Selena Gomez Sues Gaming Companies for $10 Mil ... Stop Using My Fame to Get Rich!!!

Published | Updated
UPDATE

6:46 AM PT -- Selena's attorney, Alex Weingarten of Venable, LLP, tells us, “Selena Gomez is a style icon. This is an egregious violation of Selena’s rights, which we will litigate vigorously to vindicate.”

Selena Gomez is done playing games with gaming companies she says are using her fame to line their pockets ... and now she's suing for a whopping $10 million.

Selena just filed a lawsuit against a slew of software and technology firms and the honchos who run them, accusing them of profiting off her image, name and likeness without her permission.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Selena claims she was shocked to learn her celebrity was being peddled to turn profits in the mobile game "Clothes Forever - Styling Game."

In the docs, Selena says the game blatantly ripped off her cover photo from the fashion publication Flare and slapped it on their app, which appeared in the Apple App Store.

Selena says she's worked her entire career to build up a strong brand -- claiming her sponsored posts are worth as much as $800,000 each -- and she says now her rep's being diminished by this unapproved association with a "bug-riddled" game. Yes, she threw in a jab about the game getting terrible reviews.

The pop singer is suing for damages, a cut of the profits and for the game to stop its alleged unlawful activity and business practices.

Originally Published -- 2:36 PM PT 4/14

Russell Wilson & Ciara Gender Reveal Dance Party ... It's A Boy!!!

Published | Updated

Russell Wilson and Ciara got so fired up over the sex of their fetus ... they busted out their dancing shoes and partied their faces off -- and the video is awesome!!!

The Seahawks superstar and the "Level Up" singer announced their pregnancy just a few months ago ... and this week, they decided to reveal the baby's gender.

The couple -- along with the kids, Future Jr. and Sienna Princess -- went out to a field with palm trees, and had confetti and smoke locked and loaded.

But first ... they had to get a poll on what they preferred the sex to be -- and Russ answered straight-up, "You know what I want it to be!"

Yeah, we're thinking he wanted a boy.

Shortly after, the two fired off the makeshift cannons ... the blue smoke was revealed -- and everyone lost their minds!!!

Ciara broke it down, Russ ran around and the kids went crazy. Good times!!!

It should be noted ... celebs from all over were jacked up for the couple -- with Janet Jackson even leaving a heart emoji on Ciara's social media page!!

Of course, this is Russ and Ciara's second baby together (Future Jr. is from Ciara's previous relationship with Future) ... Sienna, their first together, was born in April 2017.

Congrats!!

Barack Obama Endorses Biden for Prez Tees Off on Trump

Published | Updated

Former President Barack Obama waited until the dust settled among all the Democratic presidential candidates, but he's fully throwing his support behind Joe Biden now.

Obama opened a video message with an uplifting sentiment about the fight against coronavirus and gave a thank you to those on the frontlines. He then transitioned to the political side ... saying, "That's why I'm so proud to endorse Joe Biden as President of the United States."

Obama then goes in on Trump and Republicans, saying, "One thing everybody has learned by now, the Republicans running the White House and the U.S. Senate are not interested in progress, they're interested in power."

At one point he mentions the failure of the Trump administration in containing the coronavirus, saying Republicans ignored the science of pandemics just as they ignored the science of climate change ... reminding everyone of the importance of honesty and informativeness from a President.

Biden was obviously thrilled with the endorsement, tweeting just a few minutes later, "Barack — This endorsement means the world to Jill and me. We’re going to build on the progress we made together, and there’s no one I’d rather have standing by my side."

Obama's backing of Biden comes just a day after Bernie Sanders joined Joe on a livestream to offer his endorsement, as well. Sanders dropped out of the race last week, seemingly leaving the nomination to Biden.

Joe told Bernie if he does indeed become the nominee, he's going to need Sanders' help "not just to win the campaign, but to govern."

Biden will certainly need more of Obama's help to defeat Trump, as well. The good news is ... 44 has been getting back out there more lately, mostly on social media to post helpful info about the coronavirus pandemic.

Ya gotta think he'll pivot to pushing his party to vote for Joe now though ... especially since it's been his goal to unite Democrats after all the primary chaos cooled down.

President Trump has yet to respond to Obama's endorsement. Start the countdown.

NASCAR's Kyle Larson Fired By Racing Team After N-Word Incident

Published | Updated

The fallout continues ...

NASCAR star Kyle Larson has been fired by his team, Chip Ganassi Racing, after using the n-word during an iRacing event.

"After much consideration, Chip Ganassi Racing has determined that it will end its relationship with driver Kyle Larson," the team said.

"As we said before, the comments that Kyle made were both offensive and unacceptable especially given the values of our organization."

Kyle Larson 4/13/20
THINGS GET RACY

The statement continued, "As we continued to evaluate the situation with all the relevant parties, it became obvious that this was the only appropriate course of action to take."

The 27-year-old dropped an n-bomb during a virtual race on Easter Sunday ... apparently not realizing his audio was streaming out to thousands of people on Twitch.

After crashing during Lap 6, Larson apparently had a difficult time communicating with other drivers and said -- "You can't hear me? Hey, n*****."

Larson apologized on Monday -- but sponsors (including McDonald's and Credit One Bank) dropped him anyway.

Larson -- who is half Japanese -- is a pretty damn good driver. He's been driving in the NASCAR Cup Series for the past 7 years and has won several major races including the 2020 Chili Bowl Nationals.

Damon Dash Gets Pinched in Mafia Film Lawsuit ... Ordered to Pay $300k!!!

Published | Updated

Damon Dash's pockets could be a tad lighter soon ... 'cause he's been ordered to cough up a cool $300k in a lawsuit over a mafia movie.

The movie and music producer was just ordered to pay noted author Edwyna Brooks after he took an L in court. She sued him about a year ago claiming they struck a deal in 2015 for Damon to direct the mafia boss film, "Mafietta," based on her series of books.

But, according to docs, obtained by TMZ, Brooks claimed things quickly went south after he agreed to direct the film. She claimed Dash wasted production time and money on his side projects ... like filming a music video.

She said she fired him from the project but claims that didn't stop Dash from claiming co-authorship over the movie and trying to sell it on iTunes and his Dame Dash Studios website .... all without Brooks' permission.

Brooks sued for damages ... and the judge agreed with her claims and awarded her $300k in damages plus interest. This, of course, will only add to Dash's legal woes.

Dame tells us, "The copyright claim was incorrectly decided in our opinion as you were the dominant author. In any event the damages awarded were based on pure speculation so both findings are being appealed."

Playboi Carti Arrest Cop Says He Mouthed Off ... I'll Bang Your Daughter!!!

Published | Updated

Playboi Carti went all Johnny Badass on a cop who pulled him over -- according to the cop, anyway, Carti dragged the deputy's daughter into it!!!

TMZ got a hold of the police report detailing Carti's arrest about a week ago in Clayton County, Georgia -- and cops say the rapper was mouthing off big time when a Sheriff's deputy pulled him over and smelled weed.

The deputy says he asked Carti to get out, and the bad attitude started right away. Carti allegedly told the officer to take him to jail and said he didn't even care anymore.

Upon conducting a search, the deputy says he found drugs and guns inside Carti's Lambo -- specifically, marijuana, Xanax, codeine and oxycodone and 2 handguns. Carti had a pal with him and cops arrested both of them ... but the trash-talking wasn't done yet.

According to the officer, Carti told him he'd "f*** my daughter" and that he had a hot wife. He also allegedly said he didn't give a damn about his exotic sports car, cause he'd just buy another one anyway.

In the end, Carti was booked for expired tags, possession of less than an ounce of marijuana and failure to move over. His buddy ended up getting busted for the harder drug and gun possession charges.

Carti was released on bond shortly afterward.

'Tiger King' Star Joe Exotic Hypes Up Magic Tricks ... Watch His Old Promos!!!

Published | Updated

Joe Exotic was a master magician with a huge bag of tricks, according to his old magic promos -- but of course, he still couldn't make Carole Baskin disappear.

TMZ's obtained some never-before-seen footage of Joe's old magic show ... from a 6-minute highlight reel. The promo was never intended for the public, but for the venues where Joe booked his high-paying gigs.

As you know, the 'Tiger King' star had a traveling tiger and magic show in addition to his zoo, and he made tons of stops at malls, shopping centers and theaters across the country ... before Carole got involved.

Joe's promo is everything you would expect from the entertainment genius ... it's called, "Mystical of The Endangered," and it shows Joe performing magic with tons of exotic beasts.

There's sword tricks, pyrotechnics, a mime, vanishing, illusions and lots and lots of animals ... tigers, snakes and parrots, oh my!

JP Wilson, the magician from 'Tiger King,' tells TMZ ... he met Joe back in 2004 during a magic show in Norman, OK where Joe supplied him with a tiger. JP says Joe was so impressed with his magic, Exotic brought him on tour.

Eventually, Joe wanted to be the magician and JP says he taught him some tricks. Joe and JP worked together for years, until Carole and the animal rights folks shut down Joe's traveling performances.

JP says he remained close with Joe and would visit the zoo a couple times a year, even sponsoring a tiger at one point.

The wildest part ... JP firmly believes if Carole and the animal rights people didn't get Joe's traveling show shut down, and cut off his main source of income, Joe wouldn't have been forced into breeding tigers.

'90 Day Fiance' Star Big Ed Yep, That Young Tan Guy is Me!!! ... On a Date in '88

Published | Updated

Long before Ed Brown was a star of "90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days," he was just a young man striking a GQ-esque pose at a zoo ... he tells us so himself.

Brown -- AKA "Big Ed" -- confirms with TMZ ... a viral photo that began circulating on social media this weekend is indeed him, way back in 1988.

Big Ed tells us he was on his second date with his now ex-wife at the San Diego Zoo when the pic of him -- looking tan and serious in all-white duds -- was snapped.

He says he thinks the photo was swiped from his private Facebook page, and someone posted it.

Here he is circa 1995 -- striking a very similar pose -- while working at an El Torito in Southern California. He says he got a job there while he was earning his Master's in architecture.

If you aren't familiar, Big Ed's relationship with his Filipina GF, Rose, has been a hot-button topic on this season of '90 Day Fiance' ... for a number of reasons.

He tells us it's done wonders for his photography business though. Ed says he's received requests from people all over the world asking him to shoot with them ... everything from family photos to model shots.

He says he's converting his garage into a studio now, and once the coronavirus crisis cools down ... he hopes to get in some work.