Reluctantly confessing to a peculiar request he placed on his former personal assistant during a dramatic courtroom appearance, the legendary actor Robert De Niro elevated an otherwise mundane incident to the status of a spectacle. Graham Chase Robinson, an eminent former employee who accused the Oscar-winning actor of being a difficult employer who subjected her to years of unwanted physical contact, offensive language, and degrading tasks, confronted him with a combative demeanor as he refuted his former long-serving employee’s allegations.
Robinson’s allegations were again put to the test on the second day in a Manhattan federal court, where De Niro, renowned for his roles in masterpieces such as “Raging Bull,” appeared on the witness stand. Robinson confessed that the actor was likely present on two occasions when queried about an incident in which he claimed to have forced her to scratch his back instead of utilizing a back-scratcher. He maintained, nonetheless, that he only made these requests when afflicted with an insatiable irritation.
“Alright, twice?” I’m convinced! De Niro, dressed in a navy blazer and a dark gray polo shirt, responded, “I beg to differ; this is nonsensical.” Confronting his accuser in the courtroom, he adamantly exclaimed, “Shame on you, Chase Robinson!”
De Niro acknowledged the possibility of Robinson requesting an Uber ride to the upscale Nobu sushi lounge at 11 p.m. in order to request a martini at another juncture of the proceedings. De Niro responded dismissively when confronted with his attempt to organize a bus ticket for his teenage son by calling her twice during the funeral of her grandmother. He asked, “So?”
Robinson Robinson was “never abusive” in De Niro’s estimation, he insisted. However, he acknowledged that he might have called her a “f–king spoiled brat” when he failed to rouse her in time for an appointment and thus missed it. “I also might have been able to.” His explanation was, “I was upset.” “She didn’t wake me up and made me miss this thing in Malibu.”
The objections voiced by De Niro’s attorney during the interrogation were based on the grounds of “improper impeachment.” “Impeachment? “, the actor responded from the lectern, showcasing his renowned wit. Am I subject to impeachment? De Niro, who added, “I’m sorry, had to say it,” could be heard laughing throughout the courtroom, including by the jurors. His legal representative’s objection was rejected.
Robinson is the defendant in a civil proceeding in which the renowned Hollywood A-lister becomes embroiled. De Niro initially levied allegations against the former trusted employee, alleging that he had misappropriated funds from Canal Productions, spent millions of his frequent flyer miles, and binge-watched Netflix content while employed. Robinson was instituted into this protracted legal dispute in August 2019, shortly after De Niro’s precipitous resignation after eleven years of service, when her production company filed suit against her.
Robinson initiated her own legal action against the renowned actor for $12 million in retaliation. She claimed that he had bullied and sexually harassed her, while also demanding that she remain at his office non-stop and serve as his “office wife.” Informing the jury that Robinson had made an initial resignation attempt in November 2018, one of her attorneys, Andrew Macurdy, described her as a devoted and loyal employee. At the outset, De Niro issued a threat that a negative reference would be used to tarnish her professional reputation.
“Are you asking me to intimidate her? That is something I never do. On the witness, De Niro countered, “She was an employee of mine, and I treated her with dignity.” De Niro responded indifferently when queried about Robinson’s allegiance as an employee: “Disloyal-minded? I have no idea. Not at all. My motivation for seeking her restitution was the theft of property that she had acquired.
The individual called the entire proceeding “nonsense” and demanded the reimbursement of his air miles and personal belongings. “Undoubtedly, she had committed an improper act by stealing items from me.” Her failure to comply with my request to return the items was regrettable. “Under no circumstances would I ever, ever, ever sign a letter of recommendation that she requested,” De Niro emphasized.
After Robinson threatened legal action if her severance demands were not met, Macurdy accused De Niro and his company in a particularly contentious exchange of hastily submitting the actor’s lawsuit to tarnish her reputation. “I could care less about the press,” De Niro responded in opposition to the claim. Her doing the proper thing and returning my belongings was something I cared about. To not ruin her was my intention. We differ in our emphasis on the press. She ought to have considered the air miles and decided, “I’ll return them.” “Obviated; case closed.”
According to De Niro’s testimony, he granted permission to his then-assistant to transfer “one to two million” Delta SkyMiles from the organization’s account to her personal account in the event of an emergency.