The National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation (NABLF) has named actor Robert De Niro as the recipient of the 2024 Service to America Leadership Award. That is the NABLF’s highest individual honor, for charitable work and public service. So why is De Niro persona non grata?? 

De Niro will not be at the Celebration of Service to America Awards this week after apparently getting some unsavory publicity… 

The bigwigs at the Foundation say they “strongly support the right of every American to exercise free speech and participate in civic engagement… but it’s clear that Mr. De Niro’s recent high-profile activities will create a distraction from the philanthropic work that we were hoping to recognize.”

In other words, he showed up at the latest Trump trial and made some comments that have both Democrats and Republicans up in arms. It’s an election year after all.

It’s true that any publicity (in the entertainment industry) can be construed as good publicity, and when you’re doing good deeds, you’re apparently also not supposed to talk badly in the public eye about past US presidents you know personally from your days in New York. Or those charged with dozens of crimes. It had said past president ranting in all caps online. And that apparently had the Foundation up in ams.

The Foundation needs to rethink its mission, it’s not like 45 is getting the award? #amiright?

**This is an opinion. I am not currently reporting news on any news network.