Los Angeles Times contributor Virginia Heffernan believes Robert De Niro deserve a Pulitzer prize for dropping an F-bomb at the Tony Awards Sunday night, adding that the outburst from the aging Hollywood heavyweight was just what the ceremony needed.
“I can’t stop thinking about that swift, incisive editorial last night. Two monosyllables. Underscoring the presidency’s baseline indececency [sic] with a violation of ‘decency,’” she tweeted Monday morning. “The satire of ‘norms.’ I’d say Robert De Niro deserved a Pulitzer for if he didn’t deserve a…Tony.”
I can’t stop thinking about that swift, incisive editorial last night. Two monosyllables. Underscoring the presidency’s baseline indececency with a violation of “decency.” The satire of “norms.” I’d say Robert De Niro deserved a Pulitzer for if he didn’t deserve a…Tony.
— Virginia Heffernan (@page88) June 11, 2018
Heffernan, who has also been a regular presence in the New York Times, Slate and Wired over the years, has long been critical of Trump in her writing. (She may not be aware that Pulitzers go to mostly print journalists, while a TV performance would be eligible for Emmy Award consideration.)
Her take was only the latest media response to the truly unexpected moment provided by De Niro from the 72d Tony Awards from Sunday evening.
“I’m gonna say one thing, ‘F– Trump!’” said the actor, pumping his fists on stage at Radio City Music Hall, just before introducing Bruce Springsteen. “It’s no longer ‘Down With Trump,’ it’s ‘F– Trump,’”
The moment earned De Niro a standing ovation from the left-leaning audience in New York City. CBS censors managed to bleep the moment from the U.S. airwaves, but an uncensored clip from Australian television went viral on Twitter late Sunday night.
You can watch it below.
#tonyawards Robert De Niro swearing at Trump on #TonyAwards Australian feed didn't censor it 11 Jun – 2018 pic.twitter.com/74OQsUYr1c
— ?DUKE Clyde (HANSARD)CFW9 (Biden-Harris ELECT)? (@nobby15) June 11, 2018
In a statement after the show, CBS explained the incident.
“Mr. De Niro’s comments were unscripted and unexpected,” said the company. “The offensive language was deleted from the broadcast.”
The line was classic De Niro, who has made no secret of his disdain for the billionaire real estate developer now in the White House.
In recent months the actor has added to his resistance bona fides by taking up the role of “Robert Mueller” on Saturday Night Life. In the past, De Niro has also referred to Trump as both “our baby-in-chief” and “the jerkoff-in-chief.”