De Niro Loses Award Due to Controversial Trump Comments in Court

Robert De Niro will no longer be receiving an award at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) annual event following his courthouse rant against former President Donald Trump, which coincided with Trump's guilty verdict in a New York trial.

The NAB had planned to honor the 80-year-old actor with its Service To America Award during a ceremony in Washington, D.C. However, the recognition was pulled because the group aims to remain "proudly bi-partisan," as reported by The Hill.

• Award Rescinded
  An NAB spokesperson explained, “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.”

• Official Statement
  To ensure the focus remained on the service of the award winners, De Niro's attendance was canceled. His name and picture are now absent from the NAB website’s list of winners.

De Niro responded to the news by expressing his support for the NAB Leadership Foundation, appreciating their ongoing philanthropic efforts. “I wish them well for their continued good work,” the "Goodfellas" star said.

The controversy stems from De Niro's impassioned speech during a President Joe Biden campaign event outside the New York courthouse, where Trump faced trial. De Niro warned about the dangers of a Trump return to the White House, claiming it would endanger American freedoms and democracy.

“Under Trump, this kind of government will perish from the Earth,” De Niro declared. “If Trump returns to the White House, you can kiss these freedoms goodbye that we all take for granted.” He emphasized the importance of voting for Joe Biden to preserve freedoms and humanity, asserting, “We don’t have a choice.”

The Trump campaign dismissed the event as a desperate move by Biden supporters.

Share this article or subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated on this and other important political developments.