Robert De Niro Lashes Out At Former Assistant Who Sued Him, Shouting: ‘Shame On You!’

NEW YORK – Actor Robert De Niro yelled, “Shame on you!” as he testified in a New York courtroom on Tuesday, addressing his former executive assistant and vice president, who is suing for millions of dollars after accusing her former employer of being abusive.

Graham Chase Robinson sat with her lawyers as De Niro’s rage grew as his attorney, Andrew Macurdy, blasted him with tabloid-style charges about De Niro’s behavior towards Robinson as she served his needs, major and little, from 2008 until several months into 2019.

Robinson, 41, is suing for $12 million in damages for mental distress and reputational harm, claiming that working for De Niro left her jobless and unable to recover from the trauma. She was earning $300,000 per year when she decided to leave, irritated by her contacts with De Niro’s girlfriend and the influence she thought the girlfriend was having on the actor.

Robert De Niro Lashes Out At Former Assistant Who Sued Him, Shouting: ‘Shame On You!’

The jury is also examining evidence from Robert De Niro’s case against Robinson, in which he claimed she stole stuff from him, including 5 million points redeemable for plane tickets. De Niro wants three years’ worth of Robinson’s salary back.

Macurdy inquired De Niro about his habit of urinating when on the phone with Robinson.

“That’s nonsense,” De Niro shot back. “You got us all here for this?”

Macurdy admitted to De Niro that he called Robinson a “b—— to her face.”

“I was never abusive, ever,” the actor retorted, though he admitted to using the phrase in chats with her.

And the assertion that he told Robinson he preferred she scratches his back rather than using a back-scratching device received another vehement criticism from De Niro, who said it may have happened once or twice but “never was with disrespect or lewdness.”

Robert De Niro Lashes Out At Former Assistant Who Sued Him, Shouting: ‘Shame On You!’

Finally, he yelled fiercely at Robinson, “Shame on you, Chase Robinson!”

As he looked towards Judge Lewis J. Liman, he stammered an apology in a lower voice.

The actor stated that there were no written regulations for his employees since he relied on “rules of common sense.” He stated that he promoted Robinson to vice president of his firm, Canal Productions, at her request but that her responsibilities remained unchanged.

Robert De Niro would flatly deny something only to subsequently confess that it might be true in a different way than it was offered.

When asked if he ever yelled at Robinson while she was in Europe and failed to phone and remind him of a crucial meeting in California, De Niro said no but added, “I raised my voice.”

“That once,” he admitted, “I got angry.” “I chastised her. I wasn’t mean. “I was irritated.”

“You called her a brat,” remarked Macurdy.

“I could have,” said De Niro.

Robert De Niro Lashes Out At Former Assistant Who Sued Him, Shouting: ‘Shame On You!’

Robert De Niro seemed to want to leave the witness stand at times.

“I don’t have time for this,” he said briefly.

He refused Macurdy’s proposal to sue Robinson before she sued him for publicity.

“It calls attention to me. It was the last thing De Niro wanted to do.

Robert De Niro, 80, has two Oscars during a six-decade film career that has included noteworthy appearances in films such as “The Deer Hunter” and “Raging Bull.” He is now appearing in Martin Scorsese’s film “Killers of the Flower Moon.”

SOURCE – (AP)