Robert De Niro Says He ‘Berated’ Assistant, But Was ‘Never Abusive’ at Trial

Star’s production business has actually remained in a years-long legal fight with his previous assistant Graham Chase Robinson

Robert De Niro took the stand in a civil trial in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York to fix a gender discrimination match submitted versus the star and his business Canal Productions by his previous assistant, Graham Chase Robinson.

Following jury choice and opening declarations Monday, Oct. 30, De Niro invested about 90 minutes on the witness stand and called Robinson’s accusations “all rubbish.” The Killers of the Flower Moon star declared he would call Robinson at “civilized” hours just and permitted to work from another location. “It’s not like I’m informing her to head out and scrape floorings, mop floorings,” stated De Niro, who mentioned her jobs consisted of scheduling, organizing travel and present purchases for enjoyed ones.

Throughout his 2nd day on the stand, Oct. 31, De Niro was questioned about his response to a supposed event where Robinson didn’t wake him up in time for an essential conference. De Niro confessed, “Yeah, great, I scolded her,” including: “I’ve raised my voice. I do not shout. You wan na disagreement that? That’s something I do not do” (through Individuals.

De Niro insisted he was “never ever violent,” as ET notes, he did acknowledge it was possible there were times when he called Robinson names like “ruined,” “a brat,” or a “bitch.”

Day 2 of De Niro’s testament consisted of a couple of other surreal minutes like when the star protected calling Robinson two times while she was at her grandma’s funeral service so she might buy bus tickets for his boy. De Niro stated that Robinson informed him there would be a time when it would be okay for him to call her. “I do not understand if they were putting the body in the ground or at a wake or something,” he stated.

De Niro likewise straight attended to Robinson while on the stand after her lawyer pushed him on an allegation that De Niro made Robinson scratch his back. In addition to insisting he “was never ever unusual or scary,” De Niro turned to Robinson and stated, “Shame on you, Chase Robinson!”

The legal battle started in 2019 after Canal Productions submitted a $6 million match versus Robinsonwho was employed as the star’s assistant in 2008 and later on promoted to “vice president of production and financing” at Canal. Robinson resigned from the business in April 2019 amidst growing issues of “business sabotage.” Her income at the time, according to the match, was $300,000. The match declares that she binge-watched Netflix while on the task which she utilized business funds for individual expenses.

Robinson reacted with a fit of her own versus De Niro and Canal Productions, declaring offenses of the New York City Human Rights Law. Her match declares that De Niro made sexist remarks and carry out towards her, and designated her “stereotypically female task responsibilities that were irregular with her task title.” It likewise declares she was paid less than a male staff member due to gender-based stereotypes, which De Niro and Canal permitted De Niro’s sweetheart Tiffany Chen “to target her with incorrect allegations about a romantic interest in De Niro,” which caused her being removed of her task responsibilities in retaliation, according to a declaration from the law office representing Robinson, Sanford Heisler Sharp. Chen is among a lots or two witnesses that might be called by the complainant. Robinson is taking legal action against the star for $12 million in damages for serious psychological distress and reputational damage.

“Ms. Robinson is all set to inform her story to the jury,” Brent Hannafan, who provided the opening declaration at the trial, stated in journalism release. “Her discrimination and retaliation claims are engaging and the proof supporting them is clear. Our company believe when all the statement has actually been heard, the jury will concur with us that De Niro discriminated and struck back versus Ms. Robinson.”

This story was upgraded 10/31/23 @ 5:00 p.m. ET with information from De Niro’s 2nd day of testament.