Hollywood
de Niro got a standing ovation for this explitive
Updated : Jun 11, 2018, 10:48 AM IST
Oscar-winning actor Robert de Niro issued an expletive-laden denunciation of U.S. President Donald Trump during the live television broadcast of the Tony Awards ceremony on Sunday.
De Niro appeared on stage at New York's Radio City Music Hall to introduce rocker and Tony Awards performer Bruce Springsteen.
"I'm gonna say one thing. F*** Trump," De Niro said, without any preamble.
With the audience of theatre actors, directors and producers shrieking and rising to their feet in applause, De Niro said: "It's no longer down with Trump. It's f*** Trump."
He did not elaborate on his comment and switched immediately to a prepared introduction of Springsteen.
"Bruce, you can rock the house like nobody else," De Niro said. "And even more important in these perilous times, you rock the vote, always fighting for, in your own words, Truth, transparency, and integrity in government. Boy, do we need that now."
The expletive, known as the F-bomb, was bleeped by the CBS network for millions of television watchers at home.
However, it was heard by those in the audience and journalists covering the awards show, which honors the best of Broadway theatre, and it quickly became the top trending item on Twitter.
De Niro is one of the most respected actors in the United States with two Oscar wins for "Raging Bull" and "The Godfather: Part II."
" De Niro's comments were unscripted and unexpected," CBS said in a statement. "The offensive language was deleted from the broadcast."
The White House did not immediately return a request for comment.
However, the statement received a lot of comment on Twitter. Here is what people had to say.
This is, apparently, what Robert De Niro said that was bleeped at the TONYs: "I just want to say one thing: F— Trump. It’s no longer down with Trump. It’s f— Trump." https://t.co/spYvjgwIZq
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) June 11, 2018
How to get a STANDING OVATION at The Tonys? Give the people what they want...always a crowd pleaser!!! #SpeakingTruthToPower #TuckFrump. https://t.co/EkTwqppMxK
— Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) June 11, 2018
Robert De Niro's popularity is suddenly rising in Canada. pic.twitter.com/30LPxiWg7f #TonyAwards
— David Beard (@dabeard) June 11, 2018
Robert De Niro went full on bleep twice!!!!!! #TonyAwards pic.twitter.com/zNuvjee2WW
— Steven (@beaconspring) June 11, 2018
Re: Robert De Niro #TonyAwards
— Tim Young (@TimRunsHisMouth) June 11, 2018
The strategy of yelling "F- Trump" will:
1- Make people ignore you
2- Ensure Trump voters vote again in 2020
3- Turn off moderate Dems & undecided voters to your cause
4- Make you look like a hypocrite for also yelling about civility
5- Fail
De Niro, a noted liberal, has been increasingly critical of Trump, a Republican, at smaller show business events, but none have the high profile and audience of the Tony Awards.
The Tony Awards show was seen by some six million Americans last year.