Robert De Niro at the center of viral satirical rumor debunked
Photo : Twitter
A controversy took X by storm on May 29, 2024. A user @NobodymrRobert claimed that actor Kevin Costner had fired Robert De Niro from an upcoming project. The post claimed that Costner, an Oscar-winning actor, criticized De Niro, saying, “He’s disrespectful and he doesn’t know when to shut up.” The rumor caught on like wildfire, stirring a frenzy among users.
The rumor itself can be traced back to a post on Facebook. the post included a meme, and a caption that alleged that De Niro had been fired from a “pity role.” The role would have supposedly earned him over $30 million. The Reagan Was Right Facebook page- a part of the America’s Last Line of Defense (ALLOD) network- took to uploading the post. The network is infamous for creating satirical and parody content. The meme also referred to De Niro’s appearance outside the courthouse in lower Manhattan. De Niro was present there for former U.S. President Donald Trump’s criminal hush money trial.
The Facebook meme had a “satire” label on its lower-left corner. It claimed that De Niro’s behavior prompted Costner to fire him. It also claimed that another reason was the remarks De Niro made in a public appearance set up by President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign. The text claimed that Costner no longer wanted De Niro on set, due to the “negativity” his actions brought on.
The ALLOD network regularly produces satirical content. They consistently target politically conservative audiences. Another ALLOD page posted a similar version of the meme. The second time around, it had more fictitious quotes from Costner. Despite the satire label, many users fell for the gimmick, believing it to be true. The post was shared and commented on thousands of times.
Jordan Liles, a reporter for Snopes, clarified that the rumor was fabricated and satirical in nature. The posts were intended to be viewed as humorous content, rather than factual reporting.
Sarah Wilson is your guide to the latest trends, viral sensations, and internet phenomena. With a finger on the pulse of digital culture, she explores what’s trending across social media and pop culture, keeping readers in the know about the latest online sensations.
