The Tribeca Film Festival won't have "Vaxxed: From Cover-Up to Catastrophe" as part of its roster of films this April. This was after festival co-founder Robert De Niro said that they are overturning their earlier decision to screen the controversial film following careful deliberation with colleagues and experts.

The documentary film talks about an alleged link between the MMR (measles/mumps/rubella) vaccine and an increase in autism rate. It has since created a falling out between medical people who deny that such association exists and those who believe that there is a cover-up in favor of the interests of some people.

"Vaxxed: From Cover-Up to Catastrophe" was previously scheduled to be shown at the festival on April 24, which would also have a public discussion after the screening before the Tribeca Film Festival decided to cancel it.

De Niro Reverses His Decision

"My intent in screening this film was to provide an opportunity for conversation around an issue that is deeply personal to me and my family," De Niro said in a statement. "But after reviewing it over the past few days with the Tribeca Film Festival team and others from the scientific community, we do not believe it contributes to or furthers the discussion I had hoped for."

De Niro also added that they have opted not to include the film in the festival's schedule because of their concerns about it. He emphasized that the Tribeca Film Festival did not do so merely because of possible backlash from airing the controversial film.

The Film's Producers Fire Back

"To our dismay, we learned today about the Tribeca Film Festival's decision to reverse the official selection of 'Vaxxed: From Cover-Up to Catastrophe,'" according to director Andrew Wakefield and producer Del Bigtree.

"It is our understanding that persons from an organization affiliated with the festival have made unspecified allegations against the film. We have just witnessed yet another example of the power of corporate interests censoring free speech, art, and truth. Tribeca's action will not succeed in denying the world access to the truth behind the film 'Vaxxed.'"

Wakefield is a former gastroenterologist who made the claims back in 1998 and published his findings in the medical journal Lancet. In 2010, the journal disavowed the study and Wakefield's medical license was revoked. Succeeding studies from the likes of the World Health Organization and the CDC refuted Wakefield's findings.

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