Shari Redstone, the vice chairwoman of CBS and Viacom and daughter of media mogul Sumner Redstone, was physically manhandled by a male member of the CBS board of directors, according to legal documents filed on Tuesday.
The complaint, filed in Delaware, alleges Charles Gifford “acted in an intimidating and bullying manner” toward Shari Redstone, “including on one occasion by grabbing [Redstone’s] face and directing her to listen to him.”
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According to the complaint, Gifford later said he didn’t mean to offend her and added “that was how he treats his daughters when he wants their attention.”
Redstone has since responded by stating Gifford should not be renominated to the CBS board, adding that she “was not Mr. Gifford’s daughter but instead the vice chair of CBS.”
The revelation comes as the board voted to strip the Redstones of voting control at CBS, which they’ve held for nearly 20 years. The family has since moved to void that action in court.
A Delaware judge is weighing both arguments and is expected to rule this summer.
Sumner Redstone, 95, who is ailing, is no longer involved in the day-to-day operations at Viacom and has stated Shari Redstone will take his position as chairman after he dies.
“Ms. Redstone’s issue with Mr. Gifford is that he has always operated by an entirely different definition of what it means to be an independent director – namely to act in the best interest of all CBS shareholders. As a result of Mr. Gifford’s steadfast belief in good corporate governance, it is unfortunate and revealing that NAI has resorted to baseless personal attacks that are clearly tied to the execution of Mr. Gifford’s duties in this matter,” CBS said in a statement to The Hill, referring to National Amusements, the CBS parent company that filed the complaint.