TMZ.com Home

Congressman Matt Gaetz sure is feeling himself after leading the blitz of House Republicans into private impeachment hearings -- delaying them for hours -- and he's glowing about scoring brownie points with POTUS.

We got the Florida Rep. on Capitol Hill, shortly after members of his Freedom Caucus ignored protocol and barged into a secure facility Wednesday, where Adam Schiff was conducting a closed-door deposition as part of President Trump's impeachment inquiry.

Gaetz compared his move to the Spartans in the the 2006 movie, "300." Seriously, you gotta see how pumped he was -- we fully expected him to shout, "This ... is ... Washington!!!"

Gerard Butler Matt adds that he thinks their mission was accomplished for now. He says they demonstrated the Prez deserves due process, and Dems should provide transparency.

As for Trump, Gaetz says he hasn't spoken to him yet about the stunt he pulled with fellow Republicans, but he expects a strong reaction from the Oval. He went beyond gushing when we asked about his and Trump's relationship.

We asked if he's planning more demonstrations, and if he's willing to get arrested. Gaetz didn't flinch and, in fact, made a laughing reference to his 2008 DUI bust.

One thing he was NOT down to joke about ... comparing his sit-in protest to the so-called Brooks Brothers riot during Florida's 2000 election recount.

Joe Francis was nearly taken in Mexico when several men with guns busted into a home, took everyone's money ... and attempted to kidnap Joe and a group of friends.

Sources close to the "Girls Gone Wild" founder tell TMZ ... he was at the home of one of his neighbors in Punta Mita on October 16 -- with about 20 other people -- when at least 5 armed men stormed in, threatening to take hostages.

We're told Joe and the others, mostly staff working at the house, were tied up with wire and robbed. Our sources say shortly after this, neighborhood security had a scuffle with the gunmen, who fled the area ... until police spotted them.

Law enforcement sources tell us ... cops got an anonymous call that morning from another residence near Joe's, claiming 4 suspicious-looking people were spotted inside the home.

We're told 2 patrol cars with armed officers were sent to the scene and found 4 people making a run for it. Cops gave chase, but 3 of the 4 perps got away. It's unclear if the captured suspect was arrested or charged yet.

Our sources say military personnel also responded to the incident, and discarded guns and masks were discovered at nearby property. We're told the robbery victims believed the assailants planned to kidnap them.

Rapper Blueface can breathe a sigh of relief ... he will NOT be prosecuted in his felony gun case ... TMZ has learned.

Blueface appeared in an L.A. court Wednesday afternoon where a court official tells us his case was tossed due to insufficient evidence. That's obviously great news for the rapper ... who had his suspicions about the case from the get-go.

TMZ broke the story ... Blueface claimed the LAPD targeted him because he's black. LAPD had initially said they were in DTLA patrolling an area ravaged by burglaries and they were there to offer protection. The concern, cops said, was that there were robberies in that area by gang members and cops were worried the rappers were easy targets.

LAPD had said Blueface and several others scattered and tossed their guns when they saw cops arriving ... but Blueface from the start called BS. His lawyer said Blueface was never in possession of a firearm.

Bottom line ... it's now case closed.

Lizzo's going to war -- a legal war -- with three songwriters who've been making a lot of noise, claiming they wrote parts of her #1 hit ... but Lizzo says that's BS.

Lizzo filed legal docs Wednesday in federal court asking a judge to declare the 3 men have no copyright on "Truth Hurts," and no right to share in the song's immense profits.

You've probably seen this bubbling up on social media. One of the songwriters -- Justin Raisen -- has claimed he cowrote a song called "Healthy" with Lizzo last year. He claims Lizzo lifted the signature lyric, "I just took a DNA test turns out I'm 100% that bitch" from "Healthy."

According to the docs, obtained by TMZ, Lizzo says that line is actually from a 2017 tweet that became a popular meme -- and that's why she decided to sing it on the 'Truth' demo. On social media, Lizzo said producer Ricky Reed was the only other person in the room when she wrote 'Truth.'

She says Justin and his brother, Jeremiah, and their reps have on at least 2 occasions acknowledged in writing they have no claim to 'Truth.'

Lizzo suspects they are trying to set up an "opportunistic" lawsuit to cash in on her hit ... which has been #1 for 7 weeks.

This is the best video you'll see today!!!

