Robert De Niro will no longer be receiving an award at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) annual event following his rant outside the courthouse against former President Donald Trump — just before a New York jury found Trump guilty.
The NAB had planned to celebrate the 80-year-old actor on Tuesday with its Service To America Award at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., but instead has pulled the recognition because the group said it is “proudly bi-partisan,” the Hill reported.
“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,” a spokesperson for the NAB wrote in a statement. “To maintain the focus on service of the award winners, Mr. De Niro will no longer be attending the event.”
Taking a look on the NAB website, De Niro’s name and picture is not listed as one of this year’s winners.
Following news of the award being rescinded, De Niro told the outlet that he wished them well.
“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 “Goodfellas” star said.
Before Trump was convicted in the Hush-Money trial, De Niro railed against the former president and his supporters during a President Joe Biden campaign event outside the New York courthouse as the trial was headed to closing arguments.
“Under Trump, this kind of government will perish from the Earth. I don’t mean to scare you. No, no, wait, maybe I do mean to scare you. If Trump returns to the White House, you can kiss these freedoms goodbye that we all take for granted,” De Niro said, “And elections? Forget about them. That’s over, that’s done. If he gets in, I can tell you right now, he will never leave. He will never leave. You know that. He will never leave.”
“That’s why I’ve joined the Biden-Harris campaign, because the only way to preserve our freedoms and hold on to our humanity is to vote for Joe Biden for president,” he added. “Really – we don’t have a choice.”
Trump campaign officials characterized the event as an act of desperation by the Biden campaign.
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