Robert De Niro’s Girlfriend Tiffany Chen Calls His Ex-Assistant ‘Mean-Spirited’ in Court: ‘She Was a Hot Mess’

Robert De Niro’s girlfriend Tiffany Chen testifies.

Chen testified Thursday – the fourth day of the actor’s gender discrimination trial – in federal court in New York, talking about her relationship with the prosecutor, De Niro’s former assistant Graham Chase Robinson, 41, who is suing De Niro, 80. and his production company, Canal Productions, for alleged violations of the New York City Human Rights Act. De Niro is also suing Robinson, accusing her of inappropriate spending and excessive television viewing during work hours.

Asked if Robinson had to do “whatever” De Niro asked her to do during her tenure at Canal Productions, Chen said, “Within a professional mindset, yes.” Chen added: “He would direct her and she would delegate to other people [who worked at Canal Productions].”

Robinson and Chen were first introduced in 2018, and texts between the two from October of that year were shown on screen in the courthouse. Chen wrote: “Who the hell are you?!?! We need to repopulate the planet with your DNA… you guys have such a great dynamic and chemistry that comes out so beautifully in everything you two do together… He speaks so highly of you and it’s nice to see that even his most complimentary of you moments paid tribute.”

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During her testimony, Chen said the texts were “largely sarcastic” and aimed at achieving peace. “She was very strange from the beginning and was always uncomfortable to be around. I was killing her with my kindness,” Chen said. Despite her attempts, Chen said Robinson was “mean and bitchy” during her employment. She added, “It was a real mess. Her schedule was outside of business hours.”

While Robinson’s team claimed she was forced to perform tasks for De Niro and Chen that were outside of her job description, such as buying gifts and working on their townhouse, Chen claimed it was Robinson’s choice. “She wanted to be everywhere with him shopping, so she came with him when he said, ‘Let’s go pick plants,'” Chen said. “She volunteered [to help him shop for gifts] on its own.”

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Referring to text messages she sent De Niro about Robinson having a “crazy imaginary intimacy” and “thinking she [De Niro’s wife]”, Chen firmly stood by her claims. “I think that’s what she was trying to be…. She is crazy,” Chen said. “She was tied to the control she felt she had in this dynamic… If her fantasy was going to affect my personal life and she was in the office, of course I would [acknowledge the behavior]. It’s too weird.”

Speaking about Robinson’s behavior when De Niro wasn’t around, Chen said it was a “complete reversal”. “When he’s not in the room, [it’s a] dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde [situation]… When Bob is not around, she has a different face.”

During her testimony, Chen admitted that she had wavered about her feelings for Robinson for a while. “I went back and forth from knowing she had serious mental health issues to just feeling bad for her,” Chen said.

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The testimony of Chen, with whom De Niro has been dating since 2018 and with whom he has a six-month-old daughter, Gia, comes three days after the actor first testified in federal court in New York on Monday.

Robinson worked for De Niro and his production company for 11 years, eventually stepping down after being promoted to vice president of production and finance in 2019. A legal battle began that year when the actor and Canal Productions filed a $6 million lawsuit against Robinson.

Robert De Niro admits in fiery court testimony that he ‘scolded’ his former assistant and called her names

De Niro and Canal Productions initially alleged that Robinson binge-watched Netflix shows while on the job and abused her position to improperly use “her employer’s funds for her personal benefit,” including De Niro’s frequent flyer miles. The company also claimed to have spent tens of thousands of dollars on personal company expenses. The original lawsuit filing said Robinson was making $300,000 a year when she “abruptly resigned” from the company via email on April 6, 2019.

Robinson then sued De Niro and Canal Productions for alleged violations of the New York City Human Rights Act and accuses the actor of gender discrimination and retaliation.

When De Niro testified earlier this week, text messages between Chen and him were shown in which she described Robinson as “manipulative and nasty” and added, “this bitch needs to be put in her fucking place.” De Niro claimed that Robinson was “rude” to Chen which was “unacceptable as an employee”.

Stephane Cardinale – Corbis/Corbis via Getty; Elizabeth Williams via AP

Robert De Niro testified that his former assistant scratched his back: ‘Never disrespectfully’

Chen admitted Thursday that not all of her memories of Robinson are bad. In January 2019, after Chen left pots on the stove that caused the smoke, Robinson, who had set herself up as the main contact for city hall issues, ran inside to help the dogs out and tackle the smoke, Chen recalled on the stand. That same day, Chen texted De Niro: “The first thing she did was take care of the boys… that means everything to me. Her heart is really good.” In testimony, Chen said she meant the statement at the time, “given the situation.”

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A few days later, Chen texted De Niro: “I’m grateful for her help on Saturday, but I don’t trust her when it comes to me.”

The trial is expected to last two weeks. In addition to testimony from Robinson, De Niro and Chen, the jury will also hear from the actor’s lawyer Tom Harvey, his accountant Michael Tasch and employees who worked with Robinson at Canal.

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