7-year-old Avante Leaozinho -- who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at 18 months -- had the time of his life hitting the ramps at a skate park with his mom ... and his reaction is perfect!!!

As it turns out, the skating fanatic has always wanted to hit the ramps, but his mother had difficulty finding a way to make it happen.

After several failed attempts with bikes and walkers, Avante's mom teamed up with SkateAnima, a company that specializes in assistance mechanisms for skaters with disabilities, to make Avante's dream come true ... and he loved every second of it.

The video is amazing ... Avante's mom pushes him throughout the skate park and up all the ramps ... and the smile on his face couldn't be bigger.

The video went super viral (for obvious reasons) ... and now the greatest skater EVER, Tony Hawk, has taken notice ... saying, "The stoke is contagious"!

Keep skating, Avante!!!

By the way, Tony also does a ton of work helping special needs skaters find a way to do what they love.

Earlier this month, he met with Renan Prasido -- a young skater with special needs -- after seeing an inspirational video of the kid hitting the ramps with his friends.

Rose McGowan is going after Harvey Weinstein and his former attornies ... claiming they conspired to smear her and discredit her rape allegations against the disgraced studio mogul.

According to legal docs obtained by TMZ ... McGowan claims "this case is about a diabolical and illegal effort by one of America's most powerful men and his representatives to silence sexual-assault victims."

McGowan -- who is also suing Weinstein's ex-lawyers, Lisa Bloom and David Boies -- claims back in 2016 she was going to write a memoir and motivational book called "Brave" that would include details about Weinstein allegedly raping her in 1997 at the Sundance Film Festival.

She then claims that when Weinstein learned about these plans, "he tapped into his team of fixers" with the goal of ensuring McGowan's story never saw the light of day ... "and -- if it did -- that no one would believe her."

McGowan then alleges Weinstein's lawyers -- in conjunction with the international spy agency, Black Cube -- worked together and "tried to steal McGowan's unpublished book" and attempted to buy her silence. She claims that Weinstein's plans were that if they couldn't stop her, they'd do everything in their power to ruin her reputation.

What's more ... she brought up what we had previously reported -- McGowan insisted Weinstein may have had a hand in having coke planted in her wallet back in 2017.

She claims, in docs, her lawyer, Jose Baez, advised her to drop that defense and instead plead no contest, which she did. McGowan says it's odd that 9 days after she pled no contest, Baez then signed up as Weinstein's criminal defense attorneys.

The actress, of course, is one of the first women to accuse Weinstein of sexually assaulting her. She helped spearhead the #MeToo Movement, which prompted scores of women to come forward.

McGown is suing for damages. A rep for Lisa Bloom tells us, "It is inexcusable that Ms. McGowan chose to include my client in her lawsuit. Facts matter. There is simply no credible factual or legal basis for her claims against my client. We look forward to our day in court to set the record straight."

We've reached out to Boies, so far, no word back.

Team USA soccer co-captain Alex Morgan is pregnant with a baby girl -- which means Team USA is probably gonna win the 2039 Women's World Cup!!!

The 30-year-old striker announced the big news Wednesday with her husband, L.A. Galaxy midfielder Servando Carrasco ... saying their baby girl is due in April 2020.

FYI, Morgan and 31-year-old Carrasco have been together for years and tied the knot on New Year's Eve back in 2014. This will be their first child together.

Obviously, the news is GREAT for their family but it means Morgan will likely put her playing career on hold for a bit. Besides her spot on Team USA, Morgan also plays for the Orlando Pride of the NWSL.

Both Alex and Servando Instagrammed about the news. Serv wrote, "Can’t wait to meet my baby girl."

Alex said, "We are already in love and we haven’t even met her yet. Newest member of the Carrasco family, coming soon."

Congrats!!!

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is getting a big fat check for her contributions to social justice and gender equality ... and she's paying it forward.

RBG was just announced the winner of the Berggruen Prize for Philosophy & Culture, given annually to folks who shape "human self-understanding and advancement." It has not been announced which charity the 86-year-old is donating her $1 million prize to.

The Notorious RBG, who has served on the Supreme Court since 1993, is scheduled to accept the award in December at the New York Public Library.

The Berggruen Institute, founded by billionaire philanthropist Nicolas Berggruen, cited RBG's honorable work before and during her tenure on the highest court in the land ... including authoring the first law textbook on gender discrimination and her efforts in the 1970s with the ACLU's Women's Rights Project.

