President Joe Biden gave Robert De Niro a warning wagging finger when the actor mocked his age during the taping of the annual Kennedy Center Honors.
De Niro, 80, paid tribute to honoree Billy Crystal, telling the comedian: “You’re only 75 – that means you’re only about six years away from reaching the perfect age to be elected president.”
The audience burst into applause. Biden, 81, sitting a few chairs away from Crystal in the presidential box, shook his finger at De Niro. Earlier, Biden joked at a reception for honorees at the White House that Crystal “promised me he wouldn’t put me in the primary – because he would win.”
However, the president later laughed during the gala event. Actress Rita Moreno, 91, came out after De Niro, saying, “Old age is so damn boring,” causing Biden to burst out laughing.
President Joe Biden – next to Jill Biden in the presidential box – pointed the finger at actor Robert DeNiro when he mocked his age during the Kennedy Center Honors
Moreno, known for her Oscar-winning performance in the 1962 film “West Side Story,” was very vocal about Biden’s age when asked about it on the red carpet before taping began.
“I’m older than him. If I think about it, I could be president,” she said. “I think because it’s like older people, they don’t think it works,” she added, tapping her head.
Republicans, including Donald Trump, who is just three years younger than Biden, have made his age an issue in the 2024 election. Polls also show voters are concerned about Biden’s age. He is the oldest president ever elected.
Moreno expressed her concerns as voters prepare to decide the country’s next president.
“There’s a misperception and the other side is taking advantage of that, which scares me because the other side is pretty ruthless,” she said. “I hope that’s not what good Americans think.”
She had been at the White House reception for the Kennedy Center Honors early Sunday and said she spoke with President Biden and first lady Jill Biden.
“He looks fabulous.” He’s extremely happy. “I don’t know how he does it,” she said.
The 46th Annual Kennedy Center Honors were taped Sunday evening and aired Dec. 27 on CBS. The honorees will enjoy a weekend of festivities, including a dinner at the State Department on Saturday evening where they will deliver their acceptance remarks and a reception on Sunday afternoon at the White House hosted by the Bidens.
Gloria Estefan returned as emcee and opened the evening by leading a series of Congolese dancers through the Kennedy Center Opera House, performing her 1985 hit “Conga.”
“Your art has value, but it has contributed to the fabric of our society,” she told the honorees.
Alongside actor and comedian Billy Crystal; the Kennedy Center celebrated soprano Renée Fleming; British singer-songwriter-producer and member of the Bee Gees, Barry Gibb; rapper, singer and actress Queen Latifah; and singer Dionne Warwick.
Robert De Niro at a White House reception for Kennedy Center honorees; he would later make fun of Joe Biden’s age
Honoree Billy Crystal waves to the crowd
Naomi Biden (center), the granddaughter of Joe and Jill Biden, attended the Kennedy Center Honors and sat in the presidential box between Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff (left) and Secretary of State Antony Blinken (right).
Crystal’s tribute on Sunday evening focused on his love of baseball, his nine Oscar appearances and his famous romantic comedy “Harry and Sally.”
Meg Ryan made a surprise appearance on stage to honor her co-star in the hit 1989 film. She began by talking about the now infamous scene in which her character fakes an orgasm during lunch with Crystal’s character at Katz’s Delicatessen.
“The scene seemed natural to me, and I really have Billy to thank for that.” “I’ve never seen anyone make it easier to fake an organism,” she said, as the audience erupted in laughter.
And director Rob Reiner revealed that it was actually Crystal who wrote the film’s famous line, which was quoted by one of the actors in the deli scene: “Billy wrote what I think is the funniest line in the entire history of film. “I take the same as her. Said by my mother.’
Warwick was honored for her Grammy Award-winning singing career with a variety of musical performances, including Chloey Bailey singing Walk on By; Cynthia Erivo, who released Warwick’s classic Alfie; and Gladys Knight, who sang Say a Little Prayer.
This year’s ceremony also recognizes hip-hop’s 50th anniversary. As part of this, actress Kerry Washington led the tributes to Queen Latifah.
Regarding the actress and singer’s stage name, she noted: “She leafed through a name book and chose one as her own.” Latifah is an Arabic name and means gentle, friendly and pleasant. That’s how she saw herself. And then, at age 17, when it came time to create her professional nickname, she added the title “Queen” and that’s how this young black woman from East Orange, New Jersey, created the lens through which the world would forever see her.”
Soprano Renee Fleming was accompanied by various singers, including Dove Cameron and Tituss Burgess.
