NEW YORK (AP) — Paul Schrader The screenwriter behind "Taxi Driver" and director of "American Gigolo" faces accusations in a lawsuit for allegedly sexually harassing his ex-personal assistant, dismissing her after she refused his advances, and breaching an agreement intended to maintain confidentiality around these claims.
The previous assistant, referred to in legal papers as Jane Doe, filed a lawsuit against the filmmaker and his production firm on Thursday. She is requesting a court order to uphold the agreement following Schrader’s statement that he was unable to fulfill it. Details of the arrangement, which included financial compensation, have not been made public.
"This is a straightforward case for enforcing a settlement," wrote Gregory Chiarello, Doe's attorney, in documents submitted with the breach of contract lawsuit.
Schrader's attorney, Philip J. Kessler, characterized the lawsuit as "desperate, opportunistic, and trivial," stating that numerous claims within it are either untrue or significantly misrepresentative.
"We completely reject the notion that there was ever any form of sexual relationship between Mr. Schrader and his ex-assistant, and we also refute the claim that Mr. Schrader attempted to engage in any type of sexual relation with his former assistant," stated Kessler.
The legal action initiated in a New York courtroom unveiled accusations that the private agreement between Doe, aged 26, and Schrader, who is 78 years old, was meant to be kept secret.
She asserts that the director confined her in his hotel room, forcibly held her arms, and kissed her without consent when they were publicizing his recent movie last year. “Oh, Canada,” At the Cannes Film Festival in France.
Two days afterward, according to the lawsuit, Schrader contacted Doe multiple times via phone calls and sent her furious text messages stating he was "in agony" and unable to prepare his luggage. Upon Doe’s arrival to assist him, the suit claimed that Schrader revealed himself with private parts uncovered as he answered the hotel room door clad only in an unbuttoned robe.
Doe claims Schrader dismissed her last September following her repeated refusal of his advances. Shortly thereafter, according to the lawsuit, he emailed her expressing concern about becoming “a Harvey Weinstein” in her eyes. Weinstein, the disgraced film producer who became synonymous with the #MeToo movement, was found guilty of rape in Los Angeles in 2022 and awaits a new trial for similar charges in New York set for April 15.
As stated in the lawsuit, Schrader consented to the settlement on February 5th; however, following an illness and extensive reflection, he reconsidered. Last month, via his legal representatives, Schrader communicated that he "found himself unable to agree with the terms of the settlement." This statement was contested by Kessler according to the document.
The deal they want to impose on Mr. Schrader stipulates that for it to become legally binding, both sides needed to agree and put their signatures on it," Kessler explained. "However, Mr. Schrader refused to sign it. The situation really is just that straightforward.
According to the lawsuit, Doe was employed by Schrader from 2021 through 2024. During this period, Kessler mentioned that she shared on social media how much she enjoyed her work and described Schrader as an exceptional mentor and "my guy."
Schrader gained prominence through his work alongside director Martin Scorsese. starting with "Taxi Driver" in 1976 Robert De Niro’s memorable line, "You talkin' to me?" has become etched in popular culture and is listed as one of the most distinguished movie quotations according to the American Film Institute’s rankings.
Schrader collaborated with Scorsese on the screenplay for the 1980 boxing film "Raging Bull," which featured De Niro as well. He was also the writer behind the 1988 religious epic "The Last Temptation of Christ" and the 1999 paramedic drama "Bringing Out the Dead."
He has directed 23 films under his direction, with "American Gigolo" from 1980 being particularly notable; he was also responsible for penning this film. His sole Oscar nomination came as recognition for writing "First Reformed," a 2017 suspense movie centered around a pastor in a rural town, which he both scripted and helmed.
Schrader informed The Associated Press previously that he created "Oh, Canada" – the movie that Doe mentioned led them to Cannes – according to Schrader. reconciled his own mortality following multiple hospital stays due to long COVID.
In 2016, Schrader spoke with The Hollywood Reporter. police visited After he went on a tirade on Facebook regarding Donald Trump’s impending presidency, Schrader penned that Trump’s victory amounted to "a call for violence" and suggested individuals ought to be prepared to bear arms.
In 2023, he criticized the Oscars for striving to appear "progressive" through their diversity initiatives and an increase in international voting members. Back in 2021, following the rise of the #MeToo movement, he spoke out against what he called "cancel culture." Deadline It was "so contagious, it's like the Delta variant."
"If your friend says, 'People are spreading awful lies about me,' you hesitate to support them for fear of catching that same negativity," Schrader explained to the entertainment news source.