Robert De Niro’s Ex-Assistant Accuses Legendary Actor Of Trying To Smear Her Publicly, $12 Million Court Battle Rages On Over Alleged Toxic Workplace

Back in 2019, De Niro and his company Canal Productions sued his former employee Chase Robinson for $6 million. He accused his one-time assistant of embezzling money and binge-watching Netflix during work hours.

In the lawsuit, the iconic actor said Robinson spent company money on expensive hotel and restaurant charges. His lawyers also said she used millions of De Niro’s frequent flyer miles on trips that weren’t work-related.

Robinson started working with De Niro’s company in 2008. She was promoted to “vice president of production and finance” with a annual salary of $300,000.

De Niro accused his employee of spending a substantial amount of time watching Netflix at work. His team investigated the matter and claim Robinson watched 55 episodes of Friends while on the clock.

The suit said, “Watching shows on Netflix was not in any way part of or related to the duties and responsibilities of Robinson’s employment and, on information and belief, was done for her personal entertainment, amusement and pleasure at times when she was being paid to work.”

De Niro is suing Robinson for $6 million in damages.

A couple of months later, Robinson sued De Niro for gender discrimination. She accused him of running a toxic workplace where he allegedly made sexually charged comments to her.

She accuses him of talking to her in a “hostile, abusive, and intimidating manner" and says he called her "a bitch" and "a brat."

De Niro reportedly called another female business partner a "cu*t." She claims the actor would often get drunk and berate her. Robinson claims De Niro would make jokes about his Viagra prescription, make jokes about her getting pregnant, and would urinate during phone calls.

“Robert De Niro is someone who has clung to old mores. He does not accept the idea that men should treat women as equals,” the suit read. She added, “He does not care that gender discrimination in the workplace violates the law. Ms. Robinson is a casualty of this attitude.”

Robinson is asking the court to dismiss De Niro’s lawsuit and award her $12 million.

At the moment, De Niro's case against Robinson is in New York state court while Robinson's case is in Federal Court. In recent documents, De Niro asked the court to allow him to bring his claims into the federal case.

He says his case was put on pause after Robinson used a "tactical motion to dismiss just one of the claims (fraud). De Niro wants everything heard in one court. His lawyers claim the actor wants to get this show on the road.

Robinson rushed to court to object to De Niro’s request. She says the actor waited way too long to try to add the claims in the federal case. She says the claims should not be allowed because they were brought in “bad faith.”

Her lawyers claim to support his “baseless allegations of wrongdoing”, De Niro and his company have attributed expenses from their “main corporate credit cards, to which all” of their other employees had access. She says there is no way they can put all the expenses charged on her.

Robinson also says “documents show other Canal employees engaging in conduct that mirrors what Canal has accused Ms. Robinson of, such as watching Netflix, charging or seeking reimbursement from Canal for meals, Ubers, taxis, and other expenses, and using airline miles.”