Leeza, Brenner: War of Words?

By Stephen M. Silverman

06/12/1998 at 12:00 AM EDT

TV talk show host Leeza Gibbons, 43, and comic David Brenner, 55, have been sued for defamation by a former girlfriend of Brenner's, Charisse Brody Weason, over remarks that Brody Weason claims Brenner made about her parenting ability, reports the Associated Press. The alleged derogatory comments were made on the Dec. 7, 1999, episode of the show "Leeza," says Brody Weason. Her attorney says that she and Brenner has a relationship that resulted in the birth of a son, who is now a teen. For the past several years, the boy has reportedly lived with Brenner following a custody fight with Brody Weason. Gibbons's publicist did not return calls to the AP, but in an e-mail to the news service Brenner said that he had no knowledge of the lawsuit.