Robert De Niro, a famous actor, had an awkward moment on Monday night at the Gotham Independent Film Awards in New York City. The legendary actor, whose legendary career includes hits like “Taxi Driver,” was in attendance to honor his most recent picture, the Western murder epic “Killers Of The Flower Moon,” which was directed by his frequent partner, Martin Scorsese.
The address, which doubled as De Niro’s acceptance speech for the film’s Gotham Historical Icon and Creator Tribute awards, was interrupted multiple times as he paused and attempted to explain the substance of the teleprompter. Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone, who co-starred with Robert De Niro in the film, made it clear that they planned for De Niro to make harsh remarks against Trump. He made it seem as though the producers of the film and the award ceremony had changed his words.
Because of his many public criticisms of Trump, particularly after the 2016 election, De Niro’s contempt for the president is well-known. At the recent Stop Trump Summit, which was hosted by The New Republic magazine, De Niro restated his opinions in a statement that was read aloud.
A comparable event occurred with the right-wing British politician Nigel Farage not long ago, when his remarks criticizing Trump were purportedly removed from a UK reality show, leading to debates over censorship. De Niro said, “I’m going to go back” while expressing his frustration at the Gotham Accolades. I apologize. Alright, I see that I made a mistake. I intend to proceed. No need to stop scrolling.
De Niro continued by going back to his initial points, which were about how the present political and social milieu distorts historical facts and the truth. He brought up Florida schools and John Wayne’s contentious 1971 statement regarding Native Americans. Additionally, he criticized the former president for being dishonest and disrespectful to different communities on multiple occasions.
At the end of his address, De Niro took aim at the Gotham Awards and Apple, claiming that they had edited his speech. He meant to thank them, but his irritation shone through.
“Killers Of The Flower Moon,” starring Robert De Niro, is based on true events that occurred in the early 20th century among the Osage Nation. The event also brought attention to the film. Critics have praised the picture, praising De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio, and William Gladstone in particular.
Not for “Killers,” but for her part in “The Unknown Country,” Gladstone received a significant award during the presentation, which might put her in the running for more accolades in the future.
De Niro’s family now includes seven children; earlier that night, he appeared at the awards with his girlfriend Tiffany Chen, and news spread that the couple had just welcomed a child. De Niro’s timeless dark suit was complemented by Chen’s sophisticated all-black ensemble.