Robert De Niro found himself in the center of a firestorm—and out of favor with the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB). Originally set to receive the prestigious NAB Leadership Foundation’s Service to America Award, De Niro’s recent political outburst has cost him dearly.
The revered actor known for his fiery temperament was uninvited from an award ceremony meant to crown his extensive charitable efforts, all because he couldn’t hold back during a contentious Biden campaign event.
The Hollywood titan faced the wrath of the NAB after his incendiary remarks at a rally outside the courthouse where Donald Trump was being tried. De Niro, never one to shy away from controversy, openly blasted the former president, questioning, “Do we want him running this country and saying, ‘I’m not leaving, I’m dictator for life’?” His attempt to sway public opinion, however, was met with vocal resistance from a pro-Trump heckler, leading to an uproar that drowned out his speech.
WATCH:
The scene outside the Manhattan courtroom turned chaotic as De Niro, visibly infuriated by the prospect of a Trump acquittal, clashed with Trump supporters. Amid the noise of the bustling city, the confrontation escalated when a MAGA hat-wearing heckler called out, “You’re washed up!”
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This heckle hit a nerve, prompting De Niro to retaliate, “You’re gangsters!” What followed was a verbal melee, with insults like “You’re trash. Your movies suck. You’re done!” flying through the air, catching the actor off-guard and on camera.
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
The NAB, aiming to keep its event a “proudly bipartisan” affair, decided to distance itself from the drama. “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,” an NAB spokesperson expressed in a bid to keep their celebration untarnished by Hollywood scandal.
Despite the uproar, De Niro remained unapologetic, telling The Hill, “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 NAB hosts some of the largest media and entertainment gatherings globally, including the NAB Show, which sees a convergence of media, entertainment, and technology professionals. De Niro was to be celebrated at the 2024 Celebration of Service to America Awards on June 4, in recognition of his charitable work and public service—an honor now rescinded in the wake of his polarizing political performance.