Jeff Bezos Sued Ex-Housekeeper Claims Racial Bias ... Source Says She's Full of It

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UPDATE

11:36 AM PT -- A source close to the couple tells us Wedaa had access to multiple restrooms and 2 breakrooms that were not only stocked with food -- but included air fryers and coffee machines. We're told when Jeff and Lauren were not home, staffers also had access to the family kitchen.

UPDATE

11:36 PM PT -- The source tells us Wedaa was well compensated, and worked largely unsupervised, though we're told at least one of her supervisors was also Hispanic.

UPDATE

11:36 AM PT -- Interestingly enough, another source says Wedaa's daughter was very recently, or still could be an employee at the home.

Jeff Bezos is going to court because one of his former housekeepers claims he racially discriminated against her, and forced her to work under conditions so bad ... just going to the bathroom was a nightmare.

According to legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Mercedes Wedaa says Bezos' team allegedly treated her and other Hispanic cleaning staff members much differently compared to the white employees ... claiming his household manager was "aggressive and abusive" to her, while being "respectful and polite" to the white staff.

Wedaa, who began working at Bezos' Seattle mansion back in 2019, claims she would often work 10-14 hour shifts, but was unable to take a break while Bezos and his family were on-property.

She claims she wasn't allowed to enter the home unless actively cleaning ... which is where going to the bathroom became a major issue.

According to the docs, Wedaa and other housekeepers "were forced to climb out of the laundry room window to the outside. Then run along the path to the mechanical room, through the mechanical room and downstairs to a bathroom.”

Wedaa's now seeking damages from Bezos and 2 companies that manage his properties.

Bezos' attorney, Harry Korrell, tells TMZ, "We have investigated the claims, and they lack merit. Ms. Wedaa made over six figures annually and was the lead housekeeper. She was responsible for her own break and meal times, and there were several bathrooms and breakrooms available to her and other staff."

He continues, "The evidence will show that Ms. Wedaa was terminated for performance reasons. She initially demanded over $9M, and when the company refused, she decided to file this suit. Given their backgrounds, the suggestion that Mr. Bezos, Ms. Sanchez, or Northwestern LLC discriminated against Ms. Wedaa based on her race or national origin is absurd."

Originally Published -- 9:45 AM PT

Adam Silver Slams Kyrie Irving's 'Apology' ... It Wasn't Enough!!!

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NBA commissioner Adam Silver is unleashing on Kyrie Irving ... saying the Brooklyn Nets star's attempted mea culpa for sharing a link to a movie laden with antisemitic beliefs was a complete disappointment.

The commish addressed the controversy in a statement on Thursday ... and he didn't hold back.

"Kyrie Irving made a reckless decision to post a link to a film containing deeply offensive antisemitic material," Silver -- who is Jewish -- said.