We're guessing the recognition will add a little pep to RBG's step ... not that she needs it.

RBG's still plugging along after her 4th bout with cancer ... and when we spotted her in New York City last month, she was walking without assistance.

And, get this ... RBG told a crowd at UC Berkeley this week she never stopped working out during her fight with cancer, and she still does push-ups every day.

RBG ... an inspiration to us all.

Nelly is putting a sexual assault case behind him by reaching an agreement with his accuser to settle the matter out of court.

A woman in England had filed a lawsuit, about a year ago, against Nelly for allegedly sexually assaulting her after a 2017 concert in Essex. The accuser, who filed as Jane Doe, had claimed the rapper forced her to perform oral sex during a meet-and-greet.

According to docs filed Tuesday in federal court, and obtained by TMZ, the accuser has informed the judge that she and Nelly recently settled their dispute.

Neither side is saying whether money changed hands ... terms of the agreement are confidential.

Nelly's girlfriend, Shantel Jackson, is also in the clear now. The accuser had included her in the lawsuit, claiming Shantel lied when she dismissed the accuser as a liar.

Lamar Odom says he was an "immature punk" when he broke up with Taraji P. Henson back in the day ... admitting he had no idea how to tell her he was falling for another woman, Khloe Kardashian.

Odom and Taraji dated on the low in 2009 -- Lamar has previously credited Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt for helping them get together in the first place.

During a new interview for the TV One series "Uncensored," Odom admits he was head over heels for Henson ... at first.

"She was a little older than me, but I learned a lot from her because that was the most significant relationship as a grown-up that I had with a black woman."

"I used to carry her picture on the road with me," the ex-NBA star said ... "She gave me inspiration."

Odom says just thinking about Henson used to motivate him on the court -- things like "getting to see her" would motivate him to destroy teams.

So, where did things go wrong? When he met Khloe ...

Odom has said he felt it was love at first sight with KK (they married just 1 month after meeting) ... but Lamar didn't know to handle the situation with Taraji.

"Things ended with Taraji because of me being an immature punk. I didn't know how to tell her I was falling in love with another woman named Khloe Kardashian."

Odom doesn't say in the clip if the two are still friendly -- but Taraji has obviously moved on. She's now engaged to former NFL cornerback Kelvin Hayden.

As for Lamar, he and Khloe broke up in 2013 -- but the divorce wasn't finalized until 2016.

Holly Madison and Bridget Marquardt are reuniting for a séance, and sources close to Bridget tell us she plans to connect with their famous ex ... Hugh Hefner.

We're told the former 'Girls Next Door' are hosting a séance at Holly's house -- which she happens to think is haunted -- and they'll be getting an assist from "Ghost Adventures" star and Hollywood psychic medium Patti Negri.

Appropriately, the paranormal chat is planned for the night before Halloween ... so spirits should be in abundance.

While our Bridget sources say she really hopes to contact her old squeeze, Hef, in the great beyond -- sources close to Holly tell us she's not trying to connect with anyone in particular. Any ol' ghost'll do.

Remember, Holly and Hugh have a rocky history -- she claimed Hugh verbally and emotionally abused her while she was in the Playboy Mansion.

Hugh, who died in 2017 at age 91, famously dated Holly, Bridget and Kendra Wilkinson back in the day. Since then, Holly and Bridget have gotten super into ghouls and ghosts.

Bridget hosts her own podcast called "GHOST MAGNET With Bridget Marquardt" on Apple Podcasts ... and the séance will be a special edition of her show. The ritual will also be streamed live on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Holly's no stranger to paranormal activity either ... as we first told you, she started dating Zak Bagans after hitting up his Haunted Museum in Vegas.

Nicki Minaj and Kenneth Petty only got hitched because the clock was ticking on their marriage license ... and they'll have a big bash with friends and family later.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... Nicki and Petty got married Monday at a private space in L.A. We're told the only people who attended -- aside from the bride and groom -- was the minister.

As for why the rush ... their marriage license expires at the end of this month, so they had to pull the trigger or start all over again at square one. It's only good for 90 days.

Our sources say Nicki and Kenneth are going the route of Justin and Hailey ... a small, no-frills wedding followed by a church service and massive celebration. As for Nicki and Kenneth ... we're told they're in no rush, but they will plan a big event.

