2:00 PM PT --  A rep for American Airlines tells TMZ ... the company is taking responsibility for the incident, explaining, "This was a lapse in judgment by one of our employees."

AA adds, "We’re working closely with the TSA and speaking to the individuals involved to better understand what happened."

But the airline says the 50-minute delay wasn't ENTIRELY due to the Kimye incident ... saying, "It was delayed in part ... because a number of connecting bags were delayed getting to the aircraft."



Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are at the center of a TSA investigation following a major security violation at JFK yesterday ... but the TSA tells TMZ Kimye is NOT to blame.

We've learned ... K&K had taken a flight from Brazil to JFK on Tuesday, where the plan was to catch a connecting flight to Los Angeles. 

But once they landed in NY, the couple met up with an airline greeter ... who, according to the TSA, allowed them to bypass a key security checkpoint to get them to their next flight as quickly as possible.

After Kim and Kanye took their seats on the L.A.-bound plane ... a TSA agent yanked them off the flight ... and made K&K go through another layer of security.

We're told the plane was delayed for roughly an hour while the couple was screened by TSA agents.

Now, the TSA tells us it wasn't Kim and Kanye's fault ...explaining, "An airline employee escorted the two travelers through a non-public area in order to provide expedited access to their domestic flight."

"In doing so, the airline employee violated security protocols by permitting the travelers to by-pass the TSA security checkpoint. TSA officials learned of the violation and conducted a private screening of the two passengers in the area of the jetway."

"The passengers were cleared to board their flight, which departed after a delay of approximately 50 minutes. TSA is actively investigating the incident."

The couple ultimately touched down in L.A. ... where they were greeted by a gaggle of paparazzi ... but seemed incredibly calm considering all they had been through.

Kanye West and Kim Kardashian are definitely below Will Smith ... at the hotel they are all staying at in Rio de Janeiro.

While Kim and Kanye took what appears to be selfies on their hotel balcony on Monday, Will and a pal enjoyed the view from the room one floor above them.

Earlier in the week, Kim, Kanye and Will were all spotted together on a local walking tour.

The three of them are in town celebrating the world famous Carnival festival which ends today on Fat Tuesday.

An $11,000,000 mansion in Bel Air might be enough for some people, but not Kim Kardashian and Kanye West ... because TMZ has learned they have their sights set on buying THREE other multi-million dollar mansions across the globe.

As TMZ first reported, KK and KW plunked down a huge chunk of change to build a 14,000-square-foot pad in an über-private, gated community in Bel Air, CA.

But sources close to the couple tell TMZ they aren't stopping there. We're told they plan to buy homes in New York, Miami and Paris too -- and, no it's not a coincidence those are all centers of the fashion industry. Also, the Kardashians have DASH stores in all, but Paris.

Kim and Kanye have been in Brazil the last few days, and there are rumors they're looking to scoop up a home there too -- but we're told that wasn't the plan ... they were just meeting an architect they might hire for their Bel Air pad.

However, our sources say the Brazil trip has been so enjoyable ... they're now open to buying a place there too. 

Must be nice.

The unusual trio of Kanye West, Kim Kardashian and Will Smith took a walking tour of Brazil together today. 

It got us wondering ...

Kim Kardashian struck a pose today in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ... in front of the famous statue of Jesus Christ, Christ the Redeemer.

This is as close to a virgin birth as Kim will ever get.

Kim Kardashian says she wants a divorce because it "will help create a new, full life for me" ... this according to new legal docs.

Kim filed a declaration in her divorce case obtained by TMZ, complaining to the judge that Kris Humphries is not only standing in the way of her happiness, but threatening her health and welfare, and "also ... the health and well-being of my unborn child." We broke the story, her doctor is concerned as well.

Kim scoffs at Kris' claim she defrauded him in the marriage, and says it's actually Kris who is screwing with her life. She says she wants a divorce so she can move on with her life, and "the same should hold true for [Kris].

Kim notes Kanye is eager to sign a Voluntary Declaration of Paternity when their child is born, but he won't be able to if she's still married to Kris.

