Entertainment
Robert De Niro’s daughter Drena blames ‘internet’ for sons early death
Robert De Niro’s daughter Drena De Niro is opening up about the heartbreaking loss of her son, Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, and how deeply the tragedy changed her life.
Nearly two years after his death, she shared new details about the moments leading up to it, his battle with drugs and the aftermath that still affects her today.
Leandro died in 2023 after unknowingly taking fentanyl-laced pills.
Drena told Page Six that her son was trying to get help and didn’t fully understand what he had been exposed to.
“That was very sad to me because he wanted help,” she said.
“He knew he was over his head. I don’t think he even knew why. I think he had been exposed to much harder drugs that he didn’t know about.”
Shortly after his passing, she wrote on Instagram that “someone sold him fentanyl laced pills that they knew were laced yet still sold them to him.”
Months later, the New York City Chief Medical Examiner confirmed the 19-year-old died from a deadly combination of fentanyl, bromazolam, alprazolam, 7-aminoclonazepam, ketamine and cocaine.
In October, five people were arrested in connection with the case, but Drena admitted the news wasn’t simple to process.
She described it as “really strange” and “so bittersweet because you don’t feel any happier.”
She hopes the legal process leads to accountability, adding, “I’m hoping they do get some justice. If you’re going to sell drugs to young people, it doesn’t matter whether you made it, whether you know or didn’t know, you’re taking a chance.”
Even then, she shared she didn’t want to destroy another young life, saying, “I’m not interested in ruining some 24-year-old’s life.”
Drena also reflected on her son’s personality and the bond they shared. “He was just an amazing kid, he was so smart,” she said.
Losing him was instant devastation. She recalled the moment she found out, saying, “This detective stood there, and the whole world as I knew it collapsed.”
She spoke about how close they were and how her son gave her a sense of identity beyond being Robert De Niro’s daughter.
“We were extremely close,” she said. He had a special relationship with his famous grandfather too, and she described him as “just this pure soul.”
This year, Drena and Robert launched the Leandro De Niro Rodriguez Foundation to support families impacted by the fentanyl crisis and expand access to care.
She said part of her mission is to protect other families from feeling the same pain she carries now.
“It was really painful and shocking and violating for his story to go so viral, to hear people’s horrible thoughts,” she said, explaining that she refuses to let his legacy be reduced to headlines.
“He’s not going to be some horrible sound bite.”
Her focus today is keeping Leandro’s story alive in a way that helps others, and ensuring that awareness and compassion come before judgment.
Cosmopolitan editor discusses what celebrities might wear
A senior fashion editor at Cosmopolitan said celebrities’ outfits could vary vastly as they take on their own interpretations of this year’s theme.
Jessica Neises said some could lean into the “body and fitted silhouettes,” meaning bodycon dresses. Some stars could also tap into the art side.
“Maybe the garment itself is a beautiful piece of art with embroidery or different beading,” she said.
Neises said she thinks there will be a lot of color and vibrancy on the red carpet.
“Tonight is not about being quiet with the fashion. It’s really about being loud. Hopefully, no plain black suits. We want extravagance,” she said.
Venus Williams
Tennis players Venus Williams is serving as one of the co-chairs of the event. She, like many other attendees tonight, is leaning into statement jewelry.
Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images
Nicole Kidman and Sunday Rose Kidman Urban
Nicole Kidman, one of tonight’s co-chairs of the event, brings along her daughter, Sunday Rose Kidman Urban. This is Sunday Rose’s first time attending the Met Gala, while Nicole is a seasoned pro who has attended the event for over 20 years.
Mike Coppola / Getty Images 
Chloe Malle
Chloe Malle replaced Wintour as head of editorial content at Vogue in September 2025 at the age of 38.
Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images 
Anna Wintour
Anna Wintour, now the chief content officer for Condé Nast and global editorial director of Vogue, arrives at the Met Gala. Wintour is the deciding force behind who gets to attend the prestigious event.
Mike Coppola / Getty Images 
Actress and model Cara Delevingne stuns on the red carpet
Cara Delevingne, one of the red carpet hosts for Vogue, arrives in a custom Ralph Lauren dress. Delevingne has been a frequent face at the Met Gala since her first appearance in 2011.
Theo Wargo/Getty Images 
Who is hosting the Met Gala?
Singer Beyoncé, Actress Nicole Kidman and tennis player Venus Williams will co-chair the event alongside Anna Wintour.
There’s also a host committee chaired by designer Anthony Vaccarello and filmmaker Zoë Kravitz.
There are several celebrities who are also on the host committee. It includes musicians Sabrina Carpenter, Doja Cat, LISA, Sam Smith and Yseult; dancer Misty Copeland; actors Teyana Taylor, Elizabeth Debicki, Gwendoline Christie and Lena Dunham; WNBA superstar A’ja Wilson; models Alex Consani, Paloma Elsesser and Lauren Wasser; Vogue editor Chloe Malle; and artist Anna Weyant.
