Posted Nov 12th 2009 9:40AM by TMZ Staff
The photographer who ended up on the wrong end of Mike Tyson's fist says Mike got in 4 good punches and blood was gushing "like a water fountain."
Pap Tony Echevarria claims:
- He wasn't disrespectful or aggressive
- Mike was initially in a good mood but turned sour when the pap asked about his wife
- Tyson became more agitated when he couldn't find a bathroom and saw the photog shooting him
As we previously reported, Tyson and the photographer were both busted for battery.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Fights
Posted Nov 12th 2009 9:30AM by TMZ Staff
Carrie Prejean's ex-boyfriend -- the guy to whom she sent the XXX solo video -- tells TMZ Carrie and company called him last week and tried getting him to "lie" and say she was 17 when she shot the video.
During an audio interview with TMZ, the man -- who asked us not to reveal his identity -- says Carrie sent him the video when they were involved with each other in 2007. He says Carrie sent him numerous explicit videos and insists the one in question was shot when she was 20.
We have verified this is indeed the guy to whom Carrie sent her solo video -- which ultimately torpedoed her settlement with Miss California USA.
These are the pictures he took with Carrie during a long, romantic weekend in San Diego.
Carrie's rep could not be reached for comment.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Carrie Prejean
Posted Nov 12th 2009 9:22AM by TMZ Staff
This is what it looks like when Mike Tyson punches you in the face.
Paparazzo Tony Echevarria got into it with Tyson yesterday afternoon at LAX. Both men were arrested. Tyson was taken to the police station ... Echevarria went to the hospital.
Tyson's lawyer, David Chesnoff, claims the photog was harassing Tyson, his wife and kid. Chesnoff claims some photogs followed the ex-champ into the bathroom, though he didn't say if Echevarria was one of them.
The photog got 5 stitches.
Pretty ironic -- his t-shirt says, "Live Long."
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Talk Sports, Exclusives
Posted Nov 12th 2009 12:50AM by TMZ Staff
Britney Spears is admitting to being a devil-worshiping Satan fanatic who embraces a "new world order" ... at least according to her Twitter page.
Turns out her Twitter account was hacked by a cyber-demonic force this morning ... and we're not talking about Sam Lutfi. Along with giving "Glory to Satan," the background to her page has gone from images of her "3" video ... to pyramids inscribed with the name of the alleged secret society Illuminati.
Chances are unless new world order and Illuminati are the names of indie bands, Brit has no clue what those terms mean. And as for the praise for Lucifer, everyone knows Britney doesn't speak in tongues ... she lip-synchs.
Filed under: Britney Spears
Posted Nov 12th 2009 12:40AM by TMZ Staff
UPDATE 8:33 PM PT: Cops tell TMZ Tyson was released on his own recognizance.
UPDATE 8:13 PM PT: Tyson has been booked for misdemeanor battery and his bail has been set at $20,000. The photog was also booked on misdemeanor battery -- Tyson claims the photog got so close he actually made contact with the boxer.
TMZ has learned Mike Tyson has been arrested at LAX airport for battery after a bloody confrontation with a paparazzo outside the United terminal. We're told Tyson punched the pap in the face and there is blood everywhere.
We're told Tyson was at a ticket counter at the United Airlines terminal when the incident occurred. The photographer got punched in the face, hit the ground, got up and began walking, leaving a trail of blood. An LAPD spokesperson said the photographer suffered a minor laceration to the forehead.
Someone at the scene tells TMZ ... the photographer got very close to Tyson before the boxer struck him. Our source says there's blood on the ground and Mike was taken away in a squad car. We're told an ambulance was dispatched at 4:39 PM to LAX and the paparazzo was transported to a local hospital.
Cops say Tyson and the photographer performed citizen's arrests on each other -- both are expected to be booked for misdemeanor battery. Cops also said witnesses backed both stories ... so that could get interesting.
If Tyson is prosecuted, given that he's a former boxing champ, the charge could end up being assault with a deadly weapon.
Tyson's rep says he was traveling with his 10-month old daughter when he was attacked by an overly aggressive paparazzi -- adding the boxer acted in self-defense to protect his child.
Story developing...
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Posted Nov 12th 2009 12:38AM by TMZ Staff
Those awful Balloon Boy parents are finally going to fess up to what we've all suspected for weeks -- that they're guilty of engineering the entire hoax.
Richard Heene's attorney issued a statement explaining how Richard will plead guilty Friday morning to an offense of attempting to influence a public servant -- a felony. His wife, Mayumi, will plead guilty to false reporting to authorities -- a misdemeanor.
The Heenes could receive jail time for the charges stemming from the infamous Oct. 16 incident, but Richard's attorney claims the prosecutor has only recommended probation.
The attorney also claims the couple agreed to the deal because Mayumi was afraid of being deported. The lawyer explained that she's currently a Japanese citizen and "any felony conviction or certain misdemeanors would result in her deportation, even though her husband and children are Americans."
Wonder if they would send her back in a balloon?
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Balloon Boy
Posted Nov 12th 2009 12:33AM by TMZ Staff
Burglar Bunch suspect Nick Prugo just won another genius award -- taking a photo of himself wearing what looks to be Paris Hilton's stolen necklace ... then taking it one step further by taunting the heiress with a few choice words.
TMZ obtained the picture Prugo took of himself while flossing a "P" necklace which looks exactly like the one Paris -- one of the Burglar Bunch victims -- bought last year when she was dating Benji Madden.
Prugo even had the stones to write the following message on the pic: "Hey Paris, look familiar?"
Funny ... Prugo can ask Paris -- who was locked up a few years ago -- the same question if he ends up getting time as well.
Filed under: Paris Hilton, Exclusives, Burglar Bunch
Posted Nov 12th 2009 12:27AM by TMZ Staff
Lil Kim is allegedly one of the biggest flakes on Planet Earth -- we're told she recently bailed on six gigs after pocketing her $20,000 fee ... then blamed it all on a nosebleed!
We're told a company called Abstrakt Visions Entertainment paid Kim $20,000 up front to make six club appearances in London between November 7 - 14.
Sources say Kim told Abstrakt she suffered a nosebleed in her hotel room the night before the first gig -- then got a call from Kim the next day saying she's heading back to the USA.
Kim's people tell us the nosebleed part is true -- but the real reason she bailed was because the promoters had poor planning skills and never even gave her a schedule.
Kim's crew says the rapper is gonna use the $20K to cover her travel expenses -- but she might wanna invest in a lawyer ... because Abstract told us they plan to sue.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Posted Nov 12th 2009 12:25AM by TMZ Staff
Like any crafty politician, Congressman Robert Brady (D-PA) has found a way to flip-flop on an important issue ... and we're talking about the Mohawk Challenge between Brady and Congressman John Hall (D-NY19) over who would win the World Series.
As we all know, Brady's Phillies lost ... but his press secretary tells TMZ: "The Congressman will not be shaving his head."
Here's the deal, Brady's peeps say the Mohawk Challenge was rendered null-and-void because the only person we could find to take the bet was Congressman Hall -- who happens to be mostly bald. So that technically doesn't make it a Mohawk Challenge, does it?
Now get this ... back when Hall accepted the challenge, he said instead of the mohawk he would shave off the precious few locks he had left -- which a few follically-challenged people in the TMZ newsroom considered a harsher punishment.
So, the question ....
Filed under: Talk Sports, Politix
Posted Nov 12th 2009 12:20AM by TMZ Staff
This is Alabama head football coach Nick Saban, battling with his tight end during his game against LSU this past weekend.
In the end, Saban emerged victorious.
Filed under: Talk Sports
Posted Nov 12th 2009 12:10AM by TMZ Staff
Known more for being a sex symbol in the '70s than his ability on ice, Ron Duguay played in the NHL for 12 years on teams like the New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, Pittsburgh Penguins and the L.A. Kings. Guess what he looks like now!
Filed under: Beauty, Talk Sports, 'Memba Them?!
Posted Nov 11th 2009 8:15PM by TMZ Staff
Carrie Prejean and Larry King just made the most awesomely awkward TV.
Carrie unplugged her mic on "Larry King Live" tonight and threatened to walk off the show -- all because Larry pressed her on details about her settlement with Miss California USA ... as in, he wanted her to bring up her solo sex tape.
Carrie called Larry "extremely inappropriate" for his line of questioning ... Larry's response? He said, "Inappropriate King Live continues" and then took a phone call.
Posted Nov 11th 2009 6:54PM by TMZ Staff
Jon Gosselin has fired back at TLC ... firing back at the network that is trying to get an injunction prohibiting him from making dough on shows other than TLC.
Gosselin wants the contract he made with TLC declared invalid on grounds it's unconscionable -- translation: Jon had no lawyer or manager when he sat down with TLC and inked the deal.
The best part -- Gosselin refers to himself as "an unsophisticated father of eight." He claims the deal was so bad ... he and his family only pulled in $2,000 an episode at the beginning. That's $200 a head.
Gosselin also claims TLC violated child labor laws.
Gosselin claims if TLC gets the injunction he'll be "unable to earn a living as a television personality, and therefore be precluded from supporting his eight children, whereas Plaintiff (TLC) currently has its show on 'indefinite hiatus.''
What Jon didn't say in his legal response -- how he'll deal with TLC's claim that he derailed the show by mounting what the network believes is a phony objection. If a judge buys TLC's claim it could cost Jon millions in damages.
And TLC wants Jon to cough up all the loot he made by selling his life to all the shows and websites over the last few months.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Jon & Kate
