Robert De Niro’s recent comments criticizing Donald Trump have led to the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) rescinding their planned award for the actor.
The 80-year-old Oscar-winner was set to receive the NAB’s Service to America Award next Tuesday in Washington, D.C., but the organization decided to pull the accolade because they claim the ceremony is “proudly bi-partisan,” reported The Hill.
“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,” the NAB wrote in a statement Friday. “To maintain the focus on service of the award winners, Mr. De Niro will no longer be attending the event.”
Just hours after the NAB announced their decision, the “Goodfellas” star responded with a statement of his own.
“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,” he told The Hill.
On Tuesday, De Niro made an appearance outside the NYC courthouse where former President Trump was later convicted.
Speaking to the press there, he warned that if Trump were to return to the White House, “he will never leave.”
“I love this city. I don’t want to destroy it. Donald Trump wants to destroy not only the city, but the country. And eventually he could destroy the world,” De Niro added.
The Manhattan native also got into it with some MAGA demonstrators during the event, replying “f–k you” to some Trump supporters who were calling him things like “washed up,” in addition to other insults.