Drena De Niro Talks About How the Internet Influenced Her Son Leandro’s Tragic Overdose at 19

Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, Drena De Niro, and Robert De Niro.
Credit: Drena De Niro/Instagram

Key Details

• Drena De Niro shared insights about her son Leandro’s overdose death in a recent interview with Page Six, published on November 29.
• Robert De Niro’s daughter attributed part of Leandro’s 2023 accidental drug overdose to “the internet.”
• Drena also discussed the recent arrests made in connection with his death.

Drena De Niro has openly discussed the factors she believes contributed to the death of her son, Leandro De Niro Rodriguez.

Leandro, 19, was found deceased in New York City on July 2, 2023, following an accidental drug overdose. In her interview with Page Six, published on November 29, Drena suggested that her son’s online activity played a harmful role in his death, along with the influences of fentanyl and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Before his struggle with more severe substances, Drena recounted that Leandro enjoyed casual partying. She expressed concern that things escalated quickly, prompting her to realize something was amiss, particularly linked to his internet usage.

“There was a change in him that was so fast,” she recalled, although she did not elaborate on specific details of his online engagement, mentioning only TikTok. Prior to his passing, Leandro had expressed intentions of entering rehab—a second attempt, as he had previously encountered a negative experience in treatment.

Leandro De Niro Rodriguez.
Credit: Drena De Niro/Instagram

“That was very sad to me because he wanted help,” Drena expressed. “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.”

Days following her son’s passing, Drena, who shares Leandro with ex-partner Carlos “Mare” Rodriguez, posted on Instagram that “someone sold him fentanyl-laced pills that they knew were laced yet still sold them to him.”

Two years later, five individuals were arrested in relation to Leandro’s death. The New York City Chief Medical Examiner determined that he died from the toxic effects of various substances, including fentanyl, bromazolam, alprazolam, 7-aminoclonazepam, ketamine, and cocaine.

Drena described the recent arrests as “really strange” and “so bittersweet.” She expressed a desire for justice while acknowledging that she did not wish to ruin anyone’s life: “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,” she stated.

Reflecting on her son’s life and his close relationship with his grandfather, Robert De Niro, Drena recalled the devastating moment she learned of his death: “This detective stood there, and the whole world as I knew it collapsed.”

Drena De Niro and her late son, Leandro De Niro Rodriguez.
Credit: Drena De Niro/Instagram

Describing Leandro, Drena described him as “an amazing kid” who was “so smart.” She emphasized their deep bond, noting that it allowed her to develop her own identity separate from her father’s fame.

Drena and Robert launched the Leandro De Niro Rodriguez Foundation this year, aiming to increase access to care for families affected by the fentanyl crisis. Drena expressed her hope that the foundation would help prevent other families from experiencing similar pain.

“It was really painful and shocking and violating for his story to go so viral, to hear people’s horrible thoughts,” she shared. “But a part of me was like, ‘He’s not going to be some horrible sound bite. I’m going to make sure you know who this kid is and you’re going to know about all these other parents who are losing their kids.’”