Posted Nov 26th 2009 12:43AM by TMZ Staff
Tyler Perry used too much of the goodness of Jesus in his movie, "Madea Goes to Jail," at least according to a new federal lawsuit obtained by TMZ.
The suit, filed by the personal representative of deceased gospel singer/songwriter Bertha James, claims Perry lifted an entire verse from a song James wrote in 1950 -- "When I Think of the Goodness of Jesus."
The suit claims Perry pilfered the verse and used it in "Madea" -- specifically, "incorporating the entire Chorus in a monologue delivered by the main character in 'Madea" referencing her deliverance from a jail sentence and leniency for repetitive criminal conduct, in a staged court proceeding presided over by 'Judge Mabeline.'"
Bertha's estate, which is also suing Lionsgate Entertainment, wants unspecified damages for copyright infringement.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Tags: bertha james, BerthaJames, copyright infringement, CopyrightInfringement, jesus, lawsuit, lionsgate, lionsgate entertainment, LionsgateEntertainment, madea goes to jail, MadeaGoesToJail, praise jesus, PraiseJesus, tyler perry, TylerPerry, when i think of the goodness of jesus, WhenIThinkOfTheGoodnessOfJesus
Posted Nov 26th 2009 12:18AM by TMZ Staff
Rihanna doesn't like being yelled at by her neighbors, according to a new lawsuit obtained by TMZ.
The owner of the L.A. house Rihanna was renting believes she would have bought his house outright but his neighbor was such a jerk ... she bailed on the deal.
The neighbor had actually sued Rihanna and her landlord, Stephan Yacobian, back in June, claiming the singer and her friends had a bad habit of parking their cars on his property. Rihanna eventually got so fed up with his complaints ... she moved.
Now, Yacobian is going after the neighbor -- claiming he had no right to yell at Rihanna and her friend over parking, because the two property owners had a specific agreement that RiRi could park in the neighbor's driveway.
Yacobian claims the neighbor's "harassing behavior" caused the deal to go south.
Yacobian wants the neighbor to fork over the profits he would have made from the sale.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Rihanna
Posted Nov 26th 2009 12:15AM by TMZ Staff
Tila Tequila is willing to forgive the XXX website that posted her allegedly stolen tape -- as long as the price is right.
Tequila's lawyer just fired off a cease and desist letter to 4tube.com -- the porn site that's posting footage of Tila getting up close and personal with a naked man. In the letter, obtained by TMZ, Tila's lawyer claims Tequila is willing to settle her case as long as the site removes the video ... and coughs up $280,000.
Tila claims the video clip was snatched off a laptop she reported stolen about two years ago -- and was never intended for public viewing.
According to the letter, the porn site has 2 weeks to respond -- or Tila proceeds full speed ahead.
... tick tock.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Exclusives, Tila Tequila
Tags: cease and desist, CeaseAndDesist, porn, sex tape, SexTape, tila tequila, TilaTequila, xxx
Posted Nov 25th 2009 4:00PM by TMZ Staff
Attention gold diggers! There's another successful rich dude who's officially on the market -- Interscope Records kingpin Jimmy Iovine.
TMZ has learned Iovine's marriage is officially over today. The terms are confidential, but the deal was sealed in L.A. County Superior Court -- where disso-queen Laura Wasser showed up with her two kids and an eight month belly full of unborn kid ... and looking good we might add.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Dirty Divorces, Exclusives
Tags: interscope records, InterscopeRecords, jimmy iovine, JimmyIovine, laura wasser, LauraWasser
Posted Nov 25th 2009 5:28AM by TMZ Staff
Accused statutory rapist Roman Polanski can finally put a price on his freedom -- $4.5 million.
A Swiss court has approved Roman's offer to pay bail of $4.5 million -- and in exchange he would be released from prison and kept under house arrest at his Swiss chalet ... but there's a catch.
Roman won't officially be released until the Swiss Justice Ministry decides whether it will go to the Supreme Court to appeal the bail decision because they consider him a flight risk ... probably because he's been on the run since 1978.
Even if Roman is released, he could still face extradition to the United States for having sex with a 13-year-old girl back in 1977.
UPDATE: The Swiss justice minister sees "no reason" to appeal Roman's bail.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Posted Nov 25th 2009 4:00AM by TMZ Staff
The Los Angeles Lakers seem to be having trouble on the road. Two of the team's stars were nailed on one of L.A.'s most famous freeways recently for breaking some driving laws.
TMZ has learned Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum were each pulled over on the 405 freeway in the last few days.
Odom was popped for speeding -- law enforcement sources tell us he was going more than 80 miles per hour.
Bynum was busted for shadier circumstances -- cops say he had illegally tinted windows on his Mercedes Benz.
Fun Fact: In the State of California, it's illegal to have ANY aftermarket tinting applied to the front driver's side and passenger windows in your car ... who knew?!
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Talk Sports, Exclusives
Tags: andrew bynum, AndrewBynum, lamar odom, LamarOdom, los angeles lakers, LosAngelesLakers
Posted Nov 24th 2009 2:20PM by TMZ Staff
Oprah's mom is officially off the hook for a $155,547 bill she owed to a Milwaukee clothing boutique -- and TMZ has learned she has her famous daughter to thank.
Our spies at the Valentina Inc. boutique tell us Oprah personally covered the balance her mother, Vernita Lee, owed for bills she racked up.
