Title: Former Employee Testifies Against Robert De Niro in Workplace Discrimination Lawsuit
Subtitle: De Niro’s Former Assistant Recalls Discomfort and Allegations of Gender Discrimination
Date: November 5, 2021
Robert De Niro, the renowned Oscar-winning actor, finds himself embroiled in a workplace discrimination lawsuit as his former employee, Graham Chase Robinson, took the stand on Friday to testify against him. Robinson detailed several instances where De Niro’s actions made her physically uncomfortable during her employment at his company, Canal Productions.
One of the allegations made by Robinson involves De Niro’s request for her to scratch his back. Robinson protested, reminding him that he had a back scratcher, to which De Niro responded, “I like the way you do it.” Calling the actor’s requests “creepy” and “disgusting,” Robinson expressed her discomfort in the New York City courtroom.
The workplace discrimination lawsuit filed by Robinson amounts to $12 million (£9.9 million) and includes accusations of gender discrimination, retaliation, “extreme emotional distress, and reputational harm” suffered by Robinson. In response, De Niro has countersued Robinson for allegedly stealing cash, gift cards, electronic equipment, and five million air miles from the company before her departure in 2019.
During his testimony, De Niro admitted that the back-scratching requests may have occurred “twice” but denied any disrespect, dismissing the allegations as “nonsense.” Meanwhile, Robinson claimed that De Niro also called her a derogatory term, describing it as demeaning and hurtful in a professional environment.
Robinson further alleged that De Niro undermined her job title by stating that what he said about her mattered more than her position. She highlighted disparities in pay between her and a male colleague with a similar job description.
De Niro’s legal team has refuted Robinson’s claims, asserting that her duties remained the same following a promotion in 2017. They argue that her responsibilities in handling De Niro’s personal and professional matters did not change significantly.
Robinson, who was initially hired as an executive assistant in 2008, eventually rose to the position of Vice President of Production and Finance in 2017 before deciding to leave the company in 2019. In court, she expressed the immense impact on her life due to the events following her departure, stating that she lost everything, including her career and financial independence.
In a twist to the case, De Niro’s girlfriend, Tiffany Chen, also took the stand and labelled Robinson as “psychotic,” drawing a comparison to the character from the movie “Single White Female.”
The trial is currently ongoing in Manhattan federal court, and both parties continue to present their arguments. The proceedings will determine the outcome of the high-profile workplace discrimination lawsuit filed against Robert De Niro.
As the legal battle unfolds, the entertainment industry waits eagerly for the resolution of this case that sheds light on workplace dynamics and gender discrimination.
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