A Condescending Exit

The Negative Inference. That’s what Oscar-winning actor Robert DeNiro objected to in a recent interview, promoting his new comedy, The Intern.

With repeated negative inferences to Mr. De Niro, the interviewer exacerbated the tension, hoping to get more of a response than the actor’s trademark monosyllabic replies. And she did!

deiro

Photo Courtesy of brunchnews.com

 

It’s a technique reporters and interviewers often use to bait or get a rise out of a subject. Mr. DeNiro didn’t take the bait, he just walked out.

But not every interview subject is the septuagenarian Oscar-winning actor, Robert DeNiro who doesn’t need The Radio Times’ for publicity. So learning how to handle this media technique is crucial.

Simply, deflect the negative (without repeating it) and bridge to the positive.

When Mr. De Niro characterized the reporter’s questions as negative inference, she replied, “Wait, but I asked that question to establish how it is you manage not to be on autopilot.”
“I’m not doing this, darling,” Mr. De Niro concluded. In response, Radio Times’ journalist, Emma Brockes pouted, “I think you’re very condescending.”