TMZ.com Home

R. Kelly just filed legal docs blasting his alleged victims, referring to them as "disgruntled groupies."

The singer's docs ask a federal judge to release him before his pending trial. His lawyers say he does not represent a threat, because they claim the allegations against him are bogus. In explaining their position, they say the "groupies sought out Robert's attention, even fought each other for it, voluntarily contacted him, came to his shows, pined to be with him ..."

R. Kelly's lawyer, Douglas Anton, doesn't stop there. He claims in the doc the government is trying to paint a picture of a nefarious pattern, but it all amounts to "five disgruntled groupies, not all of which are alleged to be underage, who now show groupie remorse so many years later and only after a TV Show and an aggressive, vocal Cook County prosecutor makes a public cry for 'victims come forth,' tell your story and be famous."

And, there's more ... R. Kelly's team zeroes in on one of the alleged victims who was not a minor when she first had contact with him. They say she came to his door and "wanted him so much that she alleges that she did not require or even request that a condom be used." As for her allegation Kelly gave her herpes ... Kelly's lawyers say she was "admittedly promiscuous," and the feds never looked into how many other sexual partners she had.

A coach of an all-female football team got into a HEATED argument with his quarterback ... and got so pissed during the altercation, he threw a chair across the locker room!!!

It all went down at the Legends Football League game on July 20 ... when Chicago head coach Sidney Lewis flipped out after the Bliss suffered an 8-6 loss to the Nashville Knights.

Lewis was ticked off over the team's play -- the Bliss had 4 fumbles, 2 INTs and 3 penalties in the loss -- and he was LAYING INTO his team for the poor performance.

Turns out, quarterback Chaz Duson took some exception to the comments ... and the two got into it.

At one point, Lewis was so pissed over the altercation -- he grabbed a chair and HURLED it into a wall!!!

Then, Lewis got face-to-face with the QB ... and had to ultimately be restrained by other players before the camera cut out.

It's been a brutal year for the Bliss -- they lost all four of their games this season and won't be making the playoffs.

A$AP Rocky's bodyguard absolutely choked the hell out of the alleged victim in Sweden -- it's clear as day in this surveillance video -- but the video also presents a flaw in the prosecution's case.

This video was captured before the street brawl broke out, AND before the alleged victim, Mustafa Jafari, threw a punch at the bodyguard. It's pretty brutal ... the massive hired muscle grabs Jafari by his throat, lifts him off the ground and tosses him down the street.

What's puzzling is ... why clear the bodyguard? When prosecutors announced Jafari would not be charged for punching the bodyguard, they said he was acting in self-defense. Sooo, if he's defending himself, why not charge the guy attacking him? Especially when there's such clear video evidence like this.

Moments after the choking, Jafari swung a punch at the bodyguard and then hit him with his headphones.

Nikki Bella says she's "so happy" John Cena has found love again ... but don't expect the old couple to break bread together with their new partners anytime soon.

As we previously reported ... Cena was spotted makin' out with his new GF, Shay Shariatzadeh, on a steamy date in Tampa over the weekend.

TMZ Sports spoke with Bella -- who's now dating dancer Artem Chigvintsev -- about her ex's new romance .... and she's showing a lot of love for Cena.

"Oh my gosh, so happy for him," Bella says.

Of course -- Cena and Bella dated for years before breaking up in July 2018. John didn't give up on the relationship without a fight though ... he publicly pleaded to get Nikki back.

But, that's all old news and both sides have moved on ... and Nikki says she's down to be friends with Cena.

But, as for a double date with Artem, John and Shay??? Probably not gonna happen.

Kanye West is bringing an incredible architectural concept to the hills of Calabasas -- doing studies and developments to change the industry -- and the prototypes are now springing up with an eye toward making them new age homes.

Sources familiar with the project tell TMZ ... Kanye is building dome-like structures that are prototypes for a new type of home ... homes he believes will break the barriers that separate classes ... namely, the rich, the middle class and the poor.

We got the first images of Kanye's plan to revolutionize housing. The project sits on a portion of land Kanye bought a few years back ... 300 acres in all. His plan is to create a housing community, but until now the butcher paper covered the canvas -- it was a well-guarded secret.

Construction crews have been hard at work at the Calabasas site for weeks ... with trucks, cranes and dozens of workers coming in and out. The dome-like structures each stand around 50 feet high.

Our Kanye sources say the project is in an "early state" but the vibe is there ... to make new housing communities the world can enjoy. We're told Ye and his team are studying dwellings "from every period of man's existence on earth." Those who have visited the property say the proportions feel otherworldly.

Kanye has been an innovator in music, touring and is the founder of the billion-dollar Yeezy brand ... and has now ventured into land development.

We're told the domes and living spaces will be "dynamic" ... something that has become Kanye's stock-in-trade. The Calabasas home he shares with Kim is considered an architectural masterpiece with what some have called a revolutionary use of space.

John Legend is going to war with President Trump, the gloves are off and it's a full-on street fight ... the singer is calling the President a 'piece of s***' and a canker sore on this country.