And Kim is citing some stories claiming Kris is saying he now has "all the power" and that "he is in control of my misery."

Kim Kardashian's doctor thinks Kim's unborn baby may be at risk, because of the stress Kris Humphries is causing by dragging out their divorce ... TMZ has learned.

Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ ... several days ago Kim called her doctor in the middle of the night to come to the house because she was having severe pains.  The doctor examined her, but then warned he believed the problems were largely stress-related.

Sources say ... the only significant stress in her life right now is the divorce.  And hours before her meeting Tuesday with her lawyer, disso-queen Laura Wasser, Kim's pains returned in full force.

The doctor warned Kim she needs to handle the stress or else there could be "long-term effects."  The doctor did not elaborate, but we're told Kim is freaked out her baby may be at risk.

Kim's mom Kris Jenner appeared on "The View" this morning, saying, "Kim has been going through this divorce for months. She has been under a lot of stress because of it and the doctors told her you’ve had a really tough week and the stress could become a problem if she isn't careful."

Kris Humphries just filed legal docs saying he doesn't understand the urgency for a quick divorce, and he shouldn't have to jump just because Kim Kardashian got accidentally knocked up.

Kris' lawyer, Marshall Waller, says in the docs, "What is really going on here is that an 'urgency' in the form of an apparently unplanned pregnancy, something [Humphries] had nothing to do with, is perceived by [Kim] as an opportunity to gain a litigation advantage by trying to force this court to prematurely set this matter for trial."

And get this ... after the word "pregnancy" there's a footnote that reads, "Indeed, why would [Kim] plan to get pregnant in the midst of divorce proceedings?" 

Translation -- Waller thinks Kim is putting a gun to his client's head, which is bizarre because the divorce has dragged on for well over a year for a marriage that lasted 72 days.

Waller says Kim shouldn't worry about the legal presumption that Kris is the father of Kim's kid because she got pregnant while they were still married -- Waller says Kris is happy to stipulate he's not the daddy.

Kris says in the docs he wants to be present for Kim's deposition and has a right to be there, but due to his work schedule he's unavailable until mid-May or June.

We're guessing the judge is going to lose patience at the trial setting conference and set the divorce trial for March.

Kim Kardashian's unborn kid is proving to be a big star ... as the growing fetus made a splash by bulging out of her belly on Wednesday.

With her lovely girls also on display and busting through her sheer tank, Kim and her baby bump went for a late prenatal workout in L.A. last night.

Kim's making sure she is fit to be a mom.

Kim Kardashian does not plan to tie the knot with Kanye West -- at least not yet -- but she is angry and frustrated that Kris Humphries is putting her in a position where she may have a baby with one man while still married to another.

Sources connected to Kim tell TMZ ... she does not feel the need to marry Kanye, even though she's having his baby. But she does not want to be legally married to Kris Humphries when she gives birth. 

Our sources say ... Kim feels Kris is being "spiteful and vindictive" in dragging out the divorce -- which has dragged on for nearly a year-and-a-half -- for no reason. We're told with all the depositions and paperwork, there's been no evidence presented by either side suggesting Kim defrauded Kris when she agreed to marry him.

Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ ... people in Kris' life are now urging him to just settle and walk away. But here's the problem ... Both sides have now incurred big attorney's fees, and we're told Kim believes so strongly Kris' legal challenge is so bogus that she wants him to foot her lawyer's bills.

If they can't settle, the judge will set a trial date next month.  Kim's lawyer, disso-queen Laura Wasser, estimates a trial would take a grand total of 1 day. Kris' lawyer thinks it's more like 5 days, because he wants to put reality TV on trial.

Stay tuned.

While their brand new $11 million Bel Air starter home is being renovated, mom-to-be Kim Kardashian and boyfriend Kanye West fled to France and hit the streets of gay Paree for a little shopping on Tuesday.

Kim made sure to hide any signs of her growing baby bump by wearing a chic and slimming black maternity poncho jacket thing.

Ball so hard.