Nicki posted custom bride and groom hats and mugs Monday with the date engraved ... a glimpse into the day's festivities.

Our sources say Nicki and Kenneth were already living as hubby and wife ... even referring to themselves as married, so this isn't a real big change.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is all for "Joker" putting a spotlight on a local NYC attraction she's known her whole life, but it sounds like she'd like to keep it a neighborhood secret.

We got AOC Tuesday on Capitol Hill and she dished on the famous Bronx stairs featured in the new flick. No spoiler here, but Joaquin Phoenix's Clown Prince of Gotham dances his way down the landmark to celebrate his transformation to the Joker.

The Congresswoman from the block says those stairs have been there since forever, and folks have been busting moves -- and maybe a few asses -- down them long before Joaquin made 'em trendy with tourists. AOC added it wasn't always the safest hang either.

If you haven't noticed, the stairs have been showing up all over Instagram -- as "Joker" fans anywhere near the borough wanna pull off their own versions of Arthur Fleck's dance.

As much as AOC appreciates the shine on her district, she also doesn't want locals to lose their sense of ownership. You gotta see AOC as she declares, "Keep your Instagram posts outside of the Boogie Down! This is for us!!!"

You can take the girl outta the Bronx, but ...

A famous gold medal-winning Paralympic athlete died Tuesday after taking her own life through euthanasia in Belgium, officials confirm.

40-year-old Marieke Vervoort battled degenerative spinal disease -- yet was able to compete in wheelchair racing at the highest levels.

She won two medals at the 2016 Paralympic games in Brazil and famously clinched a GOLD medal during the 2012 Paralympics in London.

But, when she wasn't competing, Vervoort lived with extreme physical pain which sometimes limited her to only sleeping for 10 minutes a night.

Vervoort also suffered epileptic seizures -- and in one case in 2014, a seizure caused her to spill boiling water on her legs while cooking pasta. She suffered major injuries and was hospitalized for several months as a result.

Vervoort had considered euthanasia for years and began planning for the end of her life back in 2016.

In fact, Vervoort spent her last night surrounded by friends and family, sipping on sparkling wine ... just as she planned.

After her passing, the Belgian royal family issued a statement praising their Paralympic hero -- saying, "Marieke 'Wielemie' Vervoort was an athlete tough as nails and a great lady. Her death touches us deeply."

One of Offset's baby mamas is taking the rapper to court ... 'cause she wants him to pony up more dough to support their daughter.

Nicole Marie Algarin, who goes by the stage name Shya L'amour, has filed legal docs making several requests but chief among them ... child support for their 4-year-old daughter, Kalea. According to legal docs obtained by TMZ ... Nicole says the Migos rapper has "provided limited financial support" for Kalea, but she's now looking for the judge to order more. Or, at the very least, to formalize court-ordered payments.

In docs, Nicole says they've already taken DNA tests that confirm Offset is Kalea's father. What's more, she says Offset has publicly acknowledged he's Kalea's father -- Offset earlier this year posed with Kalea and captioned a picture on Instagram "Daddy's Girl."

Nicole says she just wants the court to follow suit and officially recognize him as dear ol' dad.

Piers Morgan says President Trump's use of "lynching" is lazy and ignorant, but Joe Biden's guilty of it too ... so all the outrage is a bunch of rubbish.

We got the British TV host leaving Staples Center Tuesday night and asked about Trump's "lynching" tweet to describe his potential impeachment, and he points out many politicians have used the language for many years ... so going after the Prez is totally disingenuous.

Or, as he puts it ... it's just another fake scandal.

Morgan's case in point is Biden -- who called Trump's tweet "abhorrent" -- using the same term in 1998 to describe the impeachment process at the time against President Bill Clinton.

Joe said in a CNN interview ... "Even if the president should be impeached, history is going to question whether or not this was just a partisan lynching or whether or not it was something that in fact met the standard, the very high bar, that was set by the founders as to what constituted an impeachable offense."

After the clip surfaced, Biden apologized for using the word, but stuck to his criticism of Trump ... claiming POTUS chose his words deliberately to continue to stoke racial divides in America.

Whether or not that's true, it seems Joe and Piers are on the same page about it being time to stop using "lynching" language ... even if Lindsey Graham's still all about it.