Posted Jul 9th 2009 1:52PM by TMZ Staff
It certainly would have been cheaper to buy an alarm clock. Lil Wayne is being sued for nearly half-a-million bucks for sleeping when he should have been performing.
Red City Entertainment claims it fronted $432,000 for a Wayne concert appearance in the Bahamas. On September 27, 2008, there were plenty of lights and cameras... but no action, because Wayne was passed out in his hotel room. When he didn't show for the performance, cops went to his hotel and found him unconscious.
In the lawsuit filed today, Red City claims it gave Wayne a $210,000 advance. The balance is for his hotel expenses and various costs involved in throwing the failed concert.
Calls to Lil Wayne's rep were not returned.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Music
Tags: lawsuit, lil wayne, LilWayne, no show, NoShow, rapper, sleepiness, sued
Posted Jul 9th 2009 1:08PM by TMZ Staff
This one is impossible to explain -- really, it is -- but we'll try.
A woman possessed by the "most beautifiliest angel lusefer" and claims to be the "reincarnation of Venus Aphrodite Demilo" has filed a $3 billion lawsuit against Hugh Hefner, suing him for ... well ... it's nearly impossible to tell.
Sheri Allred -- who also calls herself "the biggest hat in the world" -- claims Hefner is a member of a pedophile organization and once hid under her bed when she was five-years-old in order to do naughty things to her.
And that's just the beginning ... seriously, just read it for yourself.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Playboy
Tags: hugh hefner, HughHefner, lawsuit, playboy, reincarnation
Posted Jul 8th 2009 6:55PM by TMZ Staff
The Justin Timberlake movie "Alpha Dog" finally has an ending ... the guy it was based on was just convicted of the kidnap and murder of the kid who died in the movie.
Today a jury decided Jesse James Hollywood was the mastermind behind 15-year-old Nicholas Markowitz's death, which happened in West Hills, CA back in August of 2000. He was convicted of first-degree murder and kidnapping.
Hollywood could get the death penalty.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Movies, Justin Timberlake
Tags: alpha dog, AlphaDog, jesse james hollywood, JesseJamesHollywood, justin timberlake, JustinTimberlake, nicholas markowitz, NicholasMarkowitz
Posted Jul 8th 2009 1:00PM by TMZ Staff
ABC televison was shot down in court today by the estranged hubby of Kate Walsh.
The judge ruled Alex Young can make ABC Prez Stephen McPherson sit for a deposition, and answer all sorts of questions about Walsh's financial prospects at ABC -- pilots, development deals, etc.
Walsh and Young were only together as husband and wife for 14 months, but it's turning into one of the most bitter divorces in Hollywood.
ABC claims Young is harassing her and ABC and the motive is $$$.
And here's the best quote from the ABC lawyer: "It's as if Manny Ramirez was getting divorced and the first deposition they want to take is the president of ESPN."
The judge disagreed, so now Young's lawyer can grill the ABC honcho.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Dirty Divorces
Tags: abc, alex young, AlexYoung, battle, court, deposition, divorce, espn, kate walsh, KateWalsh, manny ramirez, MannyRamirez
Posted Jul 7th 2009 1:50PM by TMZ Staff
The guy who played Carmine "The Big Ragoo" Ragusa on "Laverne and Shirley" was arrested last Friday in Las Vegas after he allegedly got into a drunken car crash.
Law enforcement sources tell us they received a call at around 12:30 PM about a collision with a "suspected drunk driver." When officers arrived, they found Eddie Mekka and administered field sobriety tests.
After the tests, Mekka was placed under arrest for suspicion of driving under the influence -- a misdemeanor. As for the accident, we don't know any details, but we do know there were no injuries reported at the scene.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Tags: carmine the big ragu ragusa, CarmineTheBigRaguRagusa, dui, Eddie Mekka, EddieMekka, lavern and shirley, LavernAndShirley
Posted Jul 6th 2009 3:26PM by TMZ Staff
Here is Joyce DeWitt's mug shot -- taken on Saturday after the 60-year-old "Three's Company" star was arrested in El Segundo, Cal. for suspicion of DUI.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Drunks
Tags: joyce dewitt, JoyceDewitt, mug shot, MugShot, threes company, ThreesCompany
Posted Jul 6th 2009 9:03AM by TMZ Staff
TMZ has learned "Three's Company" star Joyce DeWitt was arrested for DUI on July 4th in El Segundo, California.
Law enforcement sources tell us DeWitt drove past a barricade Saturday afternoon -- and when an officer approached her, she smelled like booze. She was given field sobriety tests and then arrested for suspicion of DUI.
The 60-year-old actress, who played Janet Wood on the 80's sitcom, posted bail for $5,000.
The Regal Beagle wouldn't comment.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Drunks
Tags: dui, joyce dewitt, JoyceDewitt, threes company, ThreesCompany
Posted Jul 6th 2009 1:10AM by TMZ Staff
Dane Cook's half brother has been indicted in Massachusetts on 20 additional counts of larceny ... for allegedly stealing more than $11 million from Cook over a nearly five-year period.
The new charges come on the heels of eight counts back in March -- where Middlesex County prosecutors say Darryl McCauley transferred company funds into his personal bank account.
Prosecutors allege McCauley embezzled the cash while acting as Cook's business manager between March '04 and Dec. '08.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Tags: dane cook, DaneCook, darryl mccauley, DarrylMccauley
Posted Jul 2nd 2009 2:30PM by TMZ Staff
Rihanna picked up a tattoo needle last night at a parlor in NYC -- which would be totally fun and cool, if it wasn't also incredibly illegal.
We're told RiRi tattooed three of East Side Ink's artists with umbrellas and the letter R. None of her pet projects cared that she didn't have a license -- but the NYC Law Department does.
They say Rihanna could be slapped with three misdemeanors for the offense, each with its own hefty penalty -- as much as $300 for the first offense, $500 for the second and $1,000 for the third.
Sources say the tattoo shop could also face considerable fines of its own if the NYC Law Dept. decides to open an investigation.
UPDATE: The NYC Health Department just told TMZ: "Only licensed tattoo artists can administer tattoos in the city according to the City's Health Code. We are sending someone down to follow up on this."
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Rihanna
Tags: east side ink, EastSideInk, inked, rihanna, riri, tattoo, tattoo artist, TattooArtist
Posted Jul 2nd 2009 12:04PM by TMZ Staff
We've learned Gary Coleman's wife was arrested last night for domestic violence and disorderly conduct in Santaquin, Utah -- where the couple has a home.
According to the sheriff's website, Shannon Price was booked for the two misdemeanors at 8:32 PM and then released on $1,205 bond.
Cops tell us Shannon allegedly broke household items belonging to Gary and that he was not physically harmed.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Tags: gary coleman, GaryColeman, shannon price, ShannonPrice
Posted Jun 29th 2009 11:00AM by TMZ Staff
Bernie Madoff was just sentenced to 150 years in prison.
Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Tags: bernie madoff, BernieMadoff, ponzi, prison, sentenced
Posted Jun 28th 2009 3:09PM by TMZ Staff
Coolio copped a deal in his crack cocaine case -- avoiding jail time by pleading guilty to one count of possession of a controlled substance.
Charges of battery and possession of a smoking device were dropped in exchange for the guilty plea, and the rapper was ordered to spend 18 months in a rehabilitation program.
Coolio was busted with the drugs back in March at LAX.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Tags: coolio
Posted Jun 25th 2009 11:00AM by TMZ Staff
Stealing from Dane Cook allegedly runs in the family.
With his brother Daryl McCauley already facing charges for allegedly embezzling millions from the "comedian," McCauley's wife Erika was arrested today as well.
According to the Attorney General's office in Massachusetts, Erika will be arraigned today on charges of larceny by scheme and receiving/concealing stolen property."
Daryl was charged back in March with eight counts of larceny over $250, forgery and larceny by continuous scheme. According to prosecutors, McCauley once forged a $3 million check written from Cook's account to himself.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Tags: dane cook, DaneCook, daryl mccauley, DarylMccauley, emebezzle, erick mccauley, ErickMccauley, money, steal
Posted Jun 25th 2009 9:40AM by TMZ Staff
The pregnant woman caught in the wake of "Rampage" Jackson's crazy monster truck chase last year claims the UFC star caused "the stillbirth of her baby" when he rammed into her car.
Holli Griggs filed a lawsuit against Rampage in Orange County, California -- claiming he repeatedly rammed into her car "so he could escape and flee the scene (hit and run)." Griggs says "the impact of her abdomen with the steering wheel caused her amniotic fluid membranes (bag of waters) to rupture, ultimately resulting in the stillbirth of her baby."
FYI -- Rampage was never charged in relation to the death after an investigation revealed that the miscarriage was unrelated to the accident.
Griggs filed the suit anyway, claiming Rampage owes her more than $25k for property damage, personal injury and emotional distress.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Talk Sports
Tags: lawsuit, rampage jackson, RampageJackson, sued
Posted Jun 25th 2009 9:07AM by TMZ Staff
Sarah Jessica Parker's surrogate mama needs security, because paparazzi are overrunning the little town where she lives.
So the PD has been asked to help. Who, you ask, will take charge of the go team? The police chief who is under investigation for allegedly breaking into her home and trying to sell info about her and Sarah to a tabloid.
We spoke with officials in Martins Ferry, Ohio, who told us Police Chief Barry Carpenter will manage the team assigned to protect the surrogate.
The mayor told us that he has his concerns but has faith in the police department ... isn't that called blind faith?
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Sarah Jessica Parker
Tags: Sarah Jessica Parker, SarahJessicaParker, surrogate mother, SurrogateMother
