'Fuck Trump!' shouted Robert De Niro at last night's Tony Awards, pumping his fist in the air. 'It's no longer 'Down with Trump, it's 'Fuck Trump.' And with those two lines, the actor set off this week's first round of pointless culture-war posturing.
One of the greatest actors of all time, Robert De Niro was born on August 17, 1943 in Manhattan. Born: August 17, 1943.
De Niro's outburst, given during his scheduled introduction of Bruce Springsteen, was greeted with loud applause from the Tony's audience and bleeped out by CBS for viewers watching along at home. But by Monday morning, the usual suspects from cable news hosts to members of Congress to JohnnyDeplorableMAGA and PatriotsPunchNazis99 on Twitter were commenting on the matter, bitterly divided over whether De Niro's words were a courageous act of truth-speaking and #Resistance or the tedious tantrum of a childish old man who mistakes cinematic moments for activism.
I can't stop thinking about that swift, incisive editorial last night. Two monosyllables. Underscoring the presidency's baseline indecency with a violation of 'decency.' The satire of 'norms.' I'd say Robert De Niro deserved a Pulitzer for if he didn't deserve a…Tony.
— Virginia Heffernan (@page88) June 11, 2018
Sorry but 'F Trump' is not a political message. https://t.co/UQYSWGx8mT
— Batya Ungar-Sargon (@bungarsargon) June 11, 2018
I'm not particularly offended by the substance of Robert DeNiro's profane outburst at the Tony Awards (a bit predictable, really).
I am angry that his words, and not the winners, are now the biggest headline coming out of the Tonys. Theater deserves better.
— Peter Cook (@_Peter_Cook) June 11, 2018
Let's keep in mind that Robert De Niro already did the curse Trump on a microphone at an awards show thing in January. It's sort of his thing. https://t.co/aKqoMMvsUG
— Sopan Deb (@SopanDeb) June 11, 2018
I am no foe of celebrity activism per se, nor a strict subscriber to 'there's a time and a place for politics' rules. (Some things are too important for convention or civility.) And I am no fan of our current president, his administration, his aesthetic style, or his policies. 'Fuck Trump' is not a sentiment I stand against on principle.
But what De Niro did last night was not productive activism, and his was absolutely the wrong time and place for it. This is not a man who has only periodic access to the televised spotlight, as in the case of, say, some NFL football players. This was not a situation where De Niro's message counteracted another prevailing message at the event in question. And it was not as if De Niro was using his massive platform to persuade, to draw attention to an overlooked issue, to advocate for anything in particular.
Instead, De Niro's self-satisfied, virtue-signaling, substance-free outburst only served to make him and other Hollywood liberals feel good about themselves, give Trump supporters fodder for their persecution fantasies, steal the spotlight from theater at an award show supposedly dedicated to honoring it, and further convince a whole lot of ordinary Americans that there is no respite from red/blue divisions. In other words, it showed that De Niro is a lot more like Donald Trump than the actor thinks.
FREE MARKETS
A statement by the President: pic.twitter.com/Nqjis7bN0f
— Real Press Sec. (@RealPressSecBot) June 11, 2018
Here's how European and Canadian leaders have responded. A few choice responses:
It was not a surprise. The president acted and reacted in the childish way he could be expected to.—Norbert Röttgen, chair of the foreign affairs committee in German parliament
International cooperation cannot be dictated by fits of anger and throwaway remarks. Let's be serious and worthy of our people.—French President Emmanuel Macron's office
The withdrawal, so to speak, via tweet is of course .?.?. sobering and a bit depressing.—German Chancellor Angela Merkel
QUICK HITS
- Google is making its salad emoji 'more inclusive' by removing the salad's egg so vegans can share it in good conscience. (Insert crying-laughing emoji here.)
- Why so many abortion cases are being brought before the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals.
- 'Regardless of what happens in that meeting between the two dictators…' Fox News's Abby Huntsman said on air this weekend about Donald Trump's meeting with Kim Jong Un.
