Robert De Niro stripped off ‘Leadership Award’ after calling Donald Trump a ‘clown’ and ‘monster’

Robert De Niro has reportedly been stripped of the ‘Leadership Award’ after the Hollywood actor spoke out against Donald Trump outside the trial in New York earlier this week. The Oscar award winner actor was set to receive the honour next Tuesday.

Robert De Niro denied award

The decision to withdraw the award was reportedly taken by the National Association of Broadcasters. A spokesperson for the association told the Hill said: “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's response to development

The 80-year-old responded to the development in a statement. He told the Hill, “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.”

When Robert de Niro tore into Trump

On May 28, Robert De Niro, a well known staunch Trump critic, was invited by President Joe Biden’s campaign, to speak at a press conference outside the courthouse. The veteran actor attacked Trump in a fiery speech and said, “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.”

Trump's supporters present outside the courthouse were not impressed. A group of people was heard yelling at the actor, ‘your movies suck!’ This did not deter the actor and he continued to call him a ‘clown’. “We New Yorkers used to tolerate him when he was just another grubby real estate hustler masquerading as a big shot. A two-bit playboy lying his way into the tabloids. A clown,” De Niro said about Trump.

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