Robert De Niro’s Tribeca Film Festival Pulls Anti-Vaxxer Documentary

Robert De Niro attending the Opening Night premiere of 'Live From New York!' during the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival at the Beacon Theatre on April 15, 2015 in New York City/picture alliance Photo by: Dennis Van Tine/G... Robert De Niro attending the Opening Night premiere of 'Live From New York!' during the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival at the Beacon Theatre on April 15, 2015 in New York City/picture alliance Photo by: Dennis Van Tine/Geisler-Fotopres/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images MORE LESS
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NEW YORK (AP) — Robert De Niro is removing the anti-vaccination documentary “Vaxxed” from the lineup of his Tribeca Film Festival, after initially defending its inclusion.

“Vaxxed: From Cover-up to Conspiracy,” was set to be part of the film festival when it opened next month. The decision to include the film by anti-vaccination activist Andrew Wakefield came under fire, particularly since Wakefield’s contention that the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine have a link to autism have been discredited.

While De Niro on Friday defended the decision to include the film, he released a statement Saturday saying he had reversed his decision.

De Niro, who has a child with autism, said he had hoped to provide an opportunity for conversation around an issue “that is deeply personal to me and my family.”

However, he said after he and Tribeca organizers reviewed it, “We do not believe it contributes to or furthers the discussion I had hoped for.” He said members of the scientific community also had reviewed it with him.

“The festival doesn’t seek to avoid or shy away from controversy. However, we have concerns with certain things in this film that we feel prevent us from presenting it in the festival program,” he added.

A statement from Wakefield, the film’s director, and Del Bigtree, its producer, decried De Niro’s decision, saying they didn’t get a chance to defend themselves against critics of the film.

“We have just witnessed yet another example of the power of corporate interests censoring free speech, art and truth,” the statement read. “Tribeca’s action will not succeed in denying the world access to the truth behind the film ‘Vaxxed.'”

The Tribeca Film Festival runs from April 13 to April 24.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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  1. We have just witnessed yet another example of the power of corporate interests censoring free speech, art and truth," the statement read. “Tribeca’s action will not succeed in denying the world access to the truth behind the film ‘Vaxxed.’”

    Free Speech and Art and Truth? So much for humility. Glad to see DeNiro changed his mind.

  2. Good. Glad he saw the light. It was based on bullshit anyway…based on the supposed work from a guy who had his medical license pulled by the UK… because he fucking made up shit out of whole cloth and basically LIED.

    No need to promote junk science unless you’re the new National Geographic Channel bought out by Rupert Murdoch…

  3. Not basically, he did.

    He was paid by a company seeking to introduce their own version of the MMR. He claimed the kids in his study developed autism and that wasn’t true at all. Those with autism had been diagnosed prior to the vaccine and some didn’t have it at all even though he claimed they did. He’s a sleazy bastard.

    I am seriously disappointed in De Niro. I’ll have problems taking him seriously from this point. I know that’s unfair, but it’s true.

  4. Don’t be too hard on De Niro; actors are often out their league when it comes to certain information, and since he has a child with autism he has become gullible by people such as Wakefield.

  5. I get it, but…ever think this might be exactly what the film’s creator wanted?

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