- White House Chief of Staff John Kelly used a compromised cell phone for months.
Filmography
- Raging Bull Jake La Motta (1980)
- Cape Fear Max Cady (1991)
- Taxi Driver Travis Bickle (1976)
- Mean Streets Johnny Boy (1973)
- Saturday Night Live Robert Mueller (2018-2019)
- The War with Grandpa Ed (2019)
- The Wizard of Lies Bernie Madoff (2017)
- The Comedian Jackie Burke (2016)
- Hands of Stone Ray Arcel (2016)
- Dirty Grandpa Dick Kelly (2016)
- Joy Rudy (2015)
- Heist The Pope (2015)
- Ellis (2015)
- The Audition Robert De Niro (2015)
- The Intern Ben (2015)
- The Bag Man Dragna (2014)
- Grudge Match Billy 'The Kid' McDonnen (2013)
- American Hustle Victor Tellegio (2013)
- Last Vegas Paddy Connors (2013)
- The Family Fred Blake / Giovanni Manzoni (2013)
- Killing Season Benjamin Ford (2013)
- The Big Wedding Don (2013)
- Silver Linings Playbook Pat Sr. (2012)
- Freelancers Joe Sarcone (2012)
- Being Flynn Jonathan Flynn (2012)
- Red Lights Simon Silver (2012)
- New Year's Eve Stan Harris (segment 'Hospital Story') (2011)
- Killer Elite Hunter (2011)
- Little Fockers: Gag Reel Jack Byrnes (2011)
- Little Fockers: Deleted Scenes Jack Byrnes (2011)
- Little Fockers: Alternate Opening, Wedding Dream and Morning Wakeup Jack Byrnes (2011)
- Limitless Carl Van Loon (2011)
- The Ages of Love Adrian (2011)
- 30 Rock Robert De Niro (2011)
- Little Fockers Jack Byrnes (2010)
- Stone Jack (2010)
- Machete Senator McLaughlin (2010)
- Everybody's Fine Frank Goode (2009)
- Righteous Kill Turk (2008)
- What Just Happened Ben (2008)
- Stardust Captain Shakespeare (2007)
- Vanity Fair: Killers Kill, Dead Men Die The Rocketeer (2007)
- The Good Shepherd Bill Sullivan (2006)
- Arthur and the Invisibles King (2006)
- Extras Robert De Niro (2006)
- Club Oscar Don Lino (2005)
- Hide and Seek David Callaway (2005)
- The Bridge of San Luis Rey Archbishop of Peru (2004)
- Meet the Fockers Jack Byrnes (2004)
- Shark Tale Don Lino (2004)
- Godsend Richard Wells (2004)
- Analyze That Paul Vitti (2002)
- City by the Sea Vincent LaMarca (2002)
- Showtime Det. Mitch Preston (2002)
- The Score Nick (2001)
- 15 Minutes Detective Eddie Flemming (2001)
- Meet the Parents Jack Byrnes (2000)
- Men of Honor Master Chief Billy Sunday (2000)
- The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle Fearless Leader (2000)
- Flawless Walt Koontz (1999)
- Analyze This Paul Vitti (1999)
- Ronin Sam (1998)
- Great Expectations Prisoner / Lustig (1998)
- Wag the Dog Conrad Brean (1997)
- Jackie Brown Louis Gara (1997)
- Cop Land Moe Tilden (1997)
- Marvin's Room Dr. Wally (1996)
- Sleepers Father Bobby (1996)
- The Fan Gil Renard (1996)
- Heat Neil McCauley (1995)
- Casino Sam 'Ace' Rothstein (1995)
- One Hundred and One Nights Le mari de la star-fantasme en croisière (1995)
- Mary Shelley's Frankenstein Creature / Sharp Featured Man (1994)
- A Bronx Tale Lorenzo (1993)
- This Boy's Life Dwight (1993)
- Mad Dog and Glory Wayne 'Mad Dog' Dobie (1993)
- Night and the City Harry Fabian (1992)
- Mistress Evan M. Wright (1992)
- Cape Fear Max Cady (1991)
- Backdraft Donald Rimgale (1991)
