, pictured before and after she started treatment for brain cancer, passed away in April

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Beloved: The college basketball player raised more than $1 million for cancer research before her death

 

Lauren Hill scores first basket for MSJ in November 2014

 

 

Designers, including Marc Jacobs, responded that they would be able to help.

Jenner said, for the first time, she will be able to 'stand as my true self in front of my peers'.

Among the critics, Tom Cruise's son Connor also slammed the decision to give the courage prize to Jenner, saying there were 'people that actually deserve the award'.

The 20-year-old tweeted - and then quickly deleted - a rant against the star.

'Really?? Winning the AA award for courage?? Ashton is gonna come out and yell PUNK'D,' Connor tweeted on Wednesday.

'Don't get me wrong. Do what you feel like doing and don't let anyone stop you. But everyone is taking this way too seriously.

'There are so many more important things that should be talked about…And SO MANY MORE IMPORTANT PEOPLE that actually deserve an award.'

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Rumors: Others suggested that wounded war vet Noah Galloway (pictured on Dancing with the Stars last month) was a runner up to the award, but ESPN later denied this was true

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Rant: Connor Cruise, the son of Tom Cruise (pictured together in 2013), also slammed ESPN's decision to give the award to Jenner - but he promptly deleted his tweets after he was criticized for the outburst

After receiving his own criticism and deleting the tweets, he wrote: 'Totally twisting what I said, if you read what I said I totally support being happy and am glad she is happy.' 

Following the announcement, there were also rumors that Jenner had been named the winner ahead of wounded war vet, Noah Galloway.

Galloway, from Birmingham, Alabama, lost his left arm above the elbow and left leg above the knee during an IED attack in Iraq in 2005 and later won third place on 'Dancing with the Stars'. 

It later emerged that the rumors were started by radio host Gerry Callahan, Boston.com reported.

He had posted an image of Galloway on Twitter on Monday with the caption: 'Caitlyn Jenner wins Arthur Ashe Courage Award. And the runner-up is....'

On Wednesday, ESPN denied that there was such a thing as a 'runner up' in the awards and released a statement defending its decision to honor Jenner.

'The Arthur Ashe Courage Award is meant to honor individuals whose contributions transcend sports through courageous action,' the statement read. 

 

'I'm the new normal': Caitlyn Jenner stars in new documentary

 

 

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Brave: Caitlyn Jenner said she will be able to stand in front of her peers as her true self for the first time at the award ceremony next month. She is pictured in a still from her upcoming documentary series

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Excitement: She shared the announcement about her award to her Twitter page on Tuesday

'Sometimes that courage is demonstrated over the course of a lifetime and sometimes it is demonstrated in a single act that shines a light on an important contemporary issue.

'At all times, there are many worthy candidates. This year, we are proud to honor Caitlyn Jenner embracing her identity and doing so in a public way to help move forward a constructive dialogue about progress and acceptance.' 

ESPY Awards show producer Maura Mandt added that Jenner's coming out 'can help to educate people on the challenges that the transgender community faces'.

And other Twitter users hit back against the critics, saying Jenner was a worthy winner because she has been responsible for shining a light on an important issue.

'Sharing her painful story has educated the world on gender identity issues,' one user, Mike Etter, wrote. 'Very #courageous #brave.' 

Previous winners of the award include tennis player Billie Jean King, football player Michael Sam, the late basketball coach Dean Smith, and ABC broadcaster Robin Roberts. 

 

President believes Caitlyn Jenner has shown tremendous courage

 

 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3110891/Anger-ESPN-s-decision-award-Caitlyn-Jenner-ESPY-courage-award-instead-basketball-star-Lauren-Hill.html#ixzz3c7jouK00
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