Robert De Niro recently took the stand in a New York City courtroom, defending himself against allegations of being an abusive employer.
The lawsuit was filed by his former personal assistant, Graham Chase Robinson, who worked for the actor from 2008 to 2019. De Niro, visibly frustrated during the proceedings, dismissed the allegations as "nonsense."
The lawsuit's background
According to AP, Robinson, who was paid an annual salary of $300,000, has sued De Niro for $12 million, claiming severe emotional distress and damage to her reputation.
She alleges that De Niro refused to provide a job reference after she resigned, following repeated conflicts with his girlfriend.
De Niro's defense
During his testimony, De Niro stated that he had treated Robinson well and had even listed her as his emergency contact at one point.
However, he became visibly agitated when Robinson's lawyer questioned him about his interactions with her. De Niro raised his voice twice during the trial, defending his girlfriend's involvement in decisions and dismissing the notion that he had inconvenienced Robinson.
Correspondence between De Niro and his girlfriend, Tiffany Chen, revealed that Chen had grown increasingly suspicious of Robinson. She felt that Robinson was acting as if she were De Niro's wife and even accused her of having an "imaginary intimacy" with the actor.
Robinson's attorney, Andrew Macurdy, stated that she has been unable to find employment and is afraid to leave her home since resigning from her job with De Niro. Macurdy also claimed that the tension between Robinson and De Niro escalated when Chen became jealous of their professional relationship.
De Niro's attorney, Richard Schoenstein, described Robinson as "condescending, demeaning, controlling, and abusive," while portraying De Niro as "kind, reasonable, and generous." Canal Productions, De Niro's company, has countersued Robinson, further complicating the legal battle.
The trial continues to unfold, with both parties presenting their sides of the story.
