Israel deports US billionaire’s son for breaking virus rules

Israel deports 33-year-old son of US billionaire ViacomCBS chairwoman Shari Redstone for breaking coronavirus quarantine rules to secretly visit his model girlfriend, 18

  • Brandon Korff was deported from Israel over pandemic violations on Friday
  • Korff gained permission into Israel to visit his brother in the military, according to Israel officials
  • He reportedly went to visit his girlfriend Yael Shelbia, 18, and ignored the country’s mandated quarantine rules
  • Israel enforced a 14-day quarantine for travelers and a health evaluation   
  • He is the son of Shari Redstone, the billionaire chairwoman of ViacomCBS 
  • Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19

The son of American media magnate Shari Redstone was deported from Israel on Friday for violating the country’s coronavirus quarantine rules while paying a secret visit to his 18-year-old model girlfriend.

Israel´s Population and Immigration Authority said it had granted Brandon Korff an exceptional permit to enter the country on Friday to visit his brother, who is serving in the Israeli military.

It said Korff ‘violated the isolation orders from the moment he entered the country and met his Israeli partner’ and ‘stayed with her in the same apartment.’ 

Brandon Korff (pictured) was deported from Israel on Friday after officials said he violated coronavirus quarantine orders

It said Korff, son of the chairwoman of ViacomCBS, was ordered to leave the country immediately.

In March, Israel implemented a 14-day quarantine rule for anyone arriving to the country amid the corornavirus pandemic. Visitors must also undergo a health screening.

As of March 18, only citizens and permanent residents of Israel would be allowed to enter the country, with some exceptions for ‘non-nationals whose lives are based in Israel.’ 

Korff is the son of Shari Redstone  (right), ViacomCBS chairwoman Shari Redstone, and Yitzhak Aharon Korff

Korff is the son of Shari Redstone  (right), ViacomCBS chairwoman Shari Redstone, and Yitzhak Aharon Korff

Korff is dating 18-year-old model Yael Shelbia (pictured), who has done work for Kim Kardashian's KKW Beauty and Israeli clothing company Renuar

Korff is dating 18-year-old model Yael Shelbia (pictured), who has done work for Kim Kardashian’s KKW Beauty and Israeli clothing company Renuar

Korff (right) reportedly ignored Israel's mandated 14-day quarantine rules to visit his girlfriend Shelbia  (left) at her apartment

Korff (right) reportedly ignored Israel’s mandated 14-day quarantine rules to visit his girlfriend Shelbia  (left) at her apartment

Neither Shelbia (left) nor Korff have publicly spoken about the incident yet. The Redstone family also did not release an official statement

Neither Shelbia (left) nor Korff have publicly spoken about the incident yet. The Redstone family also did not release an official statement 

As of Sunday, Israel has recorded around 19,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and a death toll of 300.

Israel’s pandemic numbers are dwarfed by the United States, which recently surpassed two million cases and amassed 115,586 deaths.

The statement did not identify the partner, but Korff, who is in his mid-30s, is dating Israeli model Yael Shelbia.

The 18-year-old model, who is doing compulsory military service, has appeared in campaigns for Israeli clothing company Renuar and Kim Kardashian’s KKW Beauty makeup line.

Pictured: Korff and Shelbia posed together for an Instagram photo earlier this year before his deportation

Pictured: Korff and Shelbia posed together for an Instagram photo earlier this year before his deportation

Neither Korff nor Shelbia have spoken out about the incident publicly.

Last week, Israel´s deputy director of the Health Ministry came under fire after an Israeli billionaire businessman was granted an exemption from the isolation orders.  

In a 2016 article from Wall Street Journal, it said Korff was a managing partner at real-estate developer Panoply Properties.

He became a director for National Amusements, a privately owned theater and mass media company that oversees ViacomCBS.  

Shari Redstone, the daughter of media mogul Sumner Redstone, was named chairwoman in 2019.

Forbes reports that she’s the first woman to have such a massive stake in the company, which is a $30billion empire.

She was responsible to facilitating a $12billion merger deal between CBS corp. and Viacom Inc.