Caitlyn Jenner was the recent recipient of the ESPY Arthur Ashe Courage Award and the public had mixed feelings about it. But who is Arthur Ashe and why does D.L. Hughley think Jenner doesn't deserve the award?
D.L. Hughley is very vocal of his opinion that Caitlyn doesn't deserve the award. US Magazine reported that he believes Arthur Ashe's advocacy to fight AIDS is not the same as Caitlyn Jenner putting on a dress. The comedian also said that Caitlyn Jenner and Arthur Ashe "had very little in common."
In an interview with TMZ, D.L.Hughley was asked if Caitlyn Jenner is a beautiful woman and he quickly answered "no" and went on to say that she looks a lot like Mrs. Doubtfire. He even tweeted a photo of Caitlyn side by side with Mrs. Doubtfire with the caption: "Somebody tell me I'm wrong. #TeamDL."
But who is Arthur Ashe? And is Caitlyn Jenner's transition really relevant to the award she received?
Biography.com reported that Arthur Ashe made history when he became the first African American to win in the U.S. Open and he also managed to take the number one spot in the world.
Arthur Ashe was born in Richmond, Virginia on July 10, 1943. He grew up in a very strict household. After his mother died, his father, Arthur Ashe Sr., made sure that they stayed out of trouble. He attended church every Sunday and always went straight home from school. He started playing tennis when he was seven years old and he eventually caught the attention of Dr. Robert Walter Johnson Jr, a tennis coach active in black communities, and from there, they made history.
Ashe had always been an activist. As per ESPN, he used his established fame and stature in the sports industry to advocate for human rights. When he accidentally contracted AIDS through blood transfusion, he started a foundation that helped raise AIDS awareness. He died in 1993 due to pneumonia, a common complication of AIDS.
The Arthur Ashe Courage Award is for the most part a sport-oriented recognition. It is typically given to athletes who managed to be on top of their field of sport. However, it is also awarded to athletes with contributions beyond sports.
Previous recipients of the award include Steve Palermo, Muhammad Ali, Cathy Freeman, Billie Jean King and Nelson Mandela, among others. Recent awardees include Dewey Bozella, Pat Summitt, Robin Roberts and Michael Sam.
Some sources say that what D.L. Hughley did was an act of bullying. Was he wrong in saying that Caitlyn Jenner doesn't deserve the ESPY Arthur Ashe Courage Award? Sound off in the comments section below!
