Graham Chase Robinson made headlines back in August when she was sued by her former employer, Robert De Niro’s Canal Productions, for $6 million for — among other things — allegedly binge-watching excessive amounts of Netflix at work. Now she has countered with a suit of her own, claiming De Niro harassed her and discriminated against her based on her gender.
Robinson says the actor frequently made suggestive or sexist jokes in her presence and was often given “female duties like housework.” “Robert De Niro is someone who has clung to old mores,” the lawsuit says. “He does not accept the idea that men should treat women as equals. He does not care that gender discrimination in the workplace violates the law. Ms. Robinson is a casualty of this attitude.”
The lawsuit also claims that De Niro’s suit against Robinson was a tactical move meant to defame her and discredit her before she had a chance to sue him. “De Niro took a page out of the Bill O’Reilly playbook,” it says. “Before Ms. Robinson could sue, De Niro retaliated…The lawsuit is replete with ‘clickbait’ allegations that falsely characterize Ms. Robinson as a loafer, a thief, and a miscreant. Now, when her name is Googled, these allegations pop up on the screen. The results have been devastating to Ms. Robinson. Her reputation and her career have been destroyed.”
Robinson was first hired as an assistant to De Niro in 2008 and eventually promoted to Vice President of Production & Finance. She is seeking $12 million in damages.
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