Robert De Niro yells at his former personal assistant as he ADMITS asking her to scratch his back – but only twice – and calling her a ‘f***ing spoiled brat’ as $12m abusive boss trial descends into chaos
Robert De Niro admitted in a Manhattan court that he ordered his former assistant to scratch his back while angrily shouting, “You got me!”
The actor, 80, is facing allegations that he discriminated against his former assistant Graham Chase Robinson, 31, in a four-year legal battle that went to trial on Monday.
His former collaborator Robinson has accused the actor of gender discrimination while working for his company Canal Productions. De Niro’s company also sued Robinson for improper spending while she worked for him.
On the second day of the trial on Tuesday, De Niro reportedly became nervous as he took the stage to combat accusations that he subjected Robinson to years of profanity, unwanted physical advances and misogyny.
In a surprising moment, while on the stand, the Oscar-winning actor confronted his accuser and told a stunned courtroom, “Shame on you, Chase Robinson!”
Actor Robert De Niro, 80, leaves federal court on the second day of his trial on October 31, 2023 in New York City
The actor’s former assistant Graham Chase Robinson (pictured leaving court on Monday) claims she was discriminated against by De Niro
The 80-year-old has countered that Robinson spent money inappropriately while working for him
Robinson began working for De Niro in 2008 as his assistant and eventually rose to vice president of Canal Productions.
She claims in her lawsuit that De Niro treated her like an “office lady” and made her perform menial tasks, including washing his sheets and scratching his back. Robinson also claims she was paid less than a male employee who had the same role and responsibilities.
In response, De Niro and Canal Productions also sued Robinson, accusing her of improperly transferring more than $450,000 in airline miles from the company to her own personal account.
She is also accused of spending tens of thousands more on personal items, food and travel.
Both lawsuits will be decided in the same trial.
On Tuesday, De Niro was questioned about his alleged abuse of Robinson, specifically an incident in which he allegedly ordered Robinson to scratch his back instead of using a back scratcher.
The star became enraged as he fended off the questions until he confessed that the scratching had happened twice.
“Okay, twice? You have me! I say this is nonsense,” he said on the stand. “It was never done with any disrespect.”
In a surprising moment, De Niro then confronted his former employee and roared at the court, “Shame on you, Chase Robinson!”
De Niro, seen in a courtroom sketch, stunned the courtroom on Tuesday when he confronted his accuser and told her: ‘Shame on you’
De Niro took part in more than five hours of testimony Tuesday, in a four-year legal battle that finally reached a Manhattan court on Monday.
De Niro took part in more than five hours of testimony heard by the court on Tuesday that provided a more detailed insight into the allegations against the 80-year-old.
In addition to admitting to the allegations, De Niro also acknowledged that he instructed Robinson to use Uber to order him a late-night martini at the Nobu sushi lounge.
Robinson claimed he called her twice to interrupt her grandmother’s funeral so she could buy a bus ticket for his teenage son. When asked about the incident, he replied: “So?”
De Niro also defended Robinson as a “damn spoiled brat,” saying he was “upset” after she didn’t wake him up for an appointment.
“I could have done that too, I was upset,” he said. “She didn’t wake me up and make me miss this thing in Malibu.”