Robert De Niro admits he ‘berated’ his former assistant and called her a ‘damn spoiled brat’

In an intense and emotionally charged court appearance, iconic actor Robert De Niro returned to the witness stand for a second day as part of a civil trial revolving around lawsuits brought by his former assistant, Graham Chase Robinson. The proceedings, held in federal court in New York City, aim to resolve legal disputes between De Niro’s company, Canal Productions, and Robinson, who worked as his assistant for 11 years.

To insult

During the trial, Robinson’s lawyer, Andrew Macurdy, asked De Niro if he had insulted Robinson during his time as his assistant. In a blunt confession, the 80-year-old Academy Award-winning actor confirmed that he had reprimanded her. He acknowledged that there were instances where he called her names such as “smug,” “grumpy,” and “spoiled brat.” However, he vehemently denied raising her voice and stated: “I have raised my voice. I do not scream. Do you want to dispute that? That’s something I don’t do.”

📢 Hollywood drama unfolds! Robert De Niro’s explosive trial takes a wild turn when he admits to asking his former personal assistant to scratch his back. 😱 Tempers flare and the courtroom is in chaos. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/lX8F5fzPZa

-Iris (@Iris_i_Life) November 1, 2023

The legal battle dates back to 2019, when Canal Productions filed a $6 million lawsuit against Robinson after she left her position as vice president of Production and Finance. The company alleged that Robinson had binge-watched Netflix shows while at work, had charged personal meals and groceries to the company credit card, and had inappropriately used De Niro’s frequent flyer airline miles to your personal benefit.

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In response, Robinson filed a $12 million countersuit against De Niro and Canal Productions, alleging violations of the New York City Human Rights Law. He alleged that the actor had directed sexist comments toward her, assigned her “stereotypically feminine job duties that were inconsistent with her job title,” and paid her less than an employee named Dan Harvey.

Salary disparity

During testimony, De Niro expressed his displeasure with Robinson’s attempt to draw a comparison between his salary and that of Dan Harvey, who had worked as his personal trainer during film productions since 1991. De Niro questioned Dan Harvey’s relevance to the context of their dispute, saying, “What does Dan Harvey have to do with it?” Additionally, he defended the pay disparity, stating, “God knows why she felt like she should earn the same.” [salary]. Dan Harvey has been here for 40 years. Is she jealous of him?

De Niro vehemently dismissed Robinson’s allegations of gender pay discrimination and expressed exasperation with the allegations. He said: “Give me a break with that nonsense… For her to wear that is so ridiculous.” At one point, the actor expressed frustration with the allegations, particularly regarding instances in which he allegedly asked Robinson to scratch his back. He exclaimed, “Every little thing she is trying to do to me is nonsense! Shame on you, Chase Robinson,” before apologizing for her outburst.

The ongoing trial is expected to include emails and text message exchanges between De Niro and his girlfriend, Tiffany Chen. The couple recently welcomed their seventh child, Gia Virginia Chen De Niro, in May. In earlier testimony, De Niro had acknowledged that Chen may have made disrespectful comments about Robinson, but attributed her frustration to Robinson’s alleged disrespectful behavior.

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The court battle between De Niro and his former assistant continues to captivate observers, offering a window into the legal complexities and emotional intensity of the case. As the trial progresses, important questions are being raised about workplace dynamics, gender discrimination, and the legal rights and responsibilities of both employers and employees in high-profile settings.

Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn

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