Robert De Niro criticizes Apple and the Gotham Awards, after sources say Apple cut part of his speech slamming Donald Trump, which he read anyway from his phone
Apple had recently used “Killers of the Flower Moon” as a prominent theatrical release, with Tim Cook attending its Cannes premiere before its global rollout as Apple put the film at the center of its cinema strategy. The awards-show dispute therefore attaches a political-speech controversy to a project closely associated with Apple’s expanding film ambitions.
De Niro’s decision to read the disputed passage from his phone ensures the criticism remains part of the event’s public record, despite the reported edit.
Apple and the Gotham Awards face immediate scrutiny over who made the editorial decision and whether a sponsor or distributor should influence an artist’s remarks.
Second-order effects
Awards organizers and studios may tighten approval processes for live remarks, but more visible controls can invite claims of political censorship when performers depart from prepared text.
For Apple’s film operation, the dispute risks shifting attention from its prestige-release campaign to its role in managing the public presentation of talent attached to its projects.
Third-order effects
If similar conflicts recur, entertainment companies’ growing role as financiers and distributors could make the boundary between event logistics, brand protection, and editorial control a more persistent flashpoint.
The incident underscores that cultural investments can expose technology companies to political-speech disputes that their consumer-product businesses do not ordinarily create.
The trend: As large technology companies deepen their involvement in prestige entertainment, talent speech and event governance are becoming reputational risks alongside film financing and distribution.
Bravo Robert De Niro!!! After Apple shamefully erased most of his message, he read it from his phone. Wise and important words. Thank you Bobby for this and for a lifetime of truth telling on & off screen.
Robert De Niro says that the beginning of his Gotham Awards speech was edited out (criticizing Trump, etc). “I'm going to thank Apple, Gothams, Apple blah blah blah. But I don't feel like thanking them at all after what they did. How dare they, actually?” [video]
Robert De Niro is here and he's pissed! He's implying a large part of his Trump-criticizing speech was cut from the Teleprompter. And when it comes to the part of his speech where he'd thank Apple and the Gothams, he skips over it and says “How dare they.”
The political part of Robert De Niro's speech at the #GothamAwards was cut from the teleprompter & now he's reading from his own handwritten speech. He calls out Apple for cutting his speech! Gasps & cheers coming from the crowd. Man doesn't mince words. [image]
Robert De Niro had some things to say at the Gotham Awards last night and noticed that @Apple edited the important parts of his speech on the teleprompter so he read them from his phone.....fantastic! [video]
🚨 JUST IN: APPLE CENSORING DE NIRO Robert De Niro's speech at the Gotham Awards was reportedly edited, possibly by Apple and event organizers Despite this, he proceeded with a speech critical of Trump, MAGA, and racists Censorship is getting out of control! [video]
At the Gotham Awards in New York, Robert De Niro found out that part of his speech was edited, allegedly by Apple and those behind the Awards ceremony. Regardless, he still gave the speech the way he wanted, and it was not kind to Trump, MAGA, or racists. Free speech is importa…
A source close to “Killers of the Flower Moon” denied that there was any censorship involved regarding Robert De Niro's Gotham Awards speech and said that the incident was an example of a miscommunication. https://variety.com/...
“i have to thank apple and all that but i don't feel like thanking them at all for what they did. how DARE they?” robert de niro qas absolutely brilliant during his #gothamawards speech presentation [video]