Tiffany Chen details how she, Robert De Niro fell in love
Robert De Niro and Tiffany Chen seamlessly transitioned into a romantic relationship after meeting on the set of the 2015 movie “The Intern.” In a recent interview, Chen, who is a martial arts instructor and shares a daughter named Gia with De Niro, revealed that the couple initially kept their relationship professional during filming but eventually developed a deeper connection. Chen explained to Gayle King on “CBS Mornings” that their relationship started as purely work-related, but after a couple of years, they reconnected and realized they had a strong personal connection as well.
In the film “The Intern,” De Niro portrayed Ben Whittaker, an elderly widower who returns to work as a senior intern at a fashion website and forms an unlikely friendship with the company’s CEO, Jules Ostin, played by Anne Hathaway. Chen had a small role in the movie as Ben’s tai chi instructor.
During the filming of “The Intern,” De Niro was still married to his second wife, Grace Hightower, but they separated in 2018. De Niro and Chen welcomed their daughter, Gia, on April 6, 2021. De Niro revealed the news casually in an interview when a reporter referred to him as a “father of six.” De Niro corrected the journalist, stating that he was actually a father of seven because he had just had a baby.
Chen reminisced about their evolving relationship, saying, “A couple of years later, we got back in touch, and I said, ‘Oh, I guess we get along, and I guess we really get along.'” In April, King unveiled Gia’s name and shared her first photo on “CBS Mornings,” revealing that both De Niro and Chen were overjoyed with their new addition.
During the interview with King, Chen also discussed her experience with Bell’s palsy, a condition she was diagnosed with after giving birth. She described feeling strange sensations in her face, as if it was melting, and experiencing difficulty speaking and eating. Chen sought medical attention and was eventually diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, which causes weakness in the facial muscles on one side.
De Niro has been married and divorced twice before, with children from previous relationships. He has a daughter named Drena and a son named Raphael with Diahnne Abbott, as well as twins Aaron and Julian with Toukie Smith. De Niro also has two children, Elliot and Helen, with his second wife, Grace Hightower. Unfortunately, tragedy struck when De Niro’s granddaughter, Leandro, passed away at the age of 19. De Niro expressed his deep distress over the loss and requested privacy to grieve.
The couple, De Niro and Chen, have been romantically linked since 2021, and they continue to navigate their relationship while cherishing their new role as parents to baby Gia.
Robert De Niro and Tiffany Chen seamlessly “evolved” into a couple after meeting on the set of the 2015 movie “The Intern.”
The martial arts instructor — who welcomed daughter Gia with the actor earlier this year — shared in a new interview that the couple initially kept their relationship professional, but it progressed into a romance years later.
“When we were working, it was just work,” she told Gayle King on “CBS Mornings” Friday.
“And then a couple of years later, we got back in touch, and I said, ‘Oh, I guess we get along, and I guess we really get along.’”
In the film, De Niro, 79, portrayed Ben Whittaker, an elderly widower who re-enters the workforce as a senior intern for a fashion website and forges an unlikely friendship with the company’s CEO, Jules Ostin (Anne Hathaway).
Chen, 45, had a small role in the buddy comedy as Ben’s tai chi instructor.
At the time of filming, De Niro was still with his second wife, Grace Hightower, but they separated in 2018.
The Oscar winner and Chen quietly welcomed their daughter, her first child and his seventh, on April 6.
De Niro casually broke the news when he was talking to a reporter who called him a “father of six.” The “Meet the Parents” star swiftly corrected the journalist, saying, “Seven, actually. I just had a baby.”
Later that month, King revealed Gia’s name and first photo on behalf of De Niro and Chen on “CBS Mornings.”
“They both wanted this baby,” the broadcaster shared at the time, adding, “They’re over the moon. She was brought here in love. He’s very psyched about it.”
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During her Friday sit-down with King, Chen detailed being diagnosed with Bell’s palsy after giving birth.
“My face just felt weird,” she recalled. “It was like everything was starting to just fall down on itself. Like, my face was melting on itself.
“Then a week after giving birth, that was when it all hit,” she said, adding that she began to “slur” her speech and “couldn’t eat.”
By the time she returned to the hospital, Chen “lost all facial function” and was diagnosed with the condition, which causes weakness in muscles on one side of the face.
She and De Niro have been romantically linked since 2021.
The twice-divorced Hollywood icon is also the father of Drena, 51, and Raphael, 46, with Diahnne Abbott, as well as twins Aaron and Julian, 27, with Toukie Smith. Additionally, he shares Elliot, 25, and Helen, 11, with Hightower.
De Niro became a grandparent in 2004 when Drena welcomed son Leandro with Carlos “Mare139” Rodriguez. The 19-year-old tragically died earlier this month.
“I’m deeply distressed by the passing of my beloved grandson Leo,” De Niro told TheFantasyTimes in a statement on July 3.
He added, “We’re greatly appreciative of the condolences from everyone. We ask that we please be given privacy to grieve our loss of Leo.”
The Tribeca Film Festival co-founder was spotted looking downcast as he attended Leandro’s funeral in New York City this past weekend.
Leandro’s official cause of death has yet to be determined, but Drena claimed he died after taking pills laced with fentanyl.