- Guilty by Suspicion David Merrill (1991)
- Awakenings Leonard Lowe (1990)
- Goodfellas James Conway (1990)
- Stanley & Iris Stanley Cox (1990)
- We're No Angels Ned (1989)
- Jacknife Megs (1989)
- Midnight Run Jack Walsh (1988)
- Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam Great Sewer (1987)
- The Untouchables Al Capone (1987)
- Angel Heart Louis Cyphre (1987)
- The Mission Rodrigo Mendoza (1986)
- Brazil Harry Tuttle (1985)
- Falling in Love Frank Raftis (1984)
- Once Upon a Time in America Noodles (1984)
- The King of Comedy Rupert Pupkin (1982)
- True Confessions Father Des Spellacy (1981)
- Raging Bull Jake La Motta (1980)
- The Deer Hunter Michael (1978)
- The Godfather Saga Young Vito Corleone (1977)
- New York, New York Jimmy Doyle (1977)
- The Last Tycoon Monroe Stahr (1976)
- 1900 Alfredo Berlinghieri (1976)
- Taxi Driver Travis Bickle (1976)
- The Godfather: Part II Vito Corleone (1974)
- Mean Streets Johnny Boy (1973)
- Bang the Drum Slowly Bruce Pearson (1973)
- The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight Mario (1971)
- Born to Win Danny (1971)
- Jennifer on My Mind Mardigian (1971)
- Hi, Mom! Jon Rubin (1970)
- Bloody Mama Lloyd Barker (1970)
- Sam's Song Sam Nicoletti (1969)
- The Wedding Party Cecil - A Groomsman (1969)
- Greetings Jon Rubin (1968)
- Young Wolves Un hippie chez Popov (1968)
- Encounter The Nephew (1965)
- Three Rooms in Manhattan Client at the Diner (1965)
- When They See Us (2019)
- The Wizard of Lies (2017)
- For Justice (2015)
- About a Boy (2014-2015)
- NYC 22 (2012)
- Little Fockers (2010)
- Public Enemies (2009)
- What Just Happened (2008)
- The Good Shepherd (2006)
- Rent (2005)
- Meet the Fockers (2004)
- Stage Beauty (2004)
- About a Boy (2002)
- Prison Song (2001)
- Holiday Heart (2000)
- Meet the Parents (2000)
- The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle (2000)
- Flawless (1999)
- Entropy (1999)
- Witness to the Mob (1998)
- Wag the Dog (1997)
- 9 (1996)
- Marvin's Room (1996)
- Faithful (1996)
- Panther (1995)
- Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994)
- A Bronx Tale (1993)
- Tribeca (1993)
- The Night We Never Met (1993)
- Mistress (1992)
- Thunderheart (1992)
- Cape Fear (1991)
- We're No Angels (1989)
- The Comedian (2016)
- Dirty Grandpa (2016)
- Grudge Match (2013)
- Cape Fear (1991)
- The Deer Hunter (1978)
- New York, New York (1977)
- The Good Shepherd (2006)
- A Bronx Tale (1993)
- Tucker Carlson Tonight (2019)
- Varda by Agnès (2019)
- Entertainment Tonight (2014-2018)
- Extra (2015-2018)
- Celebrity Page (2015-2018)
- Six Sides of Katharine Hepburn (2018)
- Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind (2018)
- The Andrew Klavan Show (2018)
- Hell's Club Part 2. Another Night (2017)
- Talking Pictures (2017)
- Cashed Out Casino (2017)
- National Endowment for the Arts: United States of Arts (2017)
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2016)
- L'IA et Mathieu (2016)
- Quick Reviews with Maverick (2016)
- Goodnight, Sweet Prince (2016)
- SLG Shot (2016)
- Lennon or McCartney (2014)