And actress Christine Baranski got laughs when she talked about when she and Fleming had something in common.
She noted, “I first met Renee at the fundraiser for Juilliard, our alma mater.” We quickly bonded and talked about the challenges of raising two daughters, navigating busy careers and the importance of educating women. Then I went to her opening of La Traviata and she came to my opening of Mamma Mia.’
“Apparently I love Verdi and she loves Alba,” she noted.
Sigourney Weaver praised Fleming’s humanitarian work, including in the areas of global health and arts education.
Dionne Warwick waves to the crowd at the Kennedy Center Honors
Renee Fleming at the Kennedy Center Honors
Queen Latifah was honored as part of hip-hop’s 50th anniversary
British singer and songwriter Barry Gibbs
Jill Biden hugs Queen Latifah
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi attended the Kennedy Center Honors with her son-in-law
The final honoree of the evening was British singer and songwriter Barry Gibbs.
It featured a video tribute of singers performing songs written by Gibbs, including Dolly Parton, Lionel Richie, Paul McCarthy and Barbara Steisand.
Singer Michael Buble described Gibbs as a man “with a sensitive side, but someone with real emotional intelligence,” tapping into a deeper part of himself and sharing it with the world. It brings us back to our very own humanity, that as I mentioned before, the songs are also sexy as hell.’
He then sang “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart.”
Previous Kennedy Center Honors recipients include George Clooney, U2, Tina Turner, Cher and the cast of Hamilton.
In this year’s class, Crystal is known for films such as “When Harry Met Sally…”, “City Slickers” and “Analyze This.”
He has also hosted the Academy Awards nine times and has won six Emmy Awards. Crystal served as co-host of Comic Relief’s televised fundraisers on HBO, along with Robin Williams and Whoopi Goldberg. Through special broadcasts between 1986 and 2008, Comic Relief raised $75 million to provide medical assistance to the homeless.
He received the 2007 Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
Fleming has five Grammy awards and the US National Medal of Arts. The opera has sung in everything from the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony to Barack Obama’s first inauguration as president to Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee concert at Buckingham Palace.
In 2014, she became the first classical artist ever to sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl.
She is also a Goodwill Ambassador for Arts and Health for the World Health Organization.
The Guinness Book of Records and Billboard list Gibb as one of the two most successful popular songwriters of all time, along with Paul McCartney.
As a member of the Bee Gees with his brothers Robin and Maurice, the trio sold over 220 million records and wrote 21 different songs that topped the US or UK charts, including “Staying Alive” and “Saturday Night Fever”.
Gibb was born in 1946 on the Isle of Man in Great Britain. He is a nine-time Grammy winner and has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Kennedy Center honorees (from left to right, front row): soprano Renee Fleming, actor and comedian Billy Crystal and singer Dionne Warwick as well as (from left to right) rapper, singer and actress Queen Latifah and British singer-songwriter-producer and member of the Bee Gees, Barry Gibb
President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden dressed up for the Kennedy Center Honorees Reception at the White House
The Presidential Box at the Kennedy Center Honors: from left: Queen Latifah, Jill Biden, President Joe Biden, Doug Emhoff, Naomi Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken
Lin-Manuel Miranda speaks with White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre at the Kennedy Center Honors
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and his wife Iris Weinshall attended the Kennedy Center Honors – Schumer said it was his first time at the event and he was there to greet fellow New Yorker Billy See Crystal
Actress Christine Baranski hosted the tribute to opera singer Renee Fleming
Kerry Washington led the tributes to Queen Latifah
Michael Buble sang “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart” in honor of Barry Gibbs
Dave Chappelle attends the 46th Kennedy Center Honors
Queen Latifah has received six Grammy Awards for her music career.
Her film credits include “Jungle Fever,” “Chicago,” and “Bringing Down the House.” Her television appearances include “Living Single” and “Star.”
Warwick has more than 60 chart hits and has sold over 100 million records. Her humanitarian work includes raising awareness about AIDS.
She comes from a musical family. One of her cousins was the late Whitney Houston.
Her musical hits include “Don’t Make Me Over,” “Walk On By,” and “I Say a Little Prayer.”
Warwick appeared on the All-Star charity single “We Are the World”. She also made recording history with Gladys Knight, Elton John and Stevie Wonder with “That’s What Friends 7 Are For,” a number one hit in 1985 and the first recording dedicated to raising AIDS awareness.
CBS will broadcast the 46th Annual Kennedy Center Honors on December 27 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.