Updated: Robert De Niro appeared calmer on the witness stand on the second day of the defamation trial against his ex-personal assistant, Graham Chase Robinson. The trial, taking place in a Manhattan federal courtroom, aims to address allegations of gender discrimination, wage theft, and retaliatory behavior leveled against the renowned actor.

During his testimony, De Niro disputed the validity of a draft recommendation letter that Robinson had submitted for him to sign after quitting her job abruptly in 2019. The letter, written in De Niro's voice, contained exaggerated claims about Robinson's performance during her 11 years at De Niro's business and personal services company, Canal.

De Niro vehemently denied the accusation of suing Robinson to attract negative press coverage towards her, stating that his main objective was to retrieve company property she had taken. Furthermore, he denied ever intending to fire her and described a deal made in late 2018 for her to stay on for an additional two years with an increased salary and a promised recommendation letter.

The trial also shed light on the strained relationship between De Niro, Robinson, and his girlfriend, martial arts instructor Tiffany Chen. De Niro revealed that he had been mediating the deteriorating rapport between the two women, but tensions escalated when Robinson failed to wake De Niro for an important appointment. He admitted berating her but claimed he was never abusive, only annoyed.

Robinson's lawsuit alleges that De Niro's refusal to provide her with a recommendation was retribution for quitting. She had requested a separate job-recommendation letter, a severance package, a press release announcing her departure, and payment of unspecified legal fees, none of which she received. Robinson's lawyers argued that the fallout with De Niro had left her emotionally damaged and unable to find employment.

De Niro disputed the claims made in the draft letter, asserting that Canal was not his film production company, contradicting the statement that Robinson excelled at handling production work for his films. De Niro's lawyer highlighted that Robinson had the freedom to modify the letter to her liking, as stated in her cover email.

Throughout his testimony, De Niro repeatedly stated that he trusted and relied on Robinson. However, their professional relationship soured when Robinson quit after raising qualms about being caught between De Niro and Chen. De Niro subsequently sued Robinson for theft of company property, including over five million frequent-flier miles. No criminal charges were brought against Robinson.

The trial will continue to address the competing claims of both parties. De Niro's lawsuit seeks repayment of Robinson's salary and damages for her alleged misuse of a company credit card, while Robinson's countersuit maintains that De Niro's actions were retaliatory.

In conclusion, the defamation trial between Robert De Niro and Graham Chase Robinson centers around allegations of gender discrimination, wage theft, and retaliatory behavior. De Niro vehemently denies the harassment accusations and argues against the validity of the recommendation letter submitted by Robinson. The trial will determine the resolution of these conflicting claims.