Vogue red carpet hosts, Ashley Graham and Emma Chamberlain, arrive
Model Ashley Graham and influencer Emma Chamberlain will serve as Vogue’s red-carpet hosts throughout the evening, alongside actor Cara Delevingne and TV personality La La Anthony.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images 
Mike Coppola / Getty Images 
What is the dress code?
The Met Gala’s dress code is “Fashion is Art,” going hand-in-hand with the “Costume Art” theme.
Organizers say the show will highlight the connection between clothing and the body and the “complex interplay between artistic representations of the body and fashion as an embodied art form.”
What time does the red carpet start?
The event is held on the first Monday in May every year at the museum in New York City.
Arrivals officially start at 5:30 p.m., but many stars are known to show up late.
Singer Rihanna showed up around 10 p.m. last year, just after rapper and Bronx native Cardi B and actress Halle Berry. The first to arrive last year was singer-songwriter and actress Teyana Taylor a little after 5 p.m.
Members of the press check in hours before to line up along The Met’s iconic steps and watch the stars arrive.
What does the theme “Costume Art” mean?
The annual gala is based on the spring exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute.
“Costume Art” strives to make the connection between bodies and the clothes they wear, according to the exhibit’s curator.
“Costume Art will present a dynamic and scholarly conversation between garments from The Costume Institute and an array of artworks from across The Met’s collection, elevating universal and timeless themes while bringing forward new ideas and ways of seeing,” said Max Hollein, CEO of The Met.
Jake Paul has broken his silence after singing sensation Olivia Rodrigo mocked him during her Saturday Night Live appearance over the weekend.
The 23-year-old musician hosted the NBC’s flagship sketch show and mocked the YouTuber-turned-boxer of “beating up old guys on Netflix,” apparently referencing Jake’s fight against the boxing legend Mike Tyson.
During her monologue, Rodrigo recalled her childhood projects and quipped, “When I was 13, I was on a Disney show called Bizaardvark, and we have an incredible cast, which included acting legend Jake Paul.”
She also recalled the conversations both stars had at that time, saying, “And we’d always talk about our futures, me and Jake. I’d say, ‘I really wanna create music that explores the complexities of girls my age,’ and he’d say, ‘Well, one day I really wanna beat up old guys on Netflix’.”
In a 2024 bout livestreamed on Netflix, Jake defeated the 58-year-old legend Tyson, which was widely described as a spectacle more than a real fight.
Rodrigo is having a successful music career and Paul has transitioned from a social media sensation to a boxer, so apparently both achieved their childhood dreams.
The songstress said, “And we both did it, hooray!”
Jake took to X to respond to Rodrigo’s monologue and wrote, “We had the vision [crying laughing emoji] I told you that you would sell stadiums out and then we both did proud of you fr [for real].”
Olivia Rodrigo and Jake Paul starred together on the Disney Channel sitcom Bizaardvark, which ran for three seasons from 2013 to 2016.
Britney Spears will not go to jail after reaching a deal in a driving case that started earlier this year.
The 44-year-old singer was arrested on March 4 in Southern California after police said she was driving her BMW in a way that looked dangerous and at a high speed.
Britney was later suspected of driving under the influence.
In court on Monday, the Toxic singer’s lawyer appeared for her and accepted a lesser charge of reckless driving linked to alcohol or drugs. However, she did not attend the hearing herself.
After the arrest, the music icon reportedly went to a rehab facility as her team said the situation was not acceptable but also shared that she has been trying to make positive changes in her life.
The Gimme More singer’s lawyer went on to add that she has taken responsibility for what happened and has been working on improving herself.
He added that these steps helped the court reduce the charge and drop the DUI case.
Because of this agreement, Britney will avoid jail time.
The case is still being followed, and more details may come out as the situation continues to develop.
Met Gala 2026 “Costume Art” red carpet pictures from New York City
Tarik Skubal to undergo elbow surgery, sidelining Tigers ace for months ahead of free agency
Jake Paul breaks silence after Olivia Rodrigo’s savage SNL joke
-
Tech1 week agoA Brain Implant for Depression Is About to Be Tested in Humans
-
Tech1 week agoAlmost 90% of women leave tech industry within 10 years | Computer Weekly
-
Business1 week agoPakistan’s oil market is fuelling the crisis | The Express Tribune
-
Business7 days ago‘I had £20,000 stolen and had to fight a 13-month fraud reporting rule to get it back’
-
Sports6 days agoPro wrestling star Steph De Lander reveals how colleague’s advice helped lead her to title triumph at ACW
-
Entertainment1 week agoNorway joins Type 26 Frigate Programme to boost NATO naval power
-
Entertainment1 week agoMelania Trump says ABC should ‘take a stand’ on late-night host Kimmel
-
Tech7 days agoThis Ambitious Laptop Doesn’t Leave Much Room for Your Hands