A coveted prize has been withheld from Robert De Niro due to his contentious remarks during Donald Trump’s trial.
The 80-year-old actor gave a speech at a gathering hosted by Democrats close to the New York court where Donald Trump was accused of fabricating financial documents to hide an affair prior to the 2016 election.
De Niro attacked Trump during his remarks outside Manhattan Criminal Court, referring to him as a “dictator,” a “monster,” and a “clown.” Additionally, he got into heated arguments with Trump backers, calling them “gangsters.”
Disagreement and Its Effects
Consequently, De Niro was not going to get the Leadership Foundation’s Service to America Award on Tuesday; instead, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) withdrew their offer to present the award to him.
An NAB spokesman said that De Niro’s previous actions will divert attention from the event’s goal of bringing people together from all political backgrounds to honor local broadcasters and their partners.
The representative underlined that they were in favor of free speech and public participation, but pointed out that De Niro’s acts were too well-known to be disregarded. It was decided not to include De Niro in the event in order to focus attention on the service of the award winners.
In response, De Niro sent a statement to The Hill endorsing the NAB’s decision and wished them well in their ongoing charitable endeavors.