Paul Schrader Sued by Former Assistant Over Sexual Assault Allegations and Broken Settlement

Last Updated Apr - 05 - 2025, 03:48 PM | Source : Fela News

Paul Schrader, writer of Taxi Driver, faces a lawsuit from a former assistant alleging sexual assault and breach of a confidential settlement. Schrader denies a

Paul Schrader, the acclaimed screenwriter of Taxi Driver and director of American Gigolo, has been accused in a lawsuit of sexually assaulting his former assistant and retaliating after she rejected his advances. The assistant, identified as Jane Doe, claims Schrader assaulted her during the 2023 Cannes Film Festival and later exposed himself while she worked for him. The lawsuit, filed in New York, alleges Schrader fired her in September after she again declined his advances and reneged on a confidential settlement agreement reached in February.

Doe seeks a judge's order to enforce the agreement, which Schrader allegedly withdrew from after “soul searching.” Schrader’s lawyer denies all allegations, calling the lawsuit “frivolous” and insisting no agreement was ever finalized, as it was never signed.

Schrader, 78, rose to prominence through collaborations with Martin Scorsese and has directed over 20 films. He’s been a controversial figure, known for inflammatory statements on politics and “cancel culture.” His most recent film, Oh, Canada, took him to Cannes — the setting of the alleged assault.