Robert De Niro Discrimination Trial Goes To Jury: Here’s The Case They’ll Consider
deadline.comA civil jury in New York City is set to begin deliberating today whether Robert De Niro abused and discriminated against his longtime personal assistant, Graham Chase Robinson, and whether Robinson misused funds from the actor’s company, Canal, and stole office property including millions of frequent-flier miles before she quit in 2019 after 11 years on De Niro’s payroll.
Jurors spent eight days in a federal courtroom hearing dueling claims from De Niro, Robinson, their lawyers and a slew of witnesses regarding who was to blame for the fallout at the small office in Manhattan that runs the double Oscar winner’s personal and business affairs and is separate from his film production and film festival operations.
The trial, combing De Niro’s initial suit and Robinson’s countersuit, has opened a window on the privileged life of the celebrated actor, Tribeca Film Festival founder and owner of the Nobu restaurant and hotel chain.
On the witness stand last week, De Niro — who will be in the courtroom again today — denied bullying or harassing Robinson or paying her less than his longtime personal trainer because Robinson was a single woman. RELATED: Combative Robert De Niro Testifies In His Discrimination Trial, Calls Ex-Employee’s Allegations “Nonsense” At one point, he erupted in court, crying, “Shame on you, Chase Robinson!” after telling one of Robinson’s lawyers, Andrew Macurdy, “There was never any lewdness or disrespect or weirdness that you’re trying to imply.” Robinson’s tasks ranged from negotiating the actor’s movie-shoot “perk packages” to getting him to the hospital for a back injury.