The EGOT winner was leaving Peppermint nightclub Tuesday night in WeHo, where he was coming in hot on DT on the way out -- and it's truly something to behold. We know John isn't a fan of the Prez, but we've never seen him swinging quite like this.

He lashes out in a profanity-laced tirade against Trump, and it appears his recent comments about Baltimore and its representative in Congress, Elijah Cummings, is what set him off.

ICYMI ... Trump called Baltimore a "disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess" over the weekend, as well as a "dangerous & filthy place" -- criticizing Rep. Cummings for bashing the southern border sitch instead of tending to his own district. He's doubled down since then.

Trump's latest perceived attacks against people of color seems to be the final straw for John -- who absolutely insists to our camera guy ... "We need to get him out of office."

Pro Football Hall of Famer Nick Buoniconti -- who famously launched a charity to cure paralysis -- has died after a struggle with dementia. He was 78.

Buoniconti was a stud linebacker at Notre Dame who was drafted by the Boston Patriots of the AFL in 1962 ... but went on to become a superstar for the Miami Dolphins from 1969 to 1976.

During his career, Buoniconti racked up 2 Super Bowl rings, made 2 Pro Bowls and was a 6-time AFL All Star. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2001.

Buoniconti believed he suffered from CTE due to his football career and in 2017 he announced that he would donate his brain for research purposes after his death.

During an interview, Buoniconti once said of his condition, "I’m positive that football caused this ... I always loved [the game]. I still do. But I’m paying the price."

Nick famously launched The Buoniconti Fund after his son, Marc, became paralyzed during a college football game in 1985. The Fund helped launch the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, which has become one of the global leaders in neurological research.

Nick and Marc were famously featured on an episode of HBO's "Real Sports."

Nick also hosted "Inside the NFL" from 1980 until 2001.

And get this, while playing for the Patriots, Nick earned his law degree and became a sports agent who represented a bunch of MLB players ... including Andre Dawson.

Yankees legendary owner George Steinbrenner once said Nick was the toughest negotiator he ever faced.

Long story short, Nick lived a pretty amazing life and will be missed.

Sorry, Bradley-Gaga romance theorists, but Lady Gaga's clearly got her eyes -- and lips -- on another guy altogether ... the studio engineer she was sucking face with during brunch.

Gaga wasn't trying to hide it from anyone Sunday when she plopped down on her sidewalk table at Granville restaurant in Studio City. The dude she was locking lips with is Dan Horton, who's reportedly worked with LG on recordings years ago. He's also worked with Bruno Mars, Justin Timberlake and Camila Cabello ... so he's got plenty of cred in the biz.

It's unclear how serious they are but they looked pretty stoked during their date, which included some super close-up conversation -- and, of course, the kissing.

It's the first time Gaga's been out showing PDA with anyone since she and agent Christian Carino called off their engagement in February ... ending a 2-year relationship.

When Bradley Cooper and Irina Shayk broke up, "A Star is Born" fans were buzzing that life was about to imitate art.

Cardi B did not take the stage in Indianapolis Tuesday because of a security issue that threatened the rapper's safety as well as the venue she was supposed to perform at ... TMZ has learned.

Cardi was supposed to perform at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in downtown Indy, but less than an hour before the sold-out show was scheduled to begin, the concert was postponed ... leaving tons of fans angry, upset and wondering what the hell was going on.

Cops put out a release saying, "This evening, there was a scheduled concert at Bankers Life. We were notified of an unverified threat to the artist and the artist canceled this evening’s concert - there is no immediate threat to public safety, this not an active incident. Ongoing investigation."

The venue says Cardi's show has been rescheduled for Sept. 11.

Cardi was inside the venue for soundcheck prior to the show, and posted a message to her fans after the announcement, issuing a heartfelt apology.

Cardi had another show postponed earlier this year in Baltimore ... but that was because she couldn't perform due to health issues from her recent plastic surgeries.

Logic is getting ready to walk down the aisle again ... because we've learned he and his fiancee just got a marriage license.

Sources close to the rapper and Brittney Noell tell TMZ ... the couple took a trip to a courthouse earlier this month and got the necessary paperwork to tie the knot.

No word on when they'll make it official -- or if they already have -- but licenses are typically pulled shortly before the nuptials. A marriage license is good for 90 days ... so the clock's ticking.

Logic and Brittney have been keeping their relationship very private. It looks like she had her bachelorette party in San Diego back in June ... and you can clearly see her engagement ring in some photos from her bachelorette weekend.

Brittney's done some modeling and she's got her own clothing line ... so Logic has quite the catch.

As we first reported ... Logic and Brittney met in early 2018, and he took her with him on a private jet for a show in Vegas in April, shortly after pulling the plug on his marriage to Jessica Andrea.

TMZ broke the story ... Logic finalized his divorce with Jessica in September, and he got to keep their home in Tarzana.

'Bachelor' alum Jade Roper Tolbert delivered her child in the strangest of places ... her bedroom closet!!!

Jade, who is married to fellow 'Bachelor' alum Tanner Tolbert, says she suddenly went into labor Monday night at her home ... but she couldn't make it out of the house, let alone to a hospital, so she gave birth in the closet in her master bedroom!!!

