Tag: Censorship

Jimmy Kimmel’s Return: Grace and Strength

Perhaps a spark

Jimmy Kimmel returned to the air in some places last night. In my opinion, he did so with grace and with strength. 

He certainly didn’t give any ground as a comedian, continuing to needle the Trump administration and the two-faced chair of the FCC, Brendan Carr. But he also showed a great deal of grace given the moments he and we have all been through since this episode of life under a crazy emperor with no clothes. 

I’m linking to the video above with his opening monologue, because one way on the other the moment is a piece of broadcast and cultural history. The optimist in me hopes it will prove to be bigger than that, perhaps a turning point. The realist in me thinks we’re due for some sequels. 

Here’s hoping people and the cowardly CEOs have learned a lesson or two before the next sequel is given a green light. I’m not holding my breath on the latter. I have more hope for the former.

You can also find more of my writings on a variety of topics on Medium at this link, including in the publications Ellemeno and Rome. I can also be found on social media under my name as above.

Robert De Niro Claims Apple Censors Award Speech

Not a good look for Apple. Not a good look for anyone involved actually. Actor Robert De Niro says Apple employees removed a portion of his speech from the teleprompter at the Gotham Awards. And according to Variety an edited version of the speech was uploaded to the prompter minutes before the ceremony kicked off by someone claiming they were an Apple employee.

Of course there’s a denial or two with the company claiming they were just responding to the filmmakers trying to keep De Niro’s remarks focused on the movie, Killers of the Flower Moon.

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Not one to shy away and play the game, De Niro, in his acceptance speech called out the problem, pulled out his phone and read the original. The text of which is below. 

“History isn’t history anymore. Truth is not truth. Even facts are being replaced by alternative facts and driven by conspiracy theories and ugliness. In Florida, young students are taught that slaves developed skills which can be applied for their personal benefit. 

The entertainment industry isn’t immune to this festering disease. The Duke, John Wayne, famously said of Native Americans, ‘I don’t feel we did wrong in taking this great country away from them. There were great numbers of people who needed new land and the Indians were selfishly trying to keep it for themselves.’

Lying has become just another tool in the charlatan’s arsenal. The former president lied to us more than 30,000 times during his four years in office, and he’s keeping up the pace in his current campaign of retribution. But with all his lies, he can’t hide his soul. He attacks the weak, destroys the gifts of nature, and shows disrespect, for example, by using ‘Pocahontas’ as a slur.”

Concluding his remarks De Niro said he had planned to thank Apple and the Gotham Film & Media Institute “But I don’t feel like thanking them at all anymore.” 

Not too hard to imagine future awards shows confiscating smartphones before presenters and speakers take the stage going forward.

You can watch De Niro’s full remarks in the video below.