Famed actor Robert De Niro has won a lot of awards during his storied career, but his unhinged tirade against former President Donald Trump this week in Manhattan just cost him one.
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has withdrawn an award previously set to be given to them following his remarks at a Biden campaign gathering held near the courthouse where Trump faced trial for hush money transactions, which proved too controversial for the association. De Niro, who was slated to receive the NAB Leadership Foundation’s Service to America Award in Washington, D.C., next Tuesday, had his honor rescinded in light of his provocative remarks.
An NAB spokesperson told The Hill in a statement on Thursday, “This event is proudly bipartisan, uniting those from across the political spectrum to celebrate the impactful work of local broadcasters and our partners.”
“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 said.
On Tuesday, De Niro lost control of an anti-Trump press conference outside the Manhattan courtroom as his speech was drowned out by the noises of the bustling metropolis. The visibly angry 80-year-old actor expressed frustration at the prospect of Trump being acquitted by a New York jury.
“Do we want him running this country and saying, ‘I’m not leaving, I’m dictator for life’?” he said at one point. 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.”
As De Niro delivered his scathing remarks against Trump, calling him a “tyrant,” his speech was interrupted by a heckler in a MAGA hat who shouted, “You’re washed Sp! The disruption seemed to unsettle De Niro, leading to an exchange that quickly became heated and escalated beyond just words.
“You’re gangsters!” the actor shouted back at the Trump supporters. However, the heckler’s shouts continued, each one more biting than the last: “You’re trash. Your movies suck. You’re done!” De Niro’s reaction, captured on camera, was incredibly intense. The actor, with a career spanning decades and numerous accolades, responded with equal fervor.
JUST IN: Actor Robert De Niro gets into a shouting match with a guy wearing a MAGA hat across the street from the Trump trial.
De Niro could be seen having a meltdown after a Trump supporter was heard calling him “washed up.”
De Niro joined the Biden campaign on Tuesday to… pic.twitter.com/nR7wgTTLBh
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) May 28, 2024
Disclaimer: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.