The film industry has just experienced a huge shock when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that Robert De Niro, the Hollywood icon with a number of classic roles, has been banned from attending the 2025 Oscars and has been removed from all nominations. This decision was made just a few days after the awards ended on February 23, but what made everyone surprised was the reason behind it – an unexpected request from Elon Musk, a famous tech billionaire with controversial moves.
According to insiders, Musk sent a letter directly to the Oscar organizing committee, asking them to reconsider De Niro’s status after actors’ public statements against him over the years. De Niro, who is not afraid to criticize Musk on TV shows and social media, once called him a “dangerous person for society” in an interview in 2024, related to Musk’s role in politics and the media. Musk’s letter seemed to emphasize that these words were beyond the limit, and he thought that a person like De Niro did not deserve to be honored at a prestigious event like the Oscars.
Hollywood’s reaction is split into two distinct streams. Some big stars, such as Martin Scorsese, spoke out to protect De Niro, calling it “unprecedented abuse” and questioning whether Musk was really enough to affect the academy. Meanwhile, a smaller group supported the decision, saying De Niro had taken trouble when he continually attacked Musk. At X, where Musk had hundreds of millions of followers, his fans celebrated, with one tweet going viral: “De Niro thought he was inviolable, but Elon proved otherwise.”
The Academy has not released details of the content of Musk’s letters, only confirming that they had “carefully reviewed” them before making a decision. De Niro, who once won two gold Oscar statues, has yet to speak out, but his team called this an “action of personal revenge.” With Musk increasingly expanding the influence of technology into public culture, this event is raising the debate about the boundary between personal power and freedom of expression in the entertainment industry. Is this the end of the feud between the two, or is it just the beginning of a larger battle? Hollywood is holding its breath waiting for the next development.
