With a career spanning more than six decades, the New York-born Robert De Niro has earned the reputation as one of the greatest and most influential actors of his generation.
The 80-year-old man, one of the original gangsters following his role as a young Vito Corleone in The Godfather Part II (1974), has enjoyed paramount success in multiple genres of film, like crime, comedy and drama.
And in 1984, the Goodfellas star was even the inspiration for “Robert De Niro’s Waiting,” a song by the girl group Bananarama, which topped the charts for 12 straight weeks.
‘This is the time’
At the end of May, the outspoken Democrat appeared outside the Manhattan courtroom where Donald Trump’s hush money trial was held.
The star of The Intern, who recently voiced an ad for the current President, was at a Joe Biden campaign event outside court.
De Niro used his platform to urge people against voting for Trump in the upcoming presidential election, claiming he wants to “destroy not only the city, but the country.”
“We’ve forgotten the lessons of history that showed us other clowns who weren’t taken seriously until they became vicious dictators,” De Niro told reporters outside the courthouse. “With Trump we have a second chance, and no one is laughing now. This is the time to stop him by voting him out once and for all.”
He adds, “I don’t mean to scare you. No, wait, maybe I do mean to scare you. If [Trump] gets in, I can tell you right now, he will never leave.”
‘You are gangsters’
Not everyone shared his sentiments, and he was greeted by a mob of angry Trump supporters, who hurled criticisms his way.
Attempting to defend himself, the Raging Bull star responds, “You’re not going to intimidate, that’s what Trump does, to try f***ing intimidate. We have to fight back.”
According to Associated Press, Trump’s senior campaign adviser, Jason Miller, answered by calling the multiple Oscar-winning De Niro “a washed-up actor.”
“We’re trying to be gentleman in this world. You are gangsters! You are gangsters!” fires back the father of eight.
Heard among the frenzied hecklers is another voice, shouting, “Robert De Niro! You’re a little punk…you’re a nobody! Your movies suck!”
Seconds later, as the actor is escorted through the mob, he can be heard shouting a well-deserved, “F**k you.”
Celebrities should not be expected to be gracious when confronted by judgemental people and we hope his response serves as a reminder that they too, are human!
