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Robert De Niro, center, argues with a Donald Trump supporter May 28, 2024, in New York after speaking to reporters in support of President Joe Biden across the street from Trump's criminal trial. (AP)
Did Robert De Niro lose film role after anti-Trump comments? No, claim is from satire sites
If Your Time is short
A social media claim that Warner Bros. canceled a $10 million project with "woke" actor Robert De Niro originated on satirical websites.
After Robert De Niro clashed with Donald Trump supporters outside the Manhattan courthouse where the former president is on trial, social media users shared a headline that said Warner Bros. had canceled a project with the "woke" actor.
De Niro spoke at a President Joe Biden campaign news conference May 28, warning of what he said were the dangers of putting Trump back in the White House. His punishment, according to the social media posts, was losing a movie role.
"BREAKING: Warner Bros Cancels $10 Million Project Starring 'Woke' Robert De Niro," said one X post shared after De Niro’s comments.
We found multiple examples of social media users sharing similar posts, some of which predate De Niro’s courthouse news conference.
The X post, which had more than 614,000 views, did not link to a story, but a Google and social media search using its words shows that it originated on satirical websites in December.
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(X screenshot)
One satirical Facebook account on Dec. 6 linked to an article on SpaceXMania, which describes itself as a satire site. Another satirical Facebook account on Dec. 7 linked to an article on Esspots, which also calls itself satire.
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The X post was tagged with a community note linking to the Esspots article. Reuters fact-checked this claim in December.
Another clue that the X post isn’t true is the dollar figure cited. While small films can be made for $10 million, that amount likely wouldn’t cover De Niro’s fee. The actor’s recent film, "Killers of the Flower Moon," for example, had a budget of about $200 million, and De Niro’s fee was in the $15 million range, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
The X post’s claim that Warner Bros. canceled a $10 million project with the "woke" De Niro originated on satirical websites and is being shared without that disclaimer after the actor was critical of Trump. The claim is False.
Our Sources
X post, May 28, 2024
Esspots, "He’s a creepy little guy": Warner Bros Cancels $10 Million Project Starring ‘Woke’ Robert De Niro, Dec. 7, 2023
SpaceXMania, Breaking: Warner Bros Drops $10 Million Project With "Creepy" ‘Woke’ Robert De Niro, December 2023
The Associated Press, Robert De Niro represents Biden-Harris campaign at Trump trial, May 28, 2024
NBC News, 'You are gangsters': Robert De Niro clashes with pro-Trump protesters, May 28, 2024
Variety, ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ Box Office: Is Martin Scorsese’s $200 Million Epic a Hit or Flop?, Nov. 7, 2023
The Hollywood Reporter, Apple to Partner With Paramount for Martin Scorsese’s ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’, May 27, 2020
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Did Robert De Niro lose film role after anti-Trump comments? No, claim is from satire sites
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