Paul Schrader Faces Lawsuit Over Alleged Sexual Misconduct and Broken Settlement Deal
Paul Schrader, the celebrated screenwriter behind “Taxi Driver” and the director of cult classics like “American Gigolo,” is currently facing serious legal heat. A former assistant, identified as Jane Doe, has filed a lawsuit accusing the 78-year-old filmmaker of sexual assault, wrongful termination, and backing out of a confidential settlement that was meant to keep the matter under wraps.
The lawsuit, filed in New York court, has stirred quite the controversy—not just for the allegations themselves, but for the complex legal back-and-forth that followed what was supposedly a closed deal.
🎬 A Hollywood Legacy Meets a Modern Reckoning
Schrader is no stranger to controversy. Known for pushing creative boundaries, he's been a critical voice in American cinema for decades. From co-writing the gritty psychological portrait “Taxi Driver” with Martin Scorsese to penning the spiritual drama “The Last Temptation of Christ,” Schrader’s fingerprints are all over some of Hollywood's most memorable and controversial films. And let’s not forget the slick, style-driven “American Gigolo,” which launched Richard Gere into superstardom and marked Schrader’s distinct visual storytelling.
But now, that legacy faces a very different kind of spotlight.
🌍 Incident at Cannes: A Key Turning Point
According to Doe’s lawsuit, things took a troubling turn during the Cannes Film Festival in France, where Schrader was promoting his latest film, Oh, Canada. The assistant alleges that while overseas, Schrader cornered her in his hotel room, grabbed her by the arms, and forcibly kissed her.
Two days after the alleged incident, she claims Schrader bombarded her with phone calls and text messages, emotionally manipulating her by saying he was "dying" and needed help packing. When she eventually arrived to assist him, the lawsuit alleges that Schrader opened the hotel door wearing nothing but an open bathrobe—exposing himself.
What was supposed to be a professional trip to promote a movie turned, according to Doe, into a deeply uncomfortable and inappropriate situation.
📧 “I Don’t Want to Become a Harvey Weinstein in Your Mind”
Fast forward to September 2024: Doe claims she was fired after once again rejecting Schrader’s alleged advances. Not long after that, she received an email from him expressing concern that he might have come across to her as “a Harvey Weinstein.”
It’s a chilling comparison. Weinstein, once one of Hollywood’s most powerful producers, has since become synonymous with sexual misconduct in the entertainment industry. Convicted of rape and awaiting another trial, his name is practically the face of the #MeToo movement. That Schrader would reference Weinstein in an email shows, at the very least, that he knew the gravity of what was being suggested.
📄 Settlement Talks... Then a Pullback
Here’s where things get legally complicated.
In February 2025, Schrader allegedly agreed to a confidential settlement with Doe, which included a financial payment. The agreement was designed to put the matter to rest quietly. However, Schrader later backed out. According to Doe’s legal team, the reason he gave was a mix of illness and “soul-searching.”
But Schrader’s attorney, Philip J. Kessler, insists there’s more to it. He claims the deal was never legally binding because Schrader didn’t sign it. “The agreement they’re trying to enforce required both parties to sign before it became valid. Mr. Schrader declined to sign. It’s really that simple,” Kessler stated.
Doe’s lawyer, Gregory Chiarello, paints a very different picture. “This is an open-and-shut settlement enforcement matter,” he wrote in court filings. To Doe and her legal team, the filmmaker reneged on a commitment that was already in place.
⚖️ He Said, She Said
Unsurprisingly, Schrader and his team are pushing back hard. Kessler described the lawsuit as “desperate, opportunistic, and frivolous,” flatly denying any sexual relationship ever occurred. “We absolutely deny that there was ever a sexual relationship of any kind between Mr. Schrader and his former assistant,” he said. He also pointed out that during her employment, Doe frequently posted on social media expressing admiration for Schrader, calling him “my man” and praising her job.
So, what changed?
That’s a question at the heart of the legal proceedings now underway. Doe, who worked for Schrader between 2021 and 2024, claims the power dynamic shifted, and when she didn’t reciprocate Schrader’s alleged romantic and sexual advances, it affected her employment and ultimately led to her firing.
🎥 Schrader's Life Off-Screen
Outside of his films, Schrader has always been known as someone who doesn’t shy away from controversy. In 2016, he told The Hollywood Reporter that police visited him after he posted a Facebook rant calling Donald Trump’s election “a call to violence,” encouraging people to be ready to “take arms.”
More recently, in 2023, Schrader slammed the Academy Awards for allegedly trying too hard to appear progressive, claiming they were scrambling “to be woke” by adding international voters and increasing diversity. And in 2021, he criticized “cancel culture,” likening it to a virus. “You’re afraid to defend someone because you might catch that virus too,” he said in an interview with Deadline.
It’s clear Schrader isn’t one to hold back—on screen or off. But that same boldness is now under scrutiny in ways he likely never imagined.
🎭 The Bigger Picture: Hollywood and Accountability
While this case is still unfolding, it underscores an ongoing issue in the entertainment world: how power and proximity often intersect in damaging ways. The #MeToo movement made it clear that many powerful figures operated without accountability for years. And despite some cultural progress, these types of allegations continue to surface.
Whether or not the court enforces the settlement Doe is pursuing remains to be seen. But what’s undeniable is that the lawsuit has cast a shadow over Schrader’s legacy, bringing into question not just past behavior but how figures in positions of authority treat those who work closely with them—especially young women navigating the early stages of their careers.
💬 Final Thoughts
This case isn’t just about one assistant and one filmmaker—it’s about how the film industry handles power, respect, and personal boundaries. It’s also a legal drama that could have ripple effects beyond just the people involved. Will the court see the unsigned settlement as enforceable? Or will Schrader walk away from the deal untouched?
Time will tell. But in the meantime, one of Hollywood’s most iconic voices finds himself in the middle of a storm that’s as dramatic—and as controversial—as any script he’s ever written.
Login