CUPERTINO, Calif. — Tim Cook, Apple Inc.’s chief executive, is calling a shareholder lawsuit against the company a ‘‘silly sideshow,’’ even as he says he is open to looking at the shareholder’s proposals for sharing more cash with investors.

David Einhorn sued Apple last week, saying a proposal due for a vote at the annual meeting in two weeks will make it more difficult to enact his plan to reward shareholders by distributing a new class of shares.