A former employee of Robert De Niro has been awarded over $1.2 million for enduring a toxic workplace while employed under him.
On Thursday, De Niro’s former personal assistant, Graham Chase Robinson, was awarded the massive lump sum after she initially filed her lawsuit in 2019. She claimed that the actor called her names such as “b***h” and “brat” and made other comments about him using Viagra while in her presence. Robinson said the award-winning actor even threatened her and would come to meetings wearing only his pajamas. The jury didn’t find De Niro personally liable but found his company, Canal Productions, was the responsible party.
De Niro only appeared for three days of the two-week trial. In his testimony, he made several allegations of his own against Robinson, including that she stole $85,000 worth of airline miles after quitting. De Niro tried to counter-sue Robinson, though it was dismissed. He declared that he raised her salary to $300,000 yearly but admitted to telling Robinson that another employee made more than her.
Ultimately, the jury ruled in Robinson’s favor and ordered that Canal Productions make two payments of $632,142 to the former assistant. She immediately celebrated the victory, hugging her attorneys in court. The money is a massive payday for Robinson, who says she has not worked in four years since quitting De Niro’s company despite applying for hundreds of jobs. Robinson said the ordeal with De Niro has left her humiliated and depressed.
De Niro has not commented publicly on Robinson’s lawsuit or court loss.
