Robert De Niro. — Page 3

ArtMan said: "I agree what De Niro did was selfish, but in a different way. Those mere seconds are going to cause more harm, in the long run. We already know by now, Trump has childish ways. He retaliates. Trump will get even with De Niro and the people in the room who gave him a standing ovation. I predict furthers cuts in government funding for the arts. Trump will do this and in his mind think "Let them insult me...I'll show them"."



This is the first thing that crossed my mind.

Perhaps folks have different ideas about what democracy looks like.

That is what a poster wrote in a previous post- if democracy looks like a leader who says he is above the law, colludes with our enemies and denigrates our trusted democratic institutions- over and over again- then I guess folks do have different ideas about what democracy looks like. And Putin would agree. The arts community of course is basically united in its opposition to these reactionary forces taking hold in our country- but these statements are not enough. We need our ex-presidents to unite and sound alarm bells-not just De Niro and Broadway artists.

yankeefan7 said: "I am sure he will find out but when you are in major peace talks with North Korea, I really think DeNiro's comment is not something he is really going to worry about for quite awhile."

Ok... the “when you are in major peace talks with North Korea” part was really funny!

Don't worry about federal funding of the arts. If Trump cuts it, the next president will restore it. This has been an empty threat for years. The public supports funding for the arts.

But the arts and in particular the theater needs to pay a little attention to that old axim about biting the hand that feeds them. You are self-deceiving if you think that any ot the self-indulgent political references made during a Tony Awards program is going to have any national political influence. On the contrary, few even bother to watch the Tony Awards and, out of those that do, they don't tune in to hear more Trump talk from New York entertainers. They get Trump talk all day from many others for whom they have a much greater respect.

Much of the theater community, and especially the younger members who have not been around, don't realize what an insular political community they occupy in Manhattan. Much of the rest of the country dislikes up to the point of hatred the social and political mores so commonly accepted in New York City.

"Ok... the “when you are in major peace talks with North Korea” part was really funny!"

Glad you think it is funny. Anyway, the highlight of the night for me was the HS kids singing from "Rent" not DeNiro.

I only wish the cameras had taken a shot of Patti LuPone after De Niro made his remarks. Better yet, backflips of Patti across the Radio City stage would've even been better (she does have a new hip). I still have a loop of Patti shouting the same sentiments in an interview. Priceless.

Demitri2 said: "I only wish the cameras had taken a shot of Patti LuPone after De Niro made his remarks. Better yet, backflips of Patti across the Radio City stage would've even been better (she does have a new hip). I still have a loop of Patti shouting the same sentiments in an interview. Priceless."

When I feel down after reading the news or just being at work and trying to help clients, I play that Patti Lupone interview over and over.

So many of the comments here suggest we have normalized Trump more than I thought. If the theatre community and its fans aren't a first line of defence we are doomed. No one is safe and one outburst in a rather subdued awards show should be welcomed. I'd re-shout his remarks here but don't want to break any membership rules.

Up In One said: "So many of the comments here suggest we have normalized Trumpmore than I thought. If the theatre community and its fans aren't a first line of defence we are doomed. No one is safe and one outburst in a rather subdued awards show should be welcomed. I'd re-shout his remarks here but don't want to break any membership rules."



I couldn't agree more. The idea that we are shushing each other terrifies me. Saying that De Niro should use his own platform is ridiculous. This IS his platform! More people should be speaking on any platform at any chance they get. Standing back and watching what's happening in disgust or disbelief or denial is not going to serve this country well.

ScottyDoesn'tKnow2 said: "You have to take a stand. Trump isn't just a conservative whose political views you disagree with (though I'd argue that in itself is enough to take harden stances as policies do lead to real consequences). Trump is a real danger and DeNiro is just doing something the people in Washington are failing to do. More people need to speak up to get our country back to where it needs to be to be a functioning society again that pays attention to real issues rather than sound bytes the media and networks go for because they garner big ratings."

There are people and celebs all over social media shouting negative things about Trump all day and all night. DeNiro's statement was hardly revelatory or ground breaking. hasn't he already sparred or at least tweeted negative things about him in the past? It was his right to say what he did and I don't disagree with it, but to act like it made any bit of difference or changed any opinions or put dems closer to retaking the house in November or impeaching Trump is misguided.

Updated On: 6/11/18 at 01:40 PM

To demean the Tony Awards where guests were there to honor the greatness of the theater industry

They did honor the greatness of the theatre industry...AND cheered him on with a thunderous and long ovation.

to take the stage and leave the script to promote his own agenda is despicable; then again the weasel has to sneak in his hateful comments whenever he can

No, Trump wasn't even there.

It's too bad De Niro wasn't doing the intro to a performance of Class from Chicago.