Stealing away the spotlight from King Street West and the TIFF Bell Lightbox, downtown Toronto?s quiet Mercer Street was a hub of excitement today. Headlined by Robert De Niro only hours after the Hollywood Legend?s concise remarks about Donald Trump made international headlines, the unusually star-studded condo event took on unusually political dimensions when the gold shovels hit the ground to kick off Nobu Toronto.
Billed as a partnership between De Niro and Japanese celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa ? along with Hollywood film producer Meir Teper ? the Madison Group and Westdale Properties project celebrated its ceremonial groundbreaking at noon today. While Toronto?s explosively growing Entertainment District is no stranger to new condominium construction,  De Niro?s presence gave the routine ceremony a uniquely animated flavour. Sharing the stage with Matsuhisa, Teper, Madison Group executives, and Toronto Mayor John Tory, De Niro stayed true to the tenor of his remarks at last night?s Tony Awards. Coming in the wake of the Trump administration?s bombastic disavowal of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as a traitor who deserves ?a special place in hell? following the G7 Summit, De Niro offered condolences. ?I just want to make a note of apology for the idiotic behaviour of my President,? De Niro said, drawing cheers from the crowd. ?It?s a disgrace.?

WATCH: ?It?s a disgrace.? Robert De Niro again blasts U.S. president Donald Trump at the Nobu ground breaking in Toronto....