Daijiworld Media Network - New York
New York, Apr 5: Acclaimed screenwriter and filmmaker Paul Schrader, known for penning classics such as Taxi Driver and Raging Bull, is facing a lawsuit from his former assistant who has accused him of sexual harassment and reneging on a settlement agreement.
The 26-year-old woman, identified in legal filings as Jane Doe, alleges that the 78-year-old director forcibly kissed her and later exposed himself during the Cannes Film Festival in 2023, where they were attending the premiere of Schrader’s film Oh, Canada, according to Variety.
She claims that after the initial incident, Schrader later summoned her to his hotel room under the pretext of a medical emergency and then exposed his genitals to her. Her attorneys say these incidents were part of a broader pattern of unwanted advances and inappropriate behavior during her employment.
The woman further alleges that she endured “near-constant inappropriate sexual questions and lewd, misogynistic commentary” and was fired in September 2023 after rejecting Schrader’s advances. Her legal team claims that a financial settlement had been agreed upon but that Schrader withdrew after what he reportedly described as a period of "soul searching."
The lawsuit, filed in New York State Court, seeks to enforce the settlement and recover attorney fees, arguing that the agreement was legally binding despite not being signed.
Schrader’s lawyer, Philip Kessler, has dismissed the lawsuit as “desperate, opportunistic and frivolous,” asserting that no binding contract exists and that the allegations are “materially misleading.” He pointed to Doe’s prior social media posts praising Schrader—posts that were allegedly deleted after her legal team sent a demand letter.
The motion includes excerpts from emails Schrader allegedly sent, including one in which he wrote: “I sense you are uncomfortable with my affection for you… I cringe at the thought you fear I might touch you.”
Schrader, who was honoured with a Venice Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement in 2022, has yet to make a personal statement on the matter. The case is likely to draw intense public and industry scrutiny given Schrader's stature in American cinema.