Robert De Niro's Company Files $6 Million Lawsuit Against Employee for Binge-Watching 'Friends' and 'Schitt's Creek' at Work

BY Josiah HughesPublished Aug 20, 2019

Who among us isn't guilty of slacking off here and there, whether it's online shopping or perusing memes while on the clock. Still, a former employee of Robert De Niro's company took time theft to a whole new level by binge-watching hours upon hours of Netflix at work.

Canal Productions employee Chase Robinson has been accused of spending an exorbitant amount of her working hours streaming TV shows, Variety reports, in addition embezzling money from De Niro's company.

According to the suit, Robinson watched an impressive 55 episodes of Friends during a four-day period in January. During another four-day period in March, she is accused of watching 20 episodes of Arrested Development and 10 episodes of Schitt's Creek. Hey, at least she has decent taste in TV.

"Watching shows on Netflix was not in any way part of or related to the duties and responsibilities of Robinson's employment and, on information and belief, was done for her personal entertainment, amusement and pleasure at times when she was being paid to work," the suit, filed in New York state court, alleges.

Robinson was hired as an assistant to De Niro in 2008 before being promoted to VP of production and finance at Canal. Her salary was $300,000 USD a year, though she has also been accused of embezzling money.

Specifically, she is accused of making $12,696.65 in unauthorized charges at Paola's over a two-year period, in addition to $8,923.20 at Dean and Deluca and Whole Foods, as well as $32,000 for Ubers and taxis.

According to the suit, Robinson allegedly brushed off the allegations when she submitted her resignation in April. She also included a recommendation letter for herself, which De Niro refused to sign. 

 

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