It’s been dramatic, to say the least…
Robert De Niro is making news, but not for his latest film role. This week, a jury decided that De Niro’s production company should pay $1.2 million to the star’s former assistant, Graham Chase Robinson, for gender discrimination and retaliation. However, the jury did not find De Niro personally liable for the abuse.
“Not only did Ms. Robinson win her case against Canal [Productions], but the jury completely vindicated Ms. Robinson by finding De Niro’s claim against her to be without merit,” David Sanford, an attorney for Robinson, said in a statement to People.
Robinson had accused the star of underpaying her and treating her like an “office wife,” claiming he often made “creepy” requests. De Niro also sued Robinson over the thousands he said she wrongfully spent on Uber rides, the “astronomical amounts” of company time she wasted streaming Friends, and a whole lot of Delta SkyMiles. Robinson, De Niro, and De Niro’s girlfriend, Tiffany Chen, all testified in what developed into a rather dramatic trial. If you weren’t following along, here’s a breakdown.
Who is Graham Chase Robinson?
Robinson, 41, began working for De Niro as his executive assistant in 2008 and ultimately became the vice president of Canal Productions. However, Robinson claimed she was still assigned “stereotypically female” work, like laundry, buttoning his shirts, and scratching his back. When she suggested that De Niro use a back scratcher instead, she testified that he told her: “I like the way you do it.”
“It’s just disgusting,” she testified.
Robinson also alleged that the actor paid her less than her male peers and that he called her a “bitch” and a “brat.” In 2019, Robinson said she resigned after a dispute with Chen over the couple’s townhouse. Shortly after, Canal Productions sued Robinson for $6 million. The company accused her of embezzlement, saying she used millions of De Niro’s frequent flyer miles, and spent $32,000 in Uber and cab rides — and close to $13,000 over two years at an Italian restaurant in the Upper East Side. They also claimed she spent a lot of time binge watching Friends, allegedly streaming 55 episodes in four days. (Robinson has countered that some of those expenses were for De Niro and others, and that she was assured certain perks like taxis and a food budget.)
Robinson countersued a few months later for gender discrimination and retaliation, seeking $12 million in damages. The former V.P. testified that after resigning, she’s suffered from anxiety and depression and hasn’t worked in four years despite applying for 638 jobs, the Associated Press reports.
“I lost my life,” Robinson said. “Lost my career. Lost my financial independence. I lost everything.”
What did Robert De Niro say in court?
The Oscar winner spent more than six hours on the witness stand, describing himself as a trusting and mostly sympathetic boss, the New York Times reports. But some moments during his testimony grew heated. At one point, when Robinson’s lawyer asked him about whether he urinated on phone calls with her, he snapped back: “Give me a break with that nonsense. You get us all here for this?”
At another point, he looked toward Robinson and shouted: “Shame on you, Chase Robinson!” before quickly offering an apology for his outburst. The actor also acknowledged that he may have called her a “spoiled brat” and may have used the word “bitch.” And when questioned about an incident when Robinson failed to wake him up in time for a meeting, he conceded that: “Yeah, fine, I berated her.” But he was adamant that he was “never abusive. Period.”
Who is Tiffany Chen?
Chen, who’s dated De Niro for five years and gave birth to a daughter, Gia, in April, played a prominent role in the civil dispute. According to Robinson, the two clashed as they were working together on De Niro’s Upper East Side townhouse, when Chen accused her of being in love with De Niro. In text messages displayed in court, Chen wrote to De Niro that Robinson “thinks she’s your wife.” Robinson’s lawyers argued that the ill will between the two women eventually led De Niro to retaliate and strip Robinson of her responsibilities, driving her to resign.
In her testimony, Chen denied that she was upset about any romantic interest Robinson may have displayed toward De Niro — Robinson has denied harboring any such feelings — and that she only relieved her of duties regarding the property, not her production work. On the stand, Chen did not mince words, calling Robinson a “mean, insecure, territorial girl,” and at various points “nuts” and “psychotic,” The Cut reports.
Chen and De Niro first met on the set of the 2015 film, The Intern, in which De Niro starred and Chen had a small role as a Tai Chi instructor. Chen is a martial arts instructor who, according to People, has racked up an impressive collection of titles.
