NEW YORK CITY: Renowned Hollywood figure Robert De Niro appeared as a witness in a New York City courtroom on Monday, providing testimony in a widely publicized trial related to a lawsuit brought forth by his former personal assistant, Graham Chase Robinson, as reported by the Daily Mail.
Robinson has alleged that the legendary actor was an abusive employer during her time serving as his Vice President of Production and Finance from 2008 to 2019.
Robert De Niro appeared irritable and agitated during his testimony
Robert De Niro, celebrated for his extraordinary roles in classic films such as 'The Deer Hunter' and 'Raging Bull,' was the inaugural witness to testify in the trial.
While giving his testimony, there were moments when he seemed irritated and agitated, restraining his emotions until he eventually exclaimed in exasperation, "This is all nonsense!"
Graham Chase Robinson, who had a close working relationship with De Niro for more than a decade, undertook a broad spectrum of responsibilities, from decorating De Niro's Christmas tree to providing assistance in times of emergencies.
At one point, she even served as his designated emergency contact and was involved in organizing greeting cards for De Niro's children.
However, when questioned by Robinson's lawyer about whether he considered her a conscientious employee, De Niro scoffed, responding, "Not after everything I'm going through now."
His frustration became more apparent as he raised his voice almost to a shout on two occasions during his testimony.
De Niro vehemently defended his interactions with Robinson, especially those involving his girlfriend, Tiffany Chen.
He claimed that they made decisions together and mentioned that he had treated Robinson well, allowing her to oversee preparations when he purchased a five-bedroom Manhattan townhouse.
Evidence presented during the trial included correspondence between De Niro and Chen, which unveiled Chen's increasing suspicion of Robinson's intentions.
She held the belief that Robinson conducted herself as if she were De Niro's wife and even exhibited "imaginary intimacy" with him. De Niro backed his girlfriend's apprehensions, remarking, "She believed there was something there, and she might have been correct."
Graham Chase Robinson's lawyer alleges Robert De Niro often used derogatory language
During the opening statements before De Niro's testimony, attorney Andrew Macurdy argued that Robinson had been unable to find another job and lived in fear since leaving her position with De Niro.
He claimed that De Niro would on occasion shout at her and use disrespectful language, which aligned with sexist remarks he made about women in general.
Macurdy asserted that the discord between Robinson and De Niro originated when Chen became envious of their close working relationship and communication.
In response, De Niro's attorney, Richard Schoenstein, challenged these assertions by portraying De Niro as "kind, reasonable, generous."
He reassured the jurors that they would gain further insights into his character through the testimonies of other individuals who worked for De Niro's company, Canal Productions.
Internet slams Robert De Niro's behavior during discrimination trial
Naturally, as the news of De Niro's courtroom confrontation made its way through the internet, social media users couldn't resist sharing their own thoughts.
Some seized the chance to ridicule the iconic actor's conduct during the trial. trial. One user on X commented, "I can't imagine having to put up with that pompous blowhard DeNiro on a daily basis."
Another user speculated, "He must know how Trump feels now."
A user humorously asked, "Is he blaming Trump?"
While another individual suggested, "Angry old man. We need an angry tweet about Trump from him; he's overdue."
In a more critical tone, one user remarked, "Real-life De Niro is the opposite of his movie characters - a dork and a dufus."