Oprah's big gift officially settles the suit the store filed against her mom.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Oprah, Exclusives
Tags: bail out, BailOut, debt, lawsuit, milwaukee, oprah, valentina inc., ValentinaInc., vernita lee, VernitaLee
Posted Nov 24th 2009 1:28PM by TMZ Staff
Dr. Conrad Murray has absolutely no restrictions on his ability to administer Propofol -- the drug that killed Michael Jackson.
We did some checking ... Dr. Murray still has full privileges to practice and operate at Doctors Hospital Tidwell in Houston. We're told Propofol is available for Murray's use.
As for ordering the drug ... no problemo. Dr. Murray can, if he chooses, get bottles of Propofol without special limitations.
As we previously reported, Dr. Murray -- who is seeing patients again -- is being investigated by the DEA and the LAPD in connection with Michael Jackson's death. The Texas Medical Board is also taking a look at the good doc.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Michael Jackson, Exclusives
Tags: conrad murray, ConradMurray, michael jackson, MichaelJackson, propofol
Posted Nov 24th 2009 12:00PM by TMZ Staff
Arnold Schwarzenegger claims he hasn't been pulled over since he became Governor of California 6 years ago -- but as we all know ... it's not because he's never broken the law!!!!
The infamous red zone parker and husband to law avoiding citizen Maria Shriver was on Leno last night -- where he admitted he hasn't been pulled over, let alone gotten a ticket, since he was sworn in.
His term ends in 2011. Watch out -- karma's a bitch.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Politix, Arnold Schwarzenegger
Tags: arnold schwarzenegger, ArnoldSchwarzenegger, govenator, governor, jay leno, JayLeno, maria shriver, MariaShriver, ticket
Posted Nov 24th 2009 9:55AM by TMZ Staff
A photographer who is suing Debbie Rowe claims he was attacked with a bat by three men who were yelling, "Leave Debbie alone."
Photog Ed Frommer is suing Rowe, claiming she defamed him by "lying" to police by saying he intentionally scratched her face and struck her. Frommer has sued Rowe for $7,500 in small claims court.
Frommer told cops on Sunday at 11:15 PM in Lancaster, CA, three males began following him in two different cars and ran him off the road. Frommer told police they got out of their cars -- one of them wielding a bat and poking him in the chest. They were yelling, "Leave Debbie alone."
Frommer doesn't think Debbie Rowe is behind it, but believes there are rabid Michael Jackson fans out to get him.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Exclusives
Tags: attack, battery, debbie rowe, DebbieRowe, ed frommer, EdFrommer, lawsuit, michael jackson, MichaelJackson, paparazzi, paparazzo, photogrpaher
Posted Nov 24th 2009 9:35AM by TMZ Staff
UPDATE: During a press conference moments ago, Coach Weiss said Jimmy will be at practice today and starting against Stanford.
The Fighting Irish have taken a beating on the football field this year -- and now, their starting quarterback was reportedly socked in the face during a bar fight early Sunday morning.
According to the Chicago Tribune, it all went down at a bar in South Bend, Indiana after Notre Dame choked in a double-overtime loss to UCONN. The paper reports Jimmy Clausen was leaving the place after dinner with his parents, and some bar patron "sucker punched" him in the face.
The paper claims Clausen -- a major NFL prospect -- has a black eye. No word if the QB plans to press charges.
WWTJD -- What Would Touchdown Jesus Do?
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Talk Sports
Tags: jimmy clausen, JimmyClausen, NFL, notre dame, NotreDame, the fighting irish, TheFightingIrish
Posted Nov 24th 2009 9:20AM by TMZ Staff
Jon and Kate Gosselin aren't the only ones haggling over their property ... we've confirmed a tax lien was slapped on the happy couple's Pennsylvania homestead to the tune of $2,691.75.
It seems the Gosselins had a water problem -- specifically, an unpaid "water tapping fee" for the home they have in Lancaster County. The fee is for tapping into the city water line.
The lien is not on the new house -- it's on the old one they still own, according to myfoxphilly.com.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Jon & Kate
Tags: jon and kate, jon and kate gosselin, jon kate, jon kate gosselin, jon kate plus 8, JonAndKate, JonAndKateGosselin, JonKate, JonKateGosselin, JonKatePlus8, lien, tax, tax lien, TaxLien, water, water tap, WaterTap
Posted Nov 24th 2009 6:34AM by TMZ Staff
More naked drama for Tila Tequila -- this time over a sex tape she claims was stolen off of her laptop computer.
Just days after she Ustreamed herself in a naked rant, a new XXX video surfaced on a porn site called 4tube.com featuring Tila in a very compromising adult position with a naked man.
Tila doesn't know why the video is surfacing now, but she claims it was ripped from a laptop that she reported stolen roughly two years ago -- and now she's threatening to sue the site for posting the clip.
TMZ spoke with Tila's lawyer, Cyrus Nownejad, who told us, "A police report has been filed for Tila's stolen laptop computer which contained that specific clip. I am currently in the process of sending a cease and desist letter and a notice of intent to sue if it's not removed."
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Exclusives, Tila Tequila
Tags: lawsuit, naked tape, NakedTape, sex tape, SexTape, stolen laptop, StolenLaptop, tila tequila, TilaTequila, xxx
