Allegations of Uncomfortable Demands and Discrimination by Robert De Niro Detailed by Former Assistant

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The ex-chief aide to Robert De Niro described feelings of unease when the actor required her to scratch his back, citing this as one instance of conduct she deemed manipulative and harmful during her tenure. Her allegations came to light on Friday during her emotional deposition in a New York court, where she delineated her experiences prior to resigning in 2019 after an 11-year period.

During her extensive testimony, Graham Chase Robinson frequently showed visible distress, relating how the adverse experiences she sustained under De Niro’s employment culminated in severe personal and professional consequences.

Describing the depth of her turmoil, she expressed to the jury, “My emotional and psychological well-being deteriorated. My appetite vanished, sleep eluded me, and I couldn’t even engage in exercise. I was engulfed by a sense of overwhelming despair,” Robinson conveyed in the Manhattan federal courthouse. “It felt as though I had reached my lowest point.”

Robinson divulged her ongoing struggles with anxiety and depression, highlighting that despite her efforts to apply for numerous positions, she has been unable to secure employment for the past four years.

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In her account, Robert De Niro’s ex-aide alluded to his courtroom eruption as indicative of his tendency toward aggressive behavior.

“My personal life has been nonexistent,” she lamented. “The humiliation, the sense of embarrassment, and the judgment I feel have profoundly affected me. … It’s as if I’ve lost my very existence. My career, my financial autonomy, I’ve forfeited everything.”

Currently, Robinson, aged 41, is pursuing damages amounting to $12 million from De Niro, aged 80, on the grounds of gender-based discrimination and retaliatory conduct. Conversely, De Niro is requesting $6 million from her on allegations of breach of loyalty and fiduciary duty.

Robinson recalled multiple occasions over the years when she acquiesced to De Niro’s requests for back-scratching until she once gently objected, hinting at an alternative. His response, as per her testimony, was to insist on her method, a comment she characterized as both “creepy” and “repugnant.”

Throughout the trial, De Niro refuted the allegations, including the back-scratching incident, maintaining that he always interacted with Robinson respectfully and without any improper conduct.

Furthermore, he contended that he never raised his voice at her, a claim that seemed contradictory when he shouted in the courtroom, “Shame on you, Chase Robinson!” for which he immediately expressed regret.

Robinson detailed responsibilities that demanded her availability at all hours, which involved assisting De Niro with a complex personal life, juggling relationships with a wife, a former girlfriend, and a new romantic interest that he wished to keep private.

In her testimony, Robinson depicted De Niro as using sexist language towards female staff and engaging in discriminatory payment practices.

The cross-examination challenged her assertions, with De Niro’s attorney pointing out that the highest-paid employee under the actor was a woman and that a male employee at De Niro’s Canal Productions earned significantly less than the $300,000 salary Robinson received prior to her departure.

She recounted various instances where De Niro allegedly lashed out at her in anger, occasionally with expletives, such as a Christmas incident in 2017 where a frustrated De Niro berated her over the phone for mislaid gifts, using profanity and then abruptly disconnecting the call.

Robinson conveyed the emotional pain of these interactions, stating, “It was incredibly hurtful … especially when you’re simply attempting to fulfill your work duties.”

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More about De Niro trial

• Robinson’s Emotional Testimony
• De Niro’s Legal Response
• Workplace Harassment Claims
• Gender Discrimination in Hollywood
• Legal Battles of Celebrities