Robert De Niro admits in NYC court he asked ex-assistant to scratch his back

nypost.com:

center stage again in Manhattan federal court Tuesday as he begrudgingly copped to asking his former personal assistant to scratch his back — before exploding, “You got me!”The blustery, 80-year-old Oscar winner got defensive on the stand for the second day running as he attempted to rebuff accusations from longtime ex-staffer Graham Chase Robinson, 41, that he was a terrible boss who subjected her to years of unwanted touching, abusive language and demeaning misogynistic tasks.

Asked about an incident where Robinson claims De Niro forced her to scratch his back instead of using a back-scratcher, the “Raging Bull’’ star confessed it likely happened twice — but only when he had an itch in a spot where he couldn’t reach.“OK, twice?

You got me! I’m saying this is nonsense,” fumed De Niro, who was dressed in a dark gray polo shirt and navy blazer. “It was never done with any disrespect,” the legendary actor continued. “Shame on you, Chase Robinson!” he shouted at his accuser, who was in court.At one point, De Niro also admitted it was possible he once asked Robinson to Uber him a martini from the upscale Nobu sushi lounge at 11 p.m.When asked about calling her twice while she was attending her grandmother’s funeral because he wanted her to buy his teen son a bus ticket, the actor replied, “So?” De Niro insisted that he was “never abusive” toward Robinson – but conceded he may have called her a “f–king spoiled brat” after he missed an appointment because she didn’t wake him up.“I could have, too.

I was upset,” said. “She didn’t wake me up and made me miss this thing in Malibu.”De Niro’s lawyer objected in one instance to the questioning his famous client was forced to undergo, claiming “improper impeachment.”De Niro quipped.