Facing an impending 80th birthday, esteemed Hollywood actor Robert De Niro finds himself embroiled in a web of personal and legal difficulties. His private life is drawing unwanted attention as his legal fight against ex-assistant Graham Chase Robinson, 37, and his responsibilities as a new father test his resilience, insiders claim.
De Niro's legal clash started when he accused Robinson, his company's former corporate vice president, of embezzling $6 million from Canal Productions. In a counter-move, Robinson slapped De Niro with a countersuit demanding $12 million. The countersuit alleges the renowned actor created a hostile environment for women and required Robinson to perform demeaning tasks like "scratch Mr. De Niro's back, button his buttons, [and] tie his ties." Furthermore, Robinson claims De Niro accused her of binge-watching TV shows while working, misappropriating 5 million frequent flier miles, and using company credit cards for personal expenses like Pilates classes.
Meanwhile, court documents suggest a simmering tension between Robinson and De Niro's girlfriend, Tiffany Chen, who allegedly dubbed Robinson De Niro's "office wife" and accused her of having feelings for the actor.
"Bob is juggling multiple tasks – his career projects, relentless legal discussions, and childcare. It's an overwhelming load for anyone, particularly at his age," an anonymous source reported.
De Niro and Chen recently celebrated the birth of their daughter, Gia Virginia, marking the actor's seventh child. However, plans for De Niro's birthday celebration on August 17th have been postponed due to the ongoing turmoil. "Tiffany planned to host a grand birthday party, but Bob is not in the right frame of mind. He's taking it day by day," shared a close source.
In a heart-wrenching turn of events, the tragic loss of De Niro's 19-year-old grandson, Leandro, has cast a dark shadow over the actor's life. The joy brought by the arrival of baby Gia with Chen, his partner of two years, has been crushed by this calamity, according to insiders.
“De Niro, who had finally found tranquility amidst the storms of his past struggles with ex-wife Grace Hightower, was excited about the future with Tiffany and Gia,” revealed an insider. The unexpected death of Leandro in his Wall Street apartment, where an unidentified white substance – suspected to be fentanyl-laced cocaine – was found, has left the family in deep sorrow.
The promising young actor, who De Niro hoped would follow in his footsteps, was the son of De Niro's adopted daughter, Drena, and artist Carlos Rodriguez. "The loss of my cherished grandson Leo has deeply distressed me," De Niro confessed in an official statement.
“Bob cherished Leo and his potential," disclosed the insider. "His death has driven him into a very dark space. Everyone around him is praying for his resilience during this tough time."