The idiot who blackmailed rapper J. Cole on Twitter yesterday -- by threatening to kill his little sister if J. Cole didn't retweet him -- is now being investigated by police, TMZ has learned.
A rep for the New Braunfels Police Department in Texas tells us, they have opened an investigation into the 19-year-old responsible for the tweet ... after the picture (showing the fan aiming a gun at his sister's face) was brought to their attention.
The rep says the teenager in question "is cooperating and it seems this was just a bad lapse in judgment." Police say the gun in the picture is a BB gun, not an actual handgun.
The rep adds, "For now this is still an open investigation, and for the time being no charges are being filed."
As for the teenager -- we spoke to the kid, and he has profusely apologized for sending the message, telling us, "I'd like to apologize to America for the photo and to put J. Cole in that position. It was all a joke."
He added, "It was an unloaded BB gun and my sister was in on it. I only tweeted it because I didn't expect a response. Mr. Cole please don't sue me. I want to formally apologize more to J. Cole and yeah my mom made me delete my twitter until I fixed it.”
Zimmer just fired back at MW through a statement released to CNBC ... saying, "Over the past several months I have expressed my concerns to the Board about the direction the company is currently heading."
"Instead of fostering the kind of dialogue in the Boardroom that has in part contributed to our success, the Board has inappropriately chosen to silence my concerns through termination as an executive officer."
Men's Wearhouse did not like the way George Zimmer looked as executive chairman ... 'cause the suit chain just FIRED his ass!!!!
FYI -- the famously-bearded Zimmer didn't just FOUND the company in 1973, he also served as the spokesperson and is known for his slogan -- "You're going to like the way you look, I guarantee it."
The company announced the termination in a blunt statement ... and explained, "The board expects to discuss with Mr. Zimmer the extent, if any, and terms of his ongoing relationship with the company."
Sounds like a pretty nasty breakup.
In the meantime, here's a commercial to remember him by ...
Serena Williams isn't exactly apologizing for the incendiary comments she allegedly made about the Steubenville rape victim ... because she's not entirely sure she said them, at least that's the way it seems from the BS statement she just released.
Williams came under fire this week over an article printed in Rolling Stone ... in which the tennis superstar is quoted as saying, "[the Steubenville rape victim] shouldn’t have put herself in that position" on the night she was raped at a high school party.
But moments ago, Williams issued a statement on her website -- in which she takes NO responsibility for the comments ... and suggests she may not have ever said them at all.
"I am currently reaching out to the girl’s family to let her know that I am deeply sorry for what was written in the Rolling Stone article. What was written – what I supposedly said – is insensitive and hurtful, and I by no means would say or insinuate that she was at all to blame."
The statement begs the obvious question -- DID YOU MAKE THE COMMENTS OR NOT??
Cee Lo tells TMZ ... he feels terrible after being banned from a music festival in Chattanooga, TN for dropping too many f-bombs on stage -- and now he's begging for forgiveness.
It's a pretty crazy story ... the organizers of the Riverbend Festival blasted Cee Lo after his June 8 performance, claiming the singer completely ignored an agreement he made to put on a clean show for the "family" event. Instead, they say, Cee Lo cussed like a sailor.
Cee Lo also took heat for being late to the show ... though event organizers said there were delays at the airport that were beyond Cee Lo's control.
Still, when Cee Lo arrived to Playhouse nightclub in Hollywood last night, he had a message for Chattanooga -- "I apologize."
NOTE: Poll results are not scientific and reflect the opinions of only those users who chose to participate. Poll results are not reflected in real time.
When the Heat and the Spurs went into OT during last night's dramatic Game 6 of the NBA Finals ... Dwight Howard was busy eating dinner -- telling TMZ he didn't have the stomach to watch.
Howard hit up Crustacean in Beverly Hills last night -- at the very same time LeBron and Co. were taking on Tony Parker and the rest of San Antonio.
Sources inside the restaurant tell us ... The L.A. Lakers star (at least for now) was nowhere near the TV during the game ... and focused on dinner with his buddies the entire time.
On his way out of the restaurant, Dwight explained why he chose not to watch -- telling us, "I'm not watching ... I'm not playing so ain't no need to be [watching]."
He added, "I don't want to see nobody win a championship."
Chris Brown is firing back at the City of L.A. -- claiming the gov. has NO RIGHT to force him to remove the graffiti art on the front of his L.A. home because it's protected by the 1st Amendment.
Brown just filed an appeal with the city -- telling officials the bill they're trying to stick him with for having an "unpermitted" mural on the front wall of his Hollywood Hills home is pure B.S..
According to the legal documents, obtained by TMZ, Brown claims the city is wrongly trying to nail him for having an illegal "sign" -- when the graffiti is art that "[enhances] the architectural and aesthetic features of the residential property."
Translation -- my artwork makes my house look dope, son!
Then Chris drops the constitutional bomb -- arguing, "The murals are a reflection of [my] aesthetic taste and a reflection of free speech and expression protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution."
Brown's case is now in the hands of the Dept. of Building and Safety's board of appeals -- and if they shut him down, he can bring the fight to L.A. County Superior Court.
In fact, there's a chance ... albeit a small chance ... that Brown's case could go all the way up to the Supreme Court if he's not willing to back down.
Justin Bieber is being warned -- return the SIM card you allegedly stole from a paparazzo in Miami ... or else!!!
TMZ has learned ... Gustavo Garces has lawyered up and fired off a letter to Bieber's manager -- demanding the immediate return of the memory card that Bieber took on June 5 ... after the singer allegedly ordered his goons to steal Gustavo's camera.
We obtained an audio recording of the incident in which Bieber can clearly be heard copping to the theft -- and telling Gustavo, "I'm gonna give you your camera back. I'm gonna take your SIM card though."
Now, Gustavo's lawyer has fired off a letter to Bieber's manager informing Team Bieber that he plans on filing a lawsuit ... and he needs the SIM card as evidence in the case.
Garces also warns Bieber not to tamper with the card -- because there are "dire consequences" for messing with evidence.
Kanye West is being slammed as "ignorant" and "distasteful" over a lyric on his new album which uses Parkinson's disease as a punch line ... TMZ has learned.
The song in question is called "On Sight" -- which includes the lyric, "A monster about to come alive again / Soon as I pull up and park the Benz / We get this bitch shaking like Parkinson's."
Now, TMZ has learned the American Parkinson Disease Association is upset about the lyric -- with the org.'s VP Kathryn Whitford telling us, "We find these lyrics distasteful and the product of obvious ignorance."
FYI -- the APDA has been around for over 50 years and it's the largest organization in the country dedicated to helping those with Parkinson's and furthering efforts to find a cure.
Two important things -- 1) "Pants on the Ground" auteur General Larry Platt is STILL ALIVE!!! ... and 2) He absolutely loves the new saggy pants ban in New Jersey.
As we reported, the Jersey Shore town of Wildwood has passed a law banning saggy pants from its boardwalk, and it's scheduled to go into effect next month.
But unlike a bunch of famous rappers, legendary "American Idol" anti-sag crusader Platt tells TMZ, "I am happy about the law and would like to see the law passed worldwide."
The 65-year-old General says he's actually talking to politicians in his hometown of Atlanta about getting the same law passed there.
Platt -- who says he'd consider a post with Wildwood PD just to enforce the ban -- adds, "Saggy pants are a disgrace to the community. When you wear your pants on the ground, you look like a fool, and it pulls down people, churches, schools, education and jobs."
"Braxton Family Values" star Tamar Braxton is a mansion-flipping GODDESS ... just two years after buying her massive L.A. home, she unloaded the palatial digs for a $3.5 MILLION PROFIT.
Toni Braxton's lil sis bought the 11,700-sqaure-foot crib in Hidden Hills, CA with her husband -- bigwig record producer Vincent Herbert -- back in 2011 for $3.4 million. They listed the house in Oct. 2012.
Now for the kicker, the couple -- which just welcomed a newborn baby -- sold the pad earlier this year for ... wait for it ... $6.9 million!!!
Fun Fact -- the home is just a stone's throw from Justin Bieber's private community in Calabasas!
So far, no word on where the couple plans to live next.
Chalk up a victory for Charlie Sheen ... 'cause Selma Blair has officially been 86'd from "Anger Management."
TMZ broke the story ... Sheen personally fired Blair over the weekend after hearing that she was complaining about his work ethic behind his back.
Sheen then went to producers and issued an ultimatum -- get rid of Selma ... or I quit.
Seems producers sided with Charlie -- 'cause Lionsgate, the studio behind the show, just released a statement saying, "We are confirming that Selma Blair will not be returning to Anger Management and we wish her the very best."
Mariah Carey is either a 6 or a 10 on the hot scale depending on which photo you're looking at from her Italian vacation. Not that we're complaining about bikini pics.
"Terminator 2" star Edward Furlong has just been charged with assaulting his ex-girlfriend and threatening her if she called the police ... TMZ has learned.
We broke the story ... 35-year-old Furlong was arrested inside his ex's West Hollywood home back in May on suspicion of violating a protective order she had obtained against him.
According to law enforcement, Furlong is accused of assaulting his ex during the incident, which is where the assault charge stems from.
In addition, Furlong has been charged with dissuading a witness by force or threat, as well as vandalism -- for allegedly damaging her laptop and photo equipment during the dispute. All the charges are felonies.
Furlong has also been charged with disobeying a domestic restraining order ... a misdemeanor.
If convicted, Furlong faces up to 4 years in state prison. He's due back in court July 1.
NOTE: Poll results are not scientific and reflect the opinions of only those users who chose to participate. Poll results are not reflected in real time.
NOTE: Poll results are not scientific and reflect the opinions of only those users who chose to participate. Poll results are not reflected in real time.
NOTE: Poll results are not scientific and reflect the opinions of only those users who chose to participate. Poll results are not reflected in real time.
Ex-NFL star Chad Johnson was scolded for taking his domestic violence case lightly in court ... and now we have photos of his ex-wife Evelyn Lozada's face after the crime. It's a harsh reminder of how serious it was. Is Chad getting the message?Plus, rapper J. Cole is the…
Chris Brown is firing back at the City of L.A. -- claiming the gov. has NO RIGHT to force him to remove the graffiti art on the front of his L.A. home because it's protected by the 1st Amendment. 
Two important things -- 1) "Pants on the Ground" auteur General Larry Platt is STILL ALIVE!!! ... and 2) He absolutely loves the new saggy pants ban in New Jersey.
