Robert De Niro takes aim at ‘middle-aged white men’ accepting gay media award from Jennifer Lawrence
Robert De Niro has received an honour at the GLAAD Media Awards in New York City, appearing alongside Jennifer Lawrence.
GLAAD honoured the actor at its awards ceremony last night as Lawrence joked: “Robert De Niro is not gay, so I don’t know why we’re here.”
But going on, she added: “The most important thing he’s taught all of us is acceptance. Bob is the kindest person I’ve ever met.
“His heart is so giving and with his own quiet strength, it’s no wonder that this man and the incredible organisation that is GLAAD would come together tonight.”
“GLAAD and Bob have a lot in common. They’re both gay,” Lawrence joked again, pausing for laughter.
“Just kidding. I was told by five different people to cut that and I was like, ‘Hell no.'”
De Niro was given the Excellence in Media Award by the Hunger Games star.
He said: “Thank you, Jen… If I were a lesbian, I’d be all over you. Being a father figure has its limitations.”
“Jennifer Lawrence is not only a great actress, she’s also a generous and devoted philanthropist. She’s passionately committed to causes supporting human rights, including the one that brings us together tonight. She’s a good friend—a respectful, loving friend. She didn’t hesitate to be here tonight for me and for GLAAD—after I threatened her.”
“I don’t think you know what it’s like to be really discriminated against,” De Niro joked.
“I turned on the television and saw this odd guy with little hands and he was raving. Turns out the ones being discriminated against are straight, middle-aged white men…I can’t remember the last time I got a Teen Choice Award.”
Supporters note that De Niro has spoken out on LGBT issues multiple times, most recently sharing his gay father’s story in a 2014 HBO documentary ‘Remembering the artist: Robert De Niro Sr’.
He also spoke a numerous occasions in favour of same-sex marriage, and has starred in and included a number of LGBT roles in his films.
Back in 2002, De Niro founded the Tribeca film festival, which holds LGBT inclusion within its core values.
He has also starred in LGBT roles, including in ‘Flawless’, produced in 1999 by De Niro. He also starred in the film which told a romantic story between a trans woman and a cisgender man.
The actor also played the character of a gay pirate in Stardust.
He was criticised recently for adding anti-vaccination film Vaxxed: From Cover-up To Catastrophe to the Tribeca Film Festival line up.
The star later axed the screening, but still said the highly controversial film should be seen by as many people as possible.
He said at the time: “All I wanted is for the movie to be seen and people can make up their own judgement but you must see it.
“Let’s find out the truth, let’s just find out the truth.”
Check out his acceptance speech here:
Pop star Taylor Swift surprised onlookers at the GLAAD Awards in LA last month.
The ‘Bad Blood’ singer appeared at the event in Beverley Hills, in order to present an award to her friend Ruby Rose.
Lilly Wachowski, co-director of the Matrix trilogymade her first public appearance since coming out as trans, as Sense8 was given the Outstanding Drama Series award.
Other winners at the GLAAD Awards, included Demi Lovato who won the Vanguard award. I Am Cait tied with I am Jazz for the scripted reality section of the awards, and Amazon’s Transparent also took home a gong.
Lovato in her speech said she knows she has a “bigger dick” than Nick Jonas.
Along with her sister, Lana, Lilly forms part of the Wachowski duo that also created Cloud Atlas and the hit Netflix drama, Sense 8.
Lana transitioned in 2000 and made it public in 2012, when she became an advocate for trans awareness and opened up about the difficulties she faced in the process.