- That's Life!! Kilorenzos Smith in Talks... (2014)
- Pioneers of Television (2014)
- The Graham Norton Show (2014)
- Video Games AWESOME! (2014)
- The Second Annual 'On Cinema' Oscar Special (2014)
- The O'Reilly Factor (2008-2014)
- Chelsea Lately (2013)
- Blow up (2013)
- Corazón de... (2013)
- Movie Guide (2013)
- America's Book of Secrets (2013)
- Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen (2012)
- Prophets of Science Fiction (2011)
- Rude Tube (2011)
- Inside the Actors Studio (2011)
- Close Up (2011)
- Special Collector's Edition (2010)
- P.O.V. (2010)
- Espías en Hollywood (2010)
- SNL Presents: A Very Gilly Christmas (2009)
- Los mejores momentos de 'Sé lo que hicisteis' (2009)
- Filmania: Eiga no tatsujin (2009)
- The Music of Bernard Herrmann (2008)
- Premio Donostia a Meryl Streep (2008)
- Ceremonia de inauguración - 56º Festival internacional de cine de San Sebastián (2008)
- The Beaches of Agnès (2008)
- Strictly Courtroom (2008)
- 5 Second Movies (2008)
- Los 10 magníficos (2008)
- Spisok korabley (2008)
- Forbes 20 Under 25: Young, Rich and Famous (2007)
- Postcards (2007)
- Quelli che... il calcio (2007)
- Secrets of New York (2007)
- Ein Leben wie im Flug (2007)
- The 16th Annual Gotham Awards (2006)
- Premio Donostia a Matt Dillon (2006)
- Premio Donostia a Max Von Sydow (2006)
- La Marató 2005 (2005)
- Bullets Over Hollywood (2005)
- El oficio de actor (2005)
- Cinema mil (2005)
- Premio Donostia a Willem Dafoe (2005)
- Biography (2005)
- The Making of 'Heat' (2005)
- Pacino and DeNiro: The Conversation (2005)
- Saturday Night Live: The Best of Jimmy Fallon (2005)
- I Love the '90s: Part Deux (2005)
- Getting Made: The Making of 'GoodFellas' (2004)
- Ronin: The Driving of 'Ronin' with Stunt-Car Coordinator Jean-Claude Lagniez (2004)
- 101 Most Unforgettable SNL Moments (2004)
- Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)
- Sendung ohne Namen (2002-2003)
- Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex, Drugs and Rock 'N' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood (2003)
- Saturday Night Live Christmas 2002 (2002)
- I sogni nel mirino (2002)
- Killer Queen! (2002)
- Hello, He Lied & Other Truths from the Hollywood Trenches (2002)
- Gordon Willis on Cinematography (2001)
- I Love the 1990s (2001)
- The Directors (2000)
- Ausverkauft! (1999)
- ... y otras mujeres de armas tomar (1998)
- Femmes Fatales: Sharon Stone (1998)
- Sharon Stone - Una mujer de 100 caras (1998)
- Venice Report (1997)
- GamePro TV (1996)
- Ennio Morricone (1995)
- Gomorron (1995)
- 100 Years at the Movies (1994)
- Hard Copy (1993)
- Fame in the Twentieth Century (1993)
- The Godfather Trilogy: 1901-1980 (1992)
- The 64th Annual Academy Awards (1992)
- Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse (1991)
- American Masters (1989)
- The Siskel & Ebert 500th Anniversary Special (1989)
- The 59th Annual Academy Awards (1987)
- The Swap (1979)
- The Dick Cavett Show (1978)
- Fragrance of Wild Flowers (1977)
- America at the Movies (1976)
- Hollywood Rivals (2001)
- Hollywood Remembers (2000)
- Raise My Hands (2012)