Robert De Niro was due to receive a prestigious award from the National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation
Robert De Niro has been stripped of a prestigious leadership award after he called Donald Trump a “clown” and a “tyrant” at a public press conference outside the former president’s “hush money” trial last week.
De Niro was due to attend the National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation’s Celebration of Service to America Awards this coming week, where he would have been given the Foundation’s Service of Leadership Award.
In a statement, the Foundation said that De Niro’s attendance at the event would be a “distraction.”
“The Celebration of Service to America Awards is dedicated to honoring the vital local journalism and public service that local radio and television stations provide to their communities,” the statement reads.
“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 service of the award winners, Mr De Niro will no longer be attending the event.”
De Niro was invited to speak outside the New York courthouse by Joe Biden’s presidential campaign.
“When Trump ran in 2016 it was like a joke,” De Niro said.
“This buffoon running for president. No, never could happen. We have forgotten the lessons of history that showed us other clowns who weren’t taken seriously until they became vicious dictators. With Trump, we have a second chance, and no one is laughing now.”
The veteran actor was loudly heckled by Trump supporters outside the courtroom and ridiculed on social media.
In a post last year, Donald Trump branded De Niro a “total loser.”
“De Niro should focus on his life, which is a mess, rather than the lives of others. He has become a total loser, as the World watches, waits, and laughs!”
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