De Niro’s Mafia roles ‘tarnish image of Italians’

ACTOR Robert De Niro hit out yesterday at claims he should not be granted Italian citizenship because his Mafia roles have harmed the country’s reputation.

The actor, who is part Italian, was due to be granted honorary citizenship this week.

But a US-based group, the Order of Sons of Italy in America, have held up the ceremony with its protests.