NABLF Confirms Cancelation of Award for Robert De Niro

NAB confirmed Monday that its Leadership Foundation won’t award actor Robert De Niro the Service to America Leadership Award Tuesday. De Niro gave a speech condemning former President Donald Trump during a campaign event for President Joe Biden last week, which drew much negative media coverage. The Celebration of Service to America Awards is dedicated to honoring ‘vital local journalism and public service” and is “proudly bipartisan,” an NAB spokesperson said. “While we strongly support the right of every American to exercise free speech and participate in civic engagement, it is clear that Mr. De Niro’s recent high-profile activities will create a distraction from the philanthropic work that we were hoping to recognize,” NAB said. “To maintain the focus on service of the award winners, Mr. De Niro will no longer be attending the event.” The foundation announced that De Niro would receive the award for his philanthropic work in a May 28 news release.