Filmmaker Paul Schrader responds after former assistant accuses him of sexual assault and harassment

Filmmaker Paul Schrader responds after former assistant accuses him of sexual assault and harassment Have YOU got a story? Email [email protected] By BRIAN MARKS FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 20:10 EDT, 5 April 2025 | Updated: 20:16 EDT, 5 April 2025 e-mail View comments The acclaimed filmmaker Paul Schrader — who wrote Martin Scorsese 's classic film Taxi Driver and directed American Gigolo — has been accused in a new legal filing of sexual assault by his former assistant.

Schrader is also accused of sexually harassing the 26-year-old woman, who is identified only as Jane Doe, according to court documents obtained by DailyMail.com. The complaint was filed with the New York State Supreme Court on Thursday after the 78-year-old filmmaker — who was lambasted earlier this year for his willingness to experiment with AI — allegedly backed out of paying a settlement agreed upon by the parties in February.



Speaking with DailyMail.com, Schrader's attorney Philip Kessler called the lawsuit 'frivolous, desperate, and opportunistic' and said they intended to 'defend it vigorously.' He pointed out that Jane Doe had filed a breach of contract claim and not a sexual harassment claim.

'The agreement is crystal clear that it requires the signature of both parties or it has no legal effect whatsoever,' he said. Kessler also denied Doe's allegations of sexual assault and harassment against Schrader and claimed the underlying allegations of sexual harassment were very misleading and inaccurate. Doe claims in the complaint that Schrader 'used his position of power over Ms.

Doe to sexually assault her, by luring her into a hotel room and forcibly grabbing her and kissing her, despite her verbal protests.' Filmmaker Paul Schrader (pictured in October 2024 in NYC) was accused of sexual assault, sexual harassment and reneging on a settlement deal by his former assistant in a court filing from Thursday The filing states that the alleged incident took place last year at the Cannes Film Festival in France , where the filmmaker was premiering his latest film, Oh, Canada. According to Doe's complaint, she was able to get free of Schrader's grip and rushed out of his hotel room.

But three days later, he allegedly called her back to his room with messages he was 'dying' and unable to pack his bags, according to the complaint. Doe claims she returned to Schrader's hotel room, only for him to allegedly greet her in an open bathrobe that exposed his penis. The woman, who worked for the writer and director from May 2021 until she was fired in September 2024, says she packed his bags as quickly as possible 'in terrified silence' after the display.

Doe goes on to claim that Schrader 'repeatedly demonstrated in writing that he understood his conduct was unwelcome and offensive' to her, but he allegedly continued to harass and fondle her. Included in her complaint are emails the director allegedly sent to Doe, including one dated from May 22, 2023, in which he wrote, 'I sense you are uncomfortable with my affection for you.' 'Sometimes I get the feeling (not today) that you are afraid I might touch you.

.. I cringe at the thought you fear I might touch you,' the email continues.

Schrader is accused of trying to forcibly kiss the woman, listed as Jane Doe, while attending the Cannes Film Festival; pictured at the Chateau Marmont in LA in May 2023 She claims he showed her his penis days later when he begged her to come to his hotel room because he was 'dying.' Doe alleges she was fired in retaliation in September 2024; pictured in May 2024 in Cannes, France Doe claims in the complaint that Schrader eventually retaliated against her in September of last year in response to his spurned advances by firing her. Two days after he terminated her, Schrader allegedly sent his assistant another email in 'full acknowledgment of his unlawful and predatory behavior.

' 'So I f***ed up. Big time..

.' he allegedly wrote. 'If I have become a Harvey Weinstein in your mind then of course you have no choice but to put me in the rearview mirror.

' Around 10 days later, Schrader posted on his Facebook account that he was in the market for a new assistant, though he warned that it was a 's*** and ice cream job.' He described the position as alternating between 'menial tasks' and more fulfilling work for which an assistant might be 'willing to pay' him. After Schrader's alleged 'attack' on Doe and repeated sexual harassment, she says in the complaint she was traumatized and began suffering from anxiety and nightmares, which had led her to withdraw 'almost completely from her former life.

' Speaking with Variety , Kessler said Doe's account of the alleged harassment is 'loaded with inaccuracies' and 'materially misleading.' He added that Schrader's assistant had accompanied him to numerous dinners and film festival events while working for him. Schrader's ex-assistant in a complaint claims he admitted to 'predatory behavior' in messages and emails.

In February, she alleges he allegedly agreed to a settlement, before backing out last month after doing some 'soul searching'; (L–R) Oscar Isaac, Schrader, Tiffany Haddish and Tye Sheridan pictured in Venice in September 2021 Schrader's attorney Philip Kessler denied that he ever tired to kiss Doe, and he said the settlement was not valid because the director never signed it; seen in October 2024 with Michael Imperioli and Uma Thurman 'In none of those instances did the plaintiff indicate anything other than enthusiasm about appearing with Mr. Schrader,' Kessler said. Speaking with DailyMail, Kessler said Schrader had merely exercised his right not to settle and not to yield to the pressure of having the allegations go public, deciding instead to defend himself.

Kessler claimed Schrader and Jane Doe never had sex and that the director had never attempted to have sex with her or do anything of the sort. He claimed Schrader had only kissed Jane Doe twice over the course of three years and said the first time Schrader kissed Jane Doe she allegedly did not express any displeasure or take offense. However, the second time she did and Schrader never did it again, Kessler said.

Additionally, Kessler claimed the plaintiff made remarks and posted photos on social media that included photos where Schrader had his arm around Jane Doe and she with hers around him. He claimed she praised his talent as a screenwriter and director and described him as an extraordinary mentor in the posts. He also said she talked about how fortunate she was to be working with him in her social media postings.

Kessler claims the posts were taken down after the initial demand letter was sent last October, which was the first time Schrader heard of any grievances. In the complaint, Doe's attorney say that Schrader had agreed to a monetary settlement. However, last month his attorneys allegedly contacted hers to say that he had done some 'soul searching' during a bout of illness and therefore would no longer pay the settlement.

'According to Defense Counsel, Defendant Schrader also stated that he could not "live with himself" if he performed his obligations under the Settlement Agreement,' Doe's filing claims. Doe's lawyers say the filing on Thursday was intended to compel Schrader to fulfill his alleged obligation to pay the settlement, though the amount has not been disclosed. Schrader emerged as one of the most acclaimed screenwriters in the 1970s thanks to his screenplays for Sydney Pollack's The Yakuza (1974), Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver (1976) and Brian De Palma's Obsession (1976).

Schrader has written classics for Martin Scorsese like Taxi Driver and Raging Bull (pictured), and he directed films including Blue Collar, American Gigolo, Affliction and First Reformed He and Scorsese collaborated three more times on some of his most beloved films, including Raging Bull (1980), The Last Temptation Of Chris (1988) and Bringing Out The Dead (1999). Schrader also became a respected director in his own right with modern classics including Blue Collar (1978), Hardcore (1979), American Gigolo (1980), Mishima: A Life In Four Chapters (1985), Affliction (1997) and Auto Focus (2002), among others. After a period of underwhelming films in the 2000s and 2010, Schrader staged a comeback with some of his best-reviewed films in years, beginning with 2017's First Reformed and continuing with The Card Counter (2021), Master Gardener (2022) and his most recent, Oh, Canada.

The latest film reunites him with his American Gigolo leading man, Richard Gere, who plays a documentary filmmaker who deliriously confesses his past sins for his former student's documentary while on his deathbed. Euphoria star Jacob Elordi plays a young version of the character, while Uma Thurman plays his wife and Michael Imperioli plays his student. Share or comment on this article: Filmmaker Paul Schrader responds after former assistant accuses him of sexual assault and harassment e-mail Add comment Comments 0 Share what you think No comments have so far been submitted.

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