Robert DeNiro
Discrimination trial involving Hollywood star has begun
Robert De Niro on his way to the courthouse in New York City on October 30th.
© David Dee Delgado/Getty Images
Robert De Niro is said to have discriminated against an ex-assistant and she is said to have embezzled funds. The process has now begun.
De Niro, who is present, is expected to testify after opening statements, reports the US industry portal “Deadline”. Initially, an eight-member jury was selected and the responsible judge scheduled the civil trial to last two weeks.
“Astronomical Amounts of Time” on Netflix
De Niro’s company Canal Productions had already sued the ex-assistant for at least six million US dollars in 2019. From court documents, which were available to “People” magazine at the time, it emerged that, among other things, the woman allegedly used millions of De Niro’s frequent flyer miles for private travel and cashed out 96 days of “unused” vacation. She is said to have received $70,000 for this.
Over two years, she is said to have paid bills at a restaurant for more than $12,500 at company expense. She spent $32,000 on taxis and Uber rides and spent “astronomical amounts of time” watching Netflix content during work hours. In one month she is said to have watched 55 episodes of the series “Friends” in four days.
A “hostile work environment”?
A counterclaim from the former employee however, paints a completely different picture. She started working for De Niro in 2008 at the age of 25 and carried out her tasks “with diligence and integrity”. She accused the actor and his company of having been subjected to years of discrimination and harassment because of their gender. She ultimately resigned because she could no longer endure the “hostile work environment.”
The actor also subjected his assistant at the time to unwanted physical contact, made “sexually charged comments” and, among other things, treated her like his “office wife.” De Niro assigned her “stereotypically female tasks such as housework”, did not pay her enough because of her gender and refused to pay her for numerous overtime hours.
The ex-employee warned at the time that she was considering filing a discrimination lawsuit. De Niro was then allegedly angry and forestalled her with a lawsuit. It is an “abusive preemptive action” full of false accusations. The woman is demanding at least twelve million dollars in the countersuit.