Robert De Niro, co-founder of the Tribeca Film Festival, has defended his decision to include the controversial anti-vaccination documentary film "Vaxxed: From Cover-Up To Catastrophe" at the festival in a statement on Friday.
The Tribeca Film Festival came under fire after it announced the screening of the documentary, which is directed by Andrew Wakefield, a former doctor who was stripped of his medical license and was known for fraudulently writing a 1998 paper that linked the MMR (measles/mumps/rubella) vaccine to autism.
However, medical researchers found no such evidence to prove that children who receive vaccinations have a higher probability of being diagnosed with autism, which sparked a debate between one side that supports Wakefield's claims and the other side that believes failure to vaccinate children poses as a serious health risk for the entire population.
"Vaxxed" has been described as a feature documentary that digs into the "long-debated link between autism and vaccines" and "features revealing and emotional interviews with pharmaceutical insiders, doctors, politicians, parents, and one whistleblower to understand what's behind the skyrocketing increase of autism diagnoses today."
De Niro said in his statement that his decision to screen "Vaxxed" at the New York City-based film festival next month was only to open up a debate and that he was "not personally endorsing the film," nor was he against the use of vaccines.
"Grace and I have a child with autism and we believe it is critical that all of the issues surrounding the causes of autism be openly discussed and examined," De Niro said. "In the 15 years since the Tribeca Film Festival was founded, I have never asked for a film to be screened or gotten involved in the programming."
"However this is very personal to me and my family and I want there to be a discussion, which is why we will be screening 'Vaxxed.' I am not personally endorsing the film, nor am I anti-vaccination; I am only providing the opportunity for a conversation around the issue," the 72-year-old actor added.
"Vaxxed" will premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 24.
Check out the film's trailer below:
