Actor Robert De Niro found himself at the center of a legal battle that has captured the public's attention.
The 80-year-old film legend is facing accusations of workplace abuse and gender discrimination leveled against him by his former assistant, Graham Chase Robinson, as per The Washington Post.
Robert De Niro's Legal Battle
The trial, which has been ongoing for several days, has shed light on a tumultuous working relationship culminating in a multi-million-dollar lawsuit. Robinson, 41, initially worked as De Niro's assistant in 2008 and eventually ascended to vice-president at Canal Productions, one of De Niro's companies.
However, her tenure was marred by allegations of gender discrimination, verbal abuse, and improper spending. De Niro's company had initially sued Robinson, claiming she had mishandled the company's finances, including transferring a significant sum of airline miles into her account.
The trial took a dramatic turn when De Niro took the stand to defend himself against the allegations. His testimony included a shocking admission that he had ordered Robinson to scratch his back on two occasions.
De Niro grew visibly frustrated as he faced tough questioning, repeatedly dismissing the allegations as "nonsense" and emphasizing that the back-scratching had not been done with disrespect.
In a highly charged moment, De Niro confronted Robinson in the courtroom, shouting, "Shame on you, Chase Robinson! God damn it! I'm sorry."
This exchange encapsulated the intensity of the legal battle. Robinson's lawsuit seeks $12 million in damages for severe emotional distress and reputational harm.
She alleges that De Niro treated her as an "office wife," assigning her menial tasks and underpaying her compared to a male colleague with similar responsibilities, according to Mail Online.
Accusations, Countersuits Unfold in High-Stakes Trial
In addition to the discrimination and emotional distress claims, the trial involves a countersuit filed by De Niro's company, Canal Productions. They accuse Robinson of misusing company funds, personal expenses, and inappropriate use of work hours.
The trial has uncovered numerous incidents, including De Niro instructing Robinson to use Uber to order a martini late at night. Furthermore, there were allegations that De Niro had disrupted Robinson's personal life by calling her during a family member's funeral and in the early hours of the morning.
De Niro's girlfriend, Tiffany Chen, has also been embroiled in the legal battle, with emails and text messages in court suggesting she pressured De Niro to fire Robinson. De Niro vehemently denied any undue influence from Chen and stated that the decision to increase Robinson's salary from $200,000 to $300,000 was a negotiated arrangement.
The trial will last two weeks, with both parties vigorously defending their positions. De Niro's legal team has painted Robinson as a money-driven ex-employee who sought revenge through a massive lawsuit.
Robinson, on the other hand, asserts that her allegations of mistreatment and gender discrimination are justified. As the proceedings continue, the public and the legal world watch closely to see how this high-profile case unfolds.
It serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing issues of workplace abuse and discrimination, even in industries as high-profile as the entertainment world. The outcome of this trial may have far-reaching implications for how workplace misconduct is addressed and penalized in the future, The Guardian reported.
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