Robert De Niro shouted “shame on you” at his former executive assistant across a New York courtroom as she accused him of being an abusive boss in a $12 million lawsuit.
The double Oscar winner, 80, launched into the angry outburst as he faced a string of allegations from lawyers for Graham Chase Robinson, his long-time aide until she left his employment in 2019.
In the bitter legal battle, Ms Robinson, 41, claims De Niro made her carry out unusual and demeaning tasks and subjected her to foul-mouthed tirades, while the Raging Bull and Goodfella star has accused his former assistant of slacking at work, using his fortune for lavish living, and stealing five million air mile points.
On Tuesday, De Niro faced questions from Ms Robinson’s lawyer Andrew Macurdy, who accused the star of odd behaviour including urinating as he spoke to his assistant on the telephone.
“That’s nonsense”, replied the actor. “You got us all here for this?”
When Mr Macurdy accused De Niro of calling Ms Robinson a “b*tch to her face”, he snapped back: “I was never abusive, ever.” He conceded he may, however, have used the word during a conversation with her.
De Niro has faced the claim that he preferred Ms Robinson to scratch his back rather than using a back scratching device, and he told the court it may have happened on occasions but “never was with disrespect or lewdness”.
The actor, a screen legend across six decades, grew steadily more frustrated in the witness box before eventually shouting “shame on you Chase Robinson” towards his former assistant.
De Niro then quickly apologised for the outburst to Judge Lewis J Liman.
Ms Robinson is seeking $12 million in damages for alleged emotional distress and reputational harm, and says she has been unemployed, traumatised, and struggling to leave the house since the end of her time working for De Niro.
She was on a $300,000 annual wage as his vice president of production and finance, but quit after a falling-out with De Niro’s girlfriend Tiffany Chen, the court has heard.
De Niro himself is suing Ms Robinson after accusing her of misusing access to his finances to pay for lavish holidays, Uber rides, dogsitters, designer handbags, and expensive dinners.
He is also seeking recover three years’ of wages after accusing Ms Robinson of “loafing” at work and binge watching Netflix.
The civil trial continues.
