Carrie Prejean -- the dethroned Miss California USA -- is in meltdown mode because of a solo sex tape.
Prejean -- who made headlines for her stand against gay marriage and her strong ties to fundamentalist religion -- is supposed to appear on "Today" next week to push her new book.. "Today" producers have called TMZ, making it clear the interview has changed and they want details on the sex tape.
TMZ has also received calls from CNN, FOX and various other outlets asking for info.
The reason they're all calling TMZ -- we obtained the tape several months ago but decided not to run it because it was too racy.
As we first reported, Prejean and Miss California USA officials had sued each other and were in settlement talks last week. Sources tell us Prejean was demanding more than $1 million but when Pageant officials showed her they had a copy of the tape, it took less than a minute for Prejean to fold and walk away with nothing in her pocket.
Prejean had sued the Pageant for allegedly firing her because of her beliefs and disclosing confidential information about her -- including her breast implants. The Pageant countersued, claiming Prejean had repeatedly violated the terms of being Miss Cali USA.
The reason the tape became such a smoking gun -- under Pageant rules, all contestants signed forms that gave assurance they had no nude videos or pictures in their past.
Chris Jericho Slurs Speech
WWE star Chris Jericho is wrestling with a pretty serious controversy -- after he made a slew of offensive slurs against Middle Easterners and gays.
Jericho was at the Sacramento Horror Film Festival two weeks ago ... for a screening of a movie in which he appears. During a Q&A session, Jericho referred to the moderator several times as "Hadji" -- a term sometimes used as a racial slur against Middle Easterners.
After the first wave of slurs -- and a random shot at Paris Hilton -- the host jokingly takes Jericho's drink to sniff it for booze, when Chris chimes back, "it's apple juice ... fag."
Jericho tells TMZ, "After seeing the video I realize some inappropriate comments were made and I apologize if I offended anybody." Jericho continues, "Just know that everyone on stage was having a blast and we all shared a drink and a laugh after! The good news is I got my wish of being posted on TMZ."
Yes you did, Chris.
Jude Law ... THIS IS YOUR BABY
Samantha Burke says Jude Law has yet to meet his six-week-old baby girl ... but if he happens to look through Burke's photos on Facebook, at least he'll know what little Sophia Lee looks like if he ever runs into her down the road.
Celebrity Park People
Public parks are a great place for stars to have a picnic, soak up some rays ... and dodge the occasional stranger danger.
You Belong in the Circus!
Step right up ... and check out the oddities of Hollywood -- we've got bearded ladies, tight rope walkers, jugglers and a half-woman/ half-fish!
And the best part ... no animals were harmed in the making of our circus!
Who's Your Daddy?
Can you guess whose famous genes spawned these cute kids?
Stretched Out
Celebrity faces aren't the only thing getting a good stretch in Hollywood. Yoga has become the new "IN" thing!
The Celebrity Costume Contest has been narrowed down to these final three -- and now we need your help deciding which celebrity snapshot will win the $250 prize and some mystery gifts from TMZ!
TMZ's Wack-O Jack-O-Lantern Contest has been narrowed down to these final five -- and now we need your help deciding which of these pumpkin pics will land the $250 prize and some super secret TMZ mystery prizes!
Michael Jackson's death was a traumatic event for many people -- and apparently it's also the reason Dr. Conrad Murray can't take care of his kid.
According to documents filed last week -- objecting to the pending arrest warrant against the Dr. for not paying his support -- Dr. Conrad Murray explains, "As a result of the media coverage of Michael Jackson's death, combined with the deleterious effects of the current recession, [Murray] was simply unable to meet his obligations."
In the docs, Murray's lawyer says the doctor has no intention to "evade his obligations." But he says Murray "is temporarily unable to maintain a practice or obtain employment because of the extensive media coverage related to the death of Michael Jackson."
Murray is asking the judge to allow him to make "minimal payments" for now while he looks for a job.
As we first reported, his baby mama Nenita Malibiran (who is the mother of his 10-year-old son) obtained a judgment last month for $13,311.47 for missed child support payments.
The skimpy pics in TMZ's Sexy Halloween Costume Contest have been narrowed down five -- and now we need your help deciding who should win the $250 prize and some great mystery gifts from TMZ!
Nicolas Cage, who has made untold millions over a long career, says his business manager has sent him "down a path toward financial ruin" and he wants $20 million minimum to repair the damage.
TMZ has obtained a copy of a lawsuit, filed in L.A. County Superior Court, in which Cage claims Samuel Levin -- his business manager -- was so reckless and incompetent with his money, that he has now been forced to sell off major assets and investments and is faced with gigantic tax liabilities.
In the lawsuit, Cage -- who according to Forbes earned $40 mil between June 2008 and June 2009 -- claims over a period of seven years, "Levin placed Cage in numerous highly speculative and risky real estate investments, resulting in Cage suffering catastrophic losses."
Cage also claims Levin failed to pay taxes when they were due. As TMZ first reported, the IRS has filed liens against the actor for more than $6 million in back taxes.
Cage claims it was only this year, after firing Levin, he learned "the gravity of his financial condition."
In the lawsuit, filed by legal pit bull Marty Singer, Cage claims Levin never advised him of his financial bottom line and is guilty of "over-extending [Cage's] line of credit with banks and financial institutions." The suit claims Levin concealed Cage's "true financial condition prior to investments and assets being acquired by [Cage]." Translation -- Levin never told Cage to put the brakes on buying stuff because he was running out of money.
And, for bad measure, Cage claims he paid Levin millions and was "grossly" overcharged for his services.