The Woman Robert De Niro Is Suing For Embezzlement Is Suing Him For Gender Discrimination
According to Graham Chase Robinson, the former personal assistant who Robert DeNiro is suing for watching too many hours of Netflix on the job, life at Canal Productions wasn’t all Friends marathons and a company paid Postmates Unlimited account. According to TMZ, Chase is suing Robert for wage violations, gender discrimination, and harassment. This means Chase is going to have the nearly impossible task of convincing a judge that Robert De Niro used profane language in the workplace. Maybe if she could catch him cursing on live TV or something, she might have a shot!
Of course, Chase’s claims go beyond Bobby D throwing the odd “fuck” around. TMZ reports that that alleged potty language is just the beginning. There was also alleged potty behaviour. Literally!
According to a new lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, Graham Chase Robinson claims she was hired by the actor in 2008 as his executive assistant. The then 25-year-old claims De Niro communicated to her in a “hostile, abusive, and intimidating manner” and referred to her as “a bitch” and “a brat.” She claims De Niro referred to a female business partner as a “cunt.”
She also claims De Niro was often intoxicated and would lash out at her. He would also joke with her about his Viagra prescription, and would ask her to “imagine him on the toilet.”
Robinson has other complaints in her lawsuit, alleging De Niro urinated during phone calls with her and ordered her to scratch his back and prod him awake when he was sleeping. She also says De Niro stood “idly by” when one of his friends slapped her on the butt.
The suit also includes a voicemail Robert allegedly left for Chase, which rivals Alec Baldwin’s legendary rant, but still doesn’t approach the heights of Christian Bale’s. Bobby simply doesn’t have the range.
Page Six adds that Chase claims Robert treated her like an “office wife” and made her do “stereotypically female duties, like housework”. She also says she was underpaid, and denied overtime, which might explain her alleged liberal use of the company card as outlined in Robert’s suit accusing her of embezzlement. (via Variety):
The suit alleges that Robinson made $12,696.65 in unauthorized charges at Paola’s over a two-year period, in addition to $8,923.20 at Dean and Deluca and Whole Foods, and $32,000 for Ubers and taxis.
She was also allegedly making $300,000 a year. At 25. As a personal assistant. I’m not going to lie, I’ve put up with worse, for far less. However, Chase says Robert’s lawsuit against her was in retaliation for her impending suit. (via Page Six):
“De Niro was enraged at the prospect of Ms. Robinson bringing a lawsuit challenging his behavior,” Robinson’s complaint says. “So, he retaliated and struck first.”
Robinson claims she long contemplated quitting but that De Niro would lord his influence as one of Hollywood’s top actors over her, telling her he’d give her “bad recommendation” if she left, according to court papers.
Well, I’d say that Chase’s lawsuit is effectively a bad recommendation for Robert De Niro, so they’re even on that count. She also said in the suit that Robert “is someone who has clung to old mores“, doesn’t “accept the idea that men should treat women as equals” and basically doesn’t give a shit about the law. Bobby would probably say there’s a lot of negative inference in this suit. And as we know, Bobby doesn’t care for negative inference, darling.
Pic: Wenn.com