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An emotional confrontation between Tom Benson's granddaughter, Rita Benson LeBlanc, and wife, Gayle Benson, that briefly turned physical during a New Orleans Saints home game last season happened days before the 87-year-old billionaire decided to sever ties with his family members and cut them out of his estate plans.

Two sources who witnessed the incident said Rita Benson LeBlanc confronted Gayle Benson in Tom Benson's suite on the 400 level of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome before the Saints' game against the Atlanta Falcons on Dec. 21.

The two sources, who are employed by the Saints and Pelicans, asked not be named because of the sensitivity of the situation.

The pregame encounter occurred in front of dozens of friends and guests of the Bensons and quickly escalated after Rita Benson LeBlanc, whom sources described as the aggressor, approached Gayle Benson.

Tom Benson Family Tree graphic

Benson Family Tree

At one point, the two sources who witnessed the incident said, Rita Benson LeBlanc, then 37, grabbed Gayle Benson by both shoulders and shook the then-67-year-old repeatedly during a confrontation that lasted several minutes.

"She (Rita) was shaking her (Gayle) to emphasize her point and to be heard," said one of the sources who was in the suite and witnessed the incident. "It was pretty ugly.

"I remember the pyrotechnics going off in the stadium (during pregame player introductions) and thinking fireworks were also going off in the suite."

Not every guest in the crowded suite was aware of the incident, one source said, because it occurred off to the side of Benson's luxury box, which is perched above the 50-yard line overlooking the Saints' sideline.

Eventually, Saints president Dennis Lauscha was summoned from his nearby suite to act as an intermediary and restored order to the situation, another source familiar with the situation said. Rita Benson LeBlanc returned to her suite next door, and the rest of the game proceeded without incident or engagement between the two parties.

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dizzle88

Rita and Gayle were more physical during that game than our entire team was.

jnormand

Can Rita play LB?

aintasinner

Too bad they didn't put that fight up on the video board. It could have been the Play Of The Game!

Halo

WhoDat!656

"Six days later, Tom Benson emailed a letter to Renee Benson, Rita Benson LeBlanc and Ryan LeBlanc telling them he never wanted to see them again and banning them from his business operations."

hagan714

things are getting interesting. i want to know what was the issue and were the thumb screws put him

maybe the rumors are true?

I still find it odd that all three are out: daughter Renee Benson and the grand kids Rita Benson LeBlanc and Ryan LeBlanc. If Rita is the issue then why boot the other two? just smells fishy to me.

This would leaves one and only one person in control of everything. never under estimate greed and long term manipulation.

Will Shirley Landry branch of the family tree be axed out or not? eliminating the Benson blood line from the world sports ownership.

stay tune for the next show of "As the Benson Turn"

"We may have lost the game, but you'll be hurting tomorrow." Doug Atkins

Vrillon82

You could see tension for years between Rita and Gayle going as far back as the SB year, if you ever paid attention to when cameras would show them, it was as if Gayle was stuck up around Rita quite often when Rita would be having any contact with Tom. I at least noticed it but never saw this coming to the extent it did. Its all a question on who is greedy, Gayle or Rita? It dont make too much sense to have Gayle only as owner since she is not young either, maybe this is where the red flag is.

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MatthewT

Not that we will ever have all the facts, but from the little that we do hear, it is probably a good thing for the long term success of the Saints that Rita got booted from the operation. I get that Gayle may not be much better, but I honestly believe if Rita is running the team that it would be a complete disaster within a few seasons.

Crusader

His other grandkid, Dawn Jones, seems to be the only really sane one. But grabbing and shaking an older woman? That's more than a little nuts if you ask me.