Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal started the Tribeca Film Festival after 9/11. They wanted to bring a film festival to town to revive the Tribeca economy, encourage investment and show that New York is still an important cultural hub for the industry. It’s worked out okay – I never think of the Tribeca Film Festival as a go-to for awards-season contenders, but the festival makes news and they actually do end up premiering some interesting and award-worthy films. The festival was canceled in 2020 and in 2021, they went with a hybrid model of outdoor screenings and lots of virtual events. This year, the festival is back in most ways (and they’re keeping some outdoor screenings, since those were a success last year). Rosenthal and DeNiro chatted with Variety just before the festival started on Wednesday, and just FYI: this is why “De Niro” has been trending on social media. This is the interview. It’s because De Niro said some words about Taylor Swift.
Variety: Taylor Swift, who doesn’t do too many public appearances, is bringing her short film “All Too Well.” How did that collaboration come about?
Rosenthal: First of all, she’s in the neighborhood.
De Niro: She lives in the neighborhood?
Rosenthal: Well, I’m not supposed to discuss that.
De Niro: [Laughs]
Rosenthal: We’re always looking to show artists’ work to show what else they do — the interdisciplinary work. It’s always interesting to watch what artists do when they’re not doing what we think that they should continually do.
Variety: Are you fans of Taylor Swift’s music?
De Niro: I have all of her albums. [Laughs] I’m not not a fan. I probably hear her music and like it on the radio. My young daughter puts a station on, and it drives me crazy when they chat. When they have music, it’s OK.
Variety: You don’t like the banter?
De Niro: Yeah, the banter… We have a deal that when the chatter goes on, we go to chill [music]. That’s the compromise. I go to spa [music] when I’m alone.
I haven’t actually checked on the Snake Fam to see if they’re okay, but I’m sure there are at least a few junior snakes screaming “who the f–k is Robert De Niro?!!?” De Niro does not care. I’m not sure he understands that Taylor’s fans hate every second of this, but he should stay blissfully unaware. Besides, I think he was partly joking anyway. What was funny about the Variety piece is that the question before the Taylor Swift stuff was about how Jennifer Lopez’s Halftime was opening the film festival. De Niro praised J.Lo, saying: “I haven’t seen it yet. I’d like to see it. She’s been there a long time. I’ve known her since… years ago. She’s hung in there. She’s terrifically professional.” Which is really lovely – one New Yorker appreciating another New Yorker. But then he dissed Tay-Tay!
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I think part of the problem is people trying to turn his comments into a “diss” when they clearly aren’t. It’s just DeNiro being DeNiro.
I read this the opposite way. Isn’t a double negative understood as positive? So Wouldn’t notnot being a fan mean he is a fan? Maybe I’m just too old for this conversation.
He’s not a fan. Usually when people use a double negative it’s neutral. If Taylor Swift comes on the radio he’s not going to change the station but he’s also not going to seek out her music or go to her concerts. It’s not a diss and odd it’s being reported as one. I don’t get why the All Too Well video is showing. It’s been out for months.
I take the double negative to mean that he likes her music. He also said he has all her albums. Maybe he’s not a rabid fan, but he likes the music. In no way could that be considered a diss. I’m totally confused.
Summer- He was being sarcastic when he said he had all of her albums lol He wasn’t dissing her but being neutral on her music.
I took it as he could take it or leave it when a TS song comes on the radio.
I read it a positive or neutral at worst. He’s not Not a fan. i am not Not gonna have ice cream which means I will have some. I think people are reading it wrong. It’s not supposed to be read as a diss.
I think “sarcastic” is strong, I think he was being “amusing.” Because who would expect old-school Robert DeNiro to own all of TSwift’s albums? He called them “albums” which is your first clue! (Full disclosure, I am An Old and also refer to a collection of music as “an album.”)
This is not a diss, this is him saying that he knows she’s not for him, but he doesn’t expect her to be. His daughter likes her, so he is aware of her. Otherwise, he probably would not be. I imagine Taylor is okay with not being the go-to for a 70 year old man, lol.
That’s not a mean comment, we have the right not to appreciate all the artists, each people are entitled had with different tastes. I love Sade, I accepted the fact that Sade isn’t all my friends’ taste, the same way my friends accepted that Beyonce isn’t my cup of tea.
“Not not a fan” means… he’s neutral about her? This is not a diss? He sounds like lots of guys in his demographic. I’m not mad about it. LOL
Hearing tone would be helpful. Sounds like the “not not a fan” is meant in a jokey way, especially after he says he has all her albums. Hardly seems like a diss to me.
But…why is the All Too Well video showing there, it was released ages ago?
Of all the dumb shit old white guys say, this is the least of it. Saying no not a hard core fan but likes what he’s heard is not an insult lol.
He likes her music, but doesn’t want to admit it. It’s not a diss.
I think DiNiro is long been a fan of rap and Hip Hop so it is no surprise that he is not a Taylor fan. He is a Jay Z fan and a Weeknd fan and a few other Hip Hop artists over the years. There is a hilarious story about when they were filming “Vegas” with Scorcese and Sir Mix Alot (Baby Got Back) was watching them film. Scorcese thought he was an extra and started yelling at him to move then Sir Mix Alot threatened to punch his brains in. DiNiro being a rap fan knew who Mix Alot was but didn’t say anything. He did laugh very loudly though as Scorcese went running
How is this a diss???? He said he has all of her albums. I’m confused.
Nah. No diss by Robert. He doesn’t like her music and he’s allowed to feel that way.
I took this as him saying he likes her music bc of the double negative? I’m a Taylor fan and I was like “oh that’s super cool of De Niro” when I read it lol
Why on earth would he be a fan? He’s not her audience. It’s fine.
I’m a total Swiftie, and literally nothing about this bothers me.
Up vote this
And I wanted to say: love Jane’s whole look. Great suit, great shoes, great ropes of pearls. OK not so fond of the glasses, but overall she looks fab.
I don’t see how this could ever be read as a diss. He has all her albums, it was a cute moment, and as a Taylor fan I thought it was cool of him to say.