Robert De Niro has arrived at Manhattan federal court to testify in a bombshell trial against his former assistant who has accused him of a number of offenses ranging from gender discrimination to sexual harassment.
The 80-year-old actor is expected to take the stand on the first day of the civil trial against his former longtime assistant, Graham Chase Robinson.
The legal battle between the star and his former employee exploded in 2019, when De Niro’s production company sued Robinson for allegedly stealing from the company, watching hours of Netflix on the job, and robbing De Niro personally of millions of his frequent flyer miles.
Robert De Niro arrived at Manhattan federal court on Monday to testify in a civil gender discrimination trial brought by his former assistant
The 80-year-old actor looked comfortable in a baggy polo and blazer, as well as black pants and sneakers
Robinson then dropped a $12million gender discrimination countersuit that accused De Niro of subjecting her to sexual harassment and other bad behavior during their decade-long working relationship.
De Niro arrived in court Monday in a grey mask, matched to his grey polo shirt. He also sported a navy blazer that appeared to drape off him somewhat loosely, black pants and black sneakers.
He carried with him what looked like a baseball cap and laptop case.
In Robinson’s suit, she accuses De Niro of forcing her to assume the role of his ‘office wife.’
The assistant began working for the actor and his production company, Canal Productions, in 2008.
After De Niro’s suit was filed against her in 2019, she accused him of assigning her ‘stereotypically female job duties that were inconsistent with her job title.’
Robinson claimed the actor made her put away his boxers, wash his sheets, and set his table.
The suit also alleges that ‘De Niro would direct Ms. Robinson to scratch his back, button his shirts and prod him awake when he was in bed.’
Furthermore, states the filing, ‘De Niro also stood idly by while his friend slapped Ms. Robinson on her buttocks.’
The civil trial, which begins Monday and is expected to last two weeks, involves both suits.
