Veteran actor Robert De Niro recently weighed in on the controversy surrounding Todd Phillips’ Joker.

Joker’s Venice International Film Festival screening prompted audiences to an 8-minutes standing ovation. As expected, the film made headlines for its widely positive reception. However, prior to its worldwide premiere, Joker already has negative publicity surrounding it. Concerns have been raised over the film’s dark and violent themes. Those who criticize Phillip’s “masterpiece” have referenced the 2012 Aurora, Colorado shooting at a screening of The Dark Knight Rises.

Families of the Aurora shooting victims urged Warner Bros. to cut their ties to political figures who vote against gun reform in the United States. Particularly those who receive funding from the National Rifle Association (NRA).

Variety raised the controversy to De Niro who has a small role to play in the film. While promoting The Irishman, the actor told the outlet:

“I think some of the things that were being said about Warner Bros. giving money, not endorsing — or whatever it was about the NRA — I think is right. Whatever people were saying connected with the Aurora theater or whatever organization it was.”

The veteran actor wasn’t quite articulate about his stance. But it is worth noting that he agrees what’s being demanded of Warner Bros. The production giant previously defended the film saying it was not made to endorse “real-world violence.”
“It is not the intention of the film, the filmmakers or the studio to hold this character up as a hero,” Warner Bros. said about the Joker.