- Written by Ian Youngs
- Entertainment/Arts Reporter
image source, Getty Images
De Niro sued for $12 million in sex discrimination and retaliation lawsuit
Robert De Niro took the stand on the first day of a civil trial against a former employee who sued the actor over sex discrimination claims.
Graham Chase Robinson said that while she worked as an executive, Starr underpaid her, made sexist comments and assigned her “stereotypical female” jobs.
De Niro said her claims were “all nonsense” in testimony that reporters said: “Grumpy” and “grumpy”.
He accused her of misusing company funds and watching Netflix while at work.
‘Within common sense’
The two-time Oscar winner is also suing Robinson, his longtime executive assistant, and both cases are being heard in a New York trial that is expected to last two weeks.
Mr. De Niro was the first witness on Monday and was asked about allegations that Mr. De Niro required her to be on call 24/7 and asked her to “do everything.”
“I asked her to do anything within reason, within the scope of her job,” the actor responded. according to the deadlinehe said, “I hit the lawyer.”
image source, Getty Images
Graham Chase Robinson claims actor treated her like an ‘office wife’
He said her job includes making schedules, arranging travel and buying gifts for loved ones. She said he also asked her to mend her clothes, do her laundry and scratch her back.
“I’m not telling her to go out and scrub the floor or mop the floor,” he told the court.
He said he would only call Ms Robinson during “civilized” hours. Except when he called her at 4 a.m. to take her to the hospital after she had an accident.
Associated Press reported. When I asked him about it, he became “angry and angry.” “That was when I fell down the stairs and hit my hip!”
Ms. Robinson also said that De Niro and his company, Canal Productions, allowed the actor’s partner, Tiffany Chen, to “target her with false accusations of romantic interest in De Niro.” As a result, she claimed she was stripped of her duties in retaliation.
judge’s warning
At one point, Judge Louis J. Lehman told lawyers for De Niro and Robinson to speak more slowly and not to raise their voices, the paper said.
Ms. Robinson became an acting assistant in 2008 and was later promoted to vice president of production and finance at Canal.
She left in 2019, but claims he made “vulgar, inappropriate and sexist comments” towards her and treated her like an “office wife.” Mr De Niro has denied the allegations and she is expected to continue giving evidence on Tuesday.
The 80-year-old is known for films such as The Godfather Part II, Taxi Driver and Raging Bull, and is currently starring in Martin Scorsese’s latest film, Killers of the Flower Moon. He is appearing.
Robinson is suing the actor for $12 million (£9.8 million) in damages for severe emotional distress and defamation.
Canal is suing Ms Robinson for $6 million (£4.9 million), alleging that she fraudulently transferred more than $450,000 (£370,000) in air miles to her personal account. He spends tens of thousands of dollars of company money on meals, travel, and other personal services. Sometimes I binge-watch Netflix while I work.
According to Deadline, her lawyers say his lawsuit is full of “false allegations designed to prevent Ms. Robinson from pursuing her claims, destroy her reputation, and eliminate her chances of getting a job.” He said there was.
