Robert De Niro's daughter condemns 'tabloid fodder' surrounding son's fentanyl overdose

foxnews.com:

After it was released to the public that Robert De Niro's grandson, Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, had passed away from an accidental drug overdose, the boy's mother condemned the ongoing sensationalism of his death. "Since the circumstances of my son's death have taken on a narrative and life of its own, driven by vicious, inaccurate hypotheses and conjecture by way of trolling and randoms who have nothing better to do than spread vitriol and pain to people who are already managing more than their share of heartache….

I will say what I can about this," actress and filmmaker Drena De Niro began in a statement shared to Instagram. Disappointed that some are more interested in her late son's drug use rather than the national opioid crisis impacting the nation, Drena asked for compassion for her late son. "I see that many people feel it's necessary to place the blame on my son for using the drugs, to me as his mother for being hurt, shocked and angry at the sudden loss of my only child and even on his grandfather, whom many seem to think possesses a direct connection or influence on how the U.S.

borders are operated," she wrote of her famous father. "Now I know there is no way to reason with stupidity or ignorance but I will say that as long as we keep blaming the addict and the person suffering mental illness we are going to continue to see more of this." Drena elaborated on her son's condition prior to his death, sharing that he "suffered tremendously through the pandemic… but sadly addiction took over in the last year and eventually killed him." "When you decide to comment on people's misfortune and loss at least really think about the emotional and mental fragility of the people you're attacking online.