Renowned actor Robert De Niro was on the verge of receiving yet another accolade for his distinguished career. However, following his recent outburst against former President Donald Trump, which many deemed as unhinged, officials have made the decision to revoke the honor. De Niro made his controversial remarks outside the Manhattan courtroom during Trump’s hush-money trial, where he was representing President Joe Biden’s campaign. In his impassioned speech, De Niro labeled Trump as a “menace to democracy” and warned that his victory in the upcoming November election would lead to a dictatorial regime.
“Do we want him running this country and saying, ‘I’m not leaving, I’m dictator for life’?” De Niro railed. Speaking in support of a new, anti-Trump ad blitz by the Biden campaign, De Niro said he hoped to remind voters about “what a danger he [Trump] is to our lives.”
The tirade led the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) to opt out of presenting De Niro with the award scheduled for next week.
“This event is proudly bipartisan, uniting those from across the political spectrum to celebrate the impactful work of local broadcasters and our partners,” an NAB spokesperson told The Hill.
“While we strongly support the right of every American to exercise free speech and participate in civic engagement, it is clear that Mr. De Niro’s recent high-profile activities will create a distraction from the philanthropic work that we were hoping to recognize. To maintain the focus on the service of the award winners, Mr. De Niro will no longer be attending the event,” the spokesperson added.
De Niro issued his own statement in response to the NAB decision: “I support the work of the NAB Leadership Foundation and would like to express my appreciation and gratitude for what the Foundation has done and will continue to do for the good of us all, and I wish them well for their continued good work.”
The organization organizes yearly events and conferences, such as the NAB Show, which is renowned as one of the largest gatherings of media, entertainment, and technology professionals worldwide. This event offers broadcasters valuable opportunities for networking, staying updated on new technologies, discussing industry trends, and exploring innovative business strategies, as reported by The Hill.
De Niro was scheduled to receive the NAB’s prestigious individual award, acknowledging his charitable work and public service. The recognition was planned to take place during the 2024 Celebration of Service to America Awards on June 4. Online videos capturing De Niro engaging with several pro-Trump hecklers also gained significant attention and became viral:
Faux tough guy actor Robert De Niro got an earful from Trump supporters after an unhinged rant about how Trump, not Biden (who is prosecuting Trump), is a 'threat to democracy.' pic.twitter.com/fy0qTHQG8h
— USA Features Media (@UsaFeatures) June 1, 2024
