Robert De Niro's partner felt 'face was melting' before disorder diagnosis

13 July 2023 , 12:40

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Robert De Niro and Tiffany Chen have recently welcomed a baby into the world (Image: Steven/AFF-USA/REX/Shutterstock)

Tiffany Chen has opened up about her health struggles ahead of her Bell's palsy diagnosis.

She became a first-time mother in April 2023 with her boyfriend, Robert De Niro. Despite the exciting buzz of motherhood, Tiffany also faced a terrifying health ordeal, later learning that she had Bell's palsy.

Appearing on CBS Mornings on Thursday, she said: "When I went home I started to feel like my tongue felt strange. It felt like a little tingly, just starting to get a little bit numb."

Chen said that she was unfamiliar with the feeling she was having. The only way that she was able to describe the feeling was "weird". Though, Chen also elaborated that her face looked different to herself in the mirror.

Tiffany Chen and Robert DeNiro began dating in 2021 (Corbis via Getty Images)

She said: "When I got home, it was like everything was starting to just fall down on itself, like my face was melting on itself."

Ex soap star Paul Danan says he'll turn budding actors into next Robert De Niro

Even though these symptoms started pretty immediately after arriving home from delivering her child, Chen didn't call the doctor right away. She said it wasn't until a week later that "it all hit".

One of the defining and concerning moments for Chen was when she realised she couldn't eat. She told the story of how she put a fork with food into her mouth and "everything came out". From there, Chen said she began slurring her words.

Her doctors advised her to go right to the hospital where she was immediately admitted. As soon as she got there, her symptoms became gravely concerning.

Chen said: "I lost all facial function."

Robert De Niro and Tiffany Chen welcomed their daughter, Gia, to the world in April

Despite the horrifying time, Chen and De Niro were both thrilled to welcome their beautiful daughter, Gia Virginia Chen-De Niro.

De Niro and Chen first met on the set of The Intern. At the time, De Niro was still married to his now ex-wife, Grace Hightower. In the movie, Chen plays a Tai Chi instructor and was cast, in part, since she is a martial arts instructor in real life.

Several years later, in 2021, the pair's relationship went friend platonic to romantic. The world discovered this development when they were seen together holding hands in France. On their trip, they weren't shying away from PDA, even kissing on their friend's yacht.

While the two aren't seen publicly together often, typically keeping a low profile, they did attend the 2023 Cannes Film Festival in France together and were recently spotted on a double date with the Trudie Styler and Sting.

Alex West