Robert De Niro on Nov. 27, 2023.Photo:Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Gotham Film & Media Institute
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Gotham Film & Media Institute
Robert De Niroclaims his remarks about former PresidentDonald Trumpwere almost cut from his award show speech without his permission.
De Niro, 80, took the stage at the2023 Gotham Awardsheld at New York City’s Cipriani Wall Street Monday to present the show’s historical icon and creator tribute to his filmKillers of the Flower Moon.
Duringhis speech, the actor paused and told the audience he learned part of his speech had been removed from the teleprompter and instead began to read from his phone.
“I just want to say one thing: The beginning of my speech was edited, cut out. I didn’t know about it. And I want to read it," De Niro said.
“The entertainment industry isn’t immune to this festering disease,” he continued. “The Duke,John Wayne, famously said of Native Americans, ‘I don’t feel we did wrong in taking this great country away from them. There were great numbers of people who needed new land, and the Indians were selfishly trying to keep it for themselves.’ ”
De Niro also criticized Trump and appeared to imply that Apple, the studio that producedKillers of the Flower Moon, was responsible for editing out that portion of his speech.
Reps for the Gotham Awards and Apple did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s requests for comment.
Robert De Niro poses with his ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ costars on Nov. 27, 2023.Mike Coppola/Getty Images for The Gotham Film & Media Institute
Mike Coppola/Getty Images for The Gotham Film & Media Institute
De Niro,who has been outspoken about Trumpin the past, received applause from the audience after he said again “that they edited all that,” before presenting hisKillersof the Flower Mooncostars with the night’s award.
“So I’m going to say these things, but to Apple, and thank them and all that, Gotham, blah, blah, blah, Apple — I don’t feel like thanking them at all for what they did,” he added. “How dare they do that, actually.”
(L-R) Janae Collins, Cara Jade Myers, Tantoo Cardinal, Yancey Red Corn, Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Lily Gladstone, William Belleau, Jillian Dion and Talee Redcorn at the 2023 Gotham Awards on Nov. 27, 2023.Bryan Bedder/Variety via Getty Images
Bryan Bedder/Variety via Getty Images
Past Liveswon the night’s best feature film award, whileKillersstarLily Gladstonewon outstanding lead performance for her other major role this year, in the filmThe Unknown Country.Charles Meltonwon outstanding supporting performance for his role in the upcoming filmMay December.
source: people.com