As you can see ... Jade is surrounded by medics and firefighters, holding her newborn son as she sits in her closet, surrounded by shoes, clothes and drawers. A wild scene, for sure.

Jade says it was one of the scariest moments of her life ... and she's still trying to process what the hell happened.

The good news ... Jade and Tanner's baby boy is healthy ... and he was 7 lbs., 9 oz and 20 inches long at birth.

Jade and Tanner met on the second season of "Bachelor in Paradise" ... and they have another child together, one-year-old Emmy. But, she was NOT born in a closet.

Casey Kasem's widow is in the market for a new business manager ... 'cause her last one allegedly flew into a violent rage and threatened to kill her.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... the incident went down around 10 AM last Friday in Jean Kasem's L.A. home. We're told her business manager, John Gressy, got furious because Jean was giving money to her daughter, Liberty Kasem.

Gressy's rampage allegedly included throwing dishes and a vase at Jean, and we're told she was struck at least once and needed to be taken to a hospital for minor injuries. He also allegedly threatened to kill Jean, her lawyer and Liberty ... who was in the home and called 911.

John locked himself in a room, but when police arrived they arrested him for felony criminal threats. We're told he could be hit with more charges -- such as assault and/or battery -- once the case is submitted to the L.A. County District Attorney.

Jean's rep, Edward Lozzi, tells us there's no truth to any rumors Gressy and Jean were in any kind of "intimate or personal relationship."

Jean, of course, now has this to deal with on top of her legal drama with Casey's kids. As we reported ... she's been locked in a nearly 4-year legal battle with the family over Casey's estate.

She had also alleged Casey's kids conspired to kill the radio legend for his money, but an investigation cleared them.

Jorge Masvidal has a message for Conor McGregor -- LET'S FIGHT!!!

The 34-year-old UFC superstar is on a tear right now ... he destroyed Darren Till in March and put Ben Askren to sleep in 5 seconds earlier this month and the fans have been calling on Dana White to match up Jorge with Conor.

And, guess what ... when we spoke with Masvidal, he told us he's ALL THE WAY DOWN -- if Conor wants to make it happen.

There was no trash talking ... there was no disrespect -- just one professional fighter telling another professional fighter that he's ready, willing and able to sit down and hash out a deal.

"I got good things to say about Conor," Jorge told TMZ Sports ... "He's done a lot in the sport and he's made his money already and if he feels he's not getting the money he deserves to come back, man I'm gonna be the first one to applaud him and be like do your thing my brother."

But ... "If he wants to come back and he wants somebody that's gonna stand with him and give him the type of fights that he likes, look no further my brother!"

Jorge says there's one BIG catch ... he doesn't want to have to "flirt" with Conor to bait him into the fight.

"Let's just scrap if were gonna scrap ... and if not, NEXT!"

Of course, Dana White recently told us he did NOT want to make the Masvidal vs. McGregor fight because Conor is too small physically to be fighting someone Jorge's size.

FYI, Jorge's last fight was at 170. Conor's last fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov was at 155.

But, Jorge thinks Dana's assessment is wrong -- insisting their natural weights are closer than people think. Conor also told Dana recently the "too big" argument is BS.

Besides, if they DO fight ... Jorge says he expects the two to stand and bang -- giving the fans the kind of violent show they've been begging for.

"He knows I'm only going for one thing on him -- the off button. I'm not going in there to outpoint him or nothing."

Masvidal ended with one final message to the Irishman ...

Well before this happy little gal was winning an Oscar and crushing it at the box office as a badass superhero, she got her first major role on television as the youngest daughter of Bob Saget's character on the sitcom, "Raising Dad."

After a short-lived music career in her teens that included the release of the pop single, "She Said," she returned to playing a TV daughter on a critically-acclaimed dramedy starring Toni Collette.

A year later, she costarred in the action-comedy "21 Jump Street" and kept working her way up in the movie biz ... before winning the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2016. Now ... she's the latest star in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

HERE'S THE RUNDOWN

Cameron Boyce suffered a sudden, unexpected death due to epilepsy ... according to the Medical Examiner, confirming what we already knew about the young Disney superstar.

The L.A. County M.E.'s report also says Cameron did not have any drugs or alcohol in his system ... except for Keppra -- which is an epilepsy medication.

We broke the story ... Cameron's offical cause of death was deferred on his death certificate until the medical examiner's office could complete its investigation. The report says the 20-year-old developed non-traumatic epilepsy about 3 years ago ... and had "several major seizures" over the years.

As we told you, despite suffering epileptic seizures for a long time ... Cameron was able to achieve great acting success in both TV and in movies. The M.E.'s report says his seizures typically occurred months apart.

Boyce suffered the fatal seizure on July 6 and died in his sleep. Our sources told us his roommate found him unresponsive, and when paramedics arrived they could not revive him. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Cameron's death led to heartfelt tributes from many celebrities, including Michelle Obama, who said, "not only did he have incredible talent, but also an incredible heart."

His family says his spirit will live on through "the kindness and compassion of all who knew and loved him." It's already evident -- the actor's favorite charity has raised thousands since his death in his honor ... with some help from his movie dad, Adam Sandler.