At the 33rd Gotham Awards in New York City, iconic actor Robert De Niro made headlines as he claimed that part of his speech criticizing Donald Trump was intentionally removed from the teleprompter. De Niro, who was at the awards to present the Historical Icon and Creator Tribute award to Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon,” expressed surprise and frustration at the missing portion of his prepared remarks.
Amidst the confusion, De Niro took the opportunity to address the alleged censorship, boldly delving into his critique of Trump and the current state of truth and facts. He voiced concerns about the distortion of history, citing issues in Florida’s African American studies curriculum standards.
The actor went on to criticize the entertainment industry for being susceptible to what he called a “festering disease,” referencing controversial statements made by John Wayne about Native Americans. De Niro concluded his speech by highlighting the prevalence of lies in politics, particularly targeting Trump’s alleged falsehoods and attacks on nature.
In a surprising turn, De Niro directed his dissatisfaction towards Apple and the Gotham Awards, accusing them of censoring his speech. Despite expressing gratitude in his speech, he later stated, “But I don’t feel like thanking them at all for what they did. How dare they do that, actually?” This revelation was met with applause and cheers from the audience at Cipriani Wall Street.
On a brighter note, De Niro’s co-star Lily Gladstone received the award for the best lead performance in “The Unknown Country.”
