Robert De Niro's ex-assistant Graham Chase Robinson says she fears star would ... trends now
Robert De Niro’s former assistant has said she was ‘really scared’ to speak out about alleged gender discrimination at his company because she ‘feared what he would do’ in retaliation.
Graham Chase Robinson, 41, held a tissue to her face and appeared emotional as she said she also worried no one would believe her word against the Oscar-winning actor's during their $12 million lawsuit on Tuesday.
Jurors at Manhattan Federal Court heard more details about her feud with De Niro, 80, who testified earlier in the trial, and his girlfriend Tiffany Chen, 64, who Robinson previously called a ‘psycho’.
During cross-examination from her own lawyer Brent Hannafan, Robinson said she ‘feared’ the potential repercussions of speaking about alleged discrimination she faced in her $300,000 role as De Niro’s vice president of production and finance.
Graham Chase Robinson is pictured outside Manhattan Federal Court Monday. During Tuesday's hearing, she claimed she was too scared to report her former boss Robert De Niro's alleged abuse over fears he'd destroy her career
When Hannafan asked why she didn’t make any internal complaints about gender discrimination at Canal Productions before resigning and launching civil action in the fall of 2019, Robinson said: ‘I really feared what would happen if I did that.
‘I feared that making a formal complaint was going to be loading a gun which was going to be then pointed at me.
‘I feared for my reputation. I was really scared.’
Robinson claims De Niro made her do stereotypically female work while paying her less than male colleagues, while making 'creepy' requests for her to scratch his back.
The Taxi Driver star has denied her claims and is counter-suing for $6 million, saying Robinson misused company benefits by harvesting five million air miles for her personal holidays just before she left, after binge-watching Netflix during work hours.
De Niro is pictured giving evidence in court last week. On Tuesday, his lawyer's suggested the star's request for back scratches were not sexist
The court heard previously that Robinson requested a hefty compensation package from De Niro after she resigned in April 2019 - including $600,000 severance pay, five recommendation letters and a press release about her departure.
On Tuesday, Robinson said her request for the press release was an attempt to protect her future in the entertainment industry.
‘I was worried about my reputation,’ she said.
‘Bob said my career was in his hands. I was worried he could go through with his threats of giving me a bad recommendation.’
‘I felt the way I left Canal, I could have been disparaged by Tiffany (Chen),’ Robinson added.
‘I wanted to make sure that it was clear that I wasn’t fired.’
Robinson began working for Canal in 2008, having started out as an executive assistant on a $75,000 salary, before rising to the role of vice president of production and finance on a
