Posted Jul 9th 2009 7:15PM by TMZ Staff
According to Michael Jackson, the release of imprisoned reporters Laura Ling and Euna Lee hinged on one question: Is Kim Jong Il a "Thriller" fan?
On his blog, Gotham Chopra -- friend to MJ and the reporters -- says Jackson called him three weeks ago asking how he could help. Jackson thought Jong Il would let them go if he talked to him ... provided the North Korean leader was a fan.
One reason why Michael thought Jong Il could be a devotee: "You know, he wears jackets like mine."
Gotham told Jackson he'd look into it -- but Michael died before the plan could get off the ground.
Posted Jul 9th 2009 7:05PM by TMZ Staff
Adnan Ghalib, Britney Spears' former boyfriend, will stand trial for felony assault with a deadly weapon, battery and hit-and-run, because a judge just decided there's enough evidence to prosecute him.
Adnan's preliminary hearing just ended, after the alleged victim -- Ram Moskowitz -- testified how the photog struck him with a car after Ram tried serving him with legal papers.
Adnan did not testify. He'll be arraigned on July 23. If convicted Adnan faces 7 years in prison.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Britney Spears
Posted Jul 9th 2009 6:20PM by TMZ Staff
While in Italy for the G8 summit, President Barack Obama checked out the, er, sights.
The Prez should know you never look back, only forward.
Filed under: Paparazzi Photo, Barack Obama, Politix
Posted Jul 9th 2009 6:00PM by TMZ Staff
The battle over the cost of Michael Jackson's memorial has officially begun -- as an L.A. city councilman and the president of AEG traded licks today about who's responsible for the ceremony's hefty price tag.
Councilman Dennis Zine told KTTV today that taxpayers "are getting ripped off" because AEG made $50,000 by charging the media to use risers outside the venue. Zine said AEG should grow a pair and cough up some cash.
AEG President Tim Leiweke immediately swung back, saying Zine was out of line because the company helped secure funds for the L.A. Lakers championship parade last month.
So the question is...
Filed under: Michael Jackson
Posted Jul 9th 2009 5:23PM by TMZ Staff
Talk about a morbid coincidence: 3 months before he was killed in an apparent murder-suicide, NFL QB Steve McNair filmed a suicide prevention PSA.
The spot hasn't aired -- and the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities says they won't be releasing it because it is now "not only inappropriate but doesn't serve the community."
Filed under: Talk Sports, Steve McNair
Posted Jul 9th 2009 5:15PM by TMZ Staff
Married almost four years, Ashton Kutcher, 31, and Demi Moore, 46, still have the toned and taut physiques of college kids on spring break.
The Ugly Truth: Most people's bods go downhill after getting hitched.
Filed under: Hook-Ups, Paparazzi Photo, Hot Bodies, Ashton & Demi
Posted Jul 9th 2009 5:01PM by TMZ Staff
Turns out America's favorite pitchman, the late Billy Mays, will live on after his death -- and it's all thanks to a commercial he filmed that has yet to hit the airwaves. The product: Mighty Tape.
Media Enterprises -- the company behind the Mighty Brand products Mays is best known for selling -- announced they'll start airing Billy's last commercial on July 20.
In regards to airing the commercial posthumously, the president of Mighty Brand said, "This is what he would have wanted."
Considering Billy's pallbearers wore OxiClean shirts during his funeral -- we'd say that's a safe bet.
Filed under: Billy Mays
Posted Jul 9th 2009 4:44PM by TMZ Staff
Reese Witherspoon is cruisin' for a bruisin' ... under her eye.
Jake Gyllenhaal's 33-year-old girlfriend was sportin' a bit of a shiner under her left eye in Brentwood yesterday.
Looks like "Just Like Heaven" is no longer the only black eye on her resume.
Update: Reese's rep tells us the injury occurred during softball practice for her latest film.
Filed under: Paparazzi Photo, Beauty, Jake Gyllenhaal, Nurse!
Posted Jul 9th 2009 4:40PM by TMZ Staff
Check out these pics of Michael Jackson's 2003 grocery store shopping spree -- the one where his friend shut down a Publix supermarket so he could "shop like everyone else and put things in a basket."
We also have some cute shots of MJ hangin' out with the kids.
Filed under: Michael Jackson, Photo Galleries
Posted Jul 9th 2009 4:10PM by TMZ Staff
WARNING: Dogs or babies with developing ear drums should not watch the following video of Robert Pattinson ... not that they normally would.
Those rabid "Twilight" fans are ridiculously devoted -- and extremely loud.
Filed under: Twilight, Rob Pattinson
Posted Jul 9th 2009 3:30PM by TMZ Staff
People are going nuts over Raven-Symoné's newborn baby -- there are pictures circulating of the tiny tike and she already has a name: Lilliana Pearman.
Too bad Raven doesn't have a kid.
Her rep just put the rampant, ridiculous baby rumors to rest by giving us the following statement:
"Raven-Symoné is not pregnant nor did she give birth."
Filed under: Gossip/Rumors, Baby Watch
Posted Jul 9th 2009 3:02PM by TMZ Staff
A lucky fan seized the day and shook Brad Pitt's hand while he was stopped at a red light on Hollywood Blvd. yesterday -- while a van full of tourists simultaneously bore a hole through the back of Pitt's golden helmet.
He should be used to stopping traffic by now.
Filed under: Paparazzi Photo, Brad & Angelina
Posted Jul 9th 2009 2:50PM by TMZ Staff
Paris Hilton is ready to fight accusations that she's a huge flake -- she just arrived at a courthouse in Miami accompanied by a team of lawyers.
Paris is being sued by film investors who claim she failed to promote the DVD release of her 2006 flick "Pledge This!" -- meanwhile no one has sued the film investors for putting out a movie starring Paris Hilton.
She's being sued for more than $8 million and is expected to take the stand tomorrow.
Filed under: Paris Hilton
Posted Jul 9th 2009 2:19PM by TMZ Staff
Debbie Matenopoulos and Jay Faires' divorce is never gonna end -- and it's all over their $4.3 million house.
In papers filed today in L.A. County Superior Court, Jay is begging the court for permission to sell their L.A. home because he can't keep up with the mortgage payments, property taxes and other expenses.
Jay claims he can't unload the house until the former co-host of "The View" agrees, but she's been stalling.
Filed under: Dirty Divorces
Posted Jul 9th 2009 1:58PM by TMZ Staff
Maybe it's true love, maybe it's for the welfare of the child, or maybe it's because of the title of his new show -- whatever it is, Patricia Arquette has called off her divorce to Thomas Jane.
Arquette filed for divorce back in January, citing irreconcilable differences -- apparently they were, in fact, reconcilable. She filed legal docs today asking that the divorce petition be dismissed.
And Patricia's change of heart is a good thing for Thomas: Arquette was repped by disso-queen Laura Wasser -- which means he would have been on food stamps by the time she was done with him.
Filed under: Dirty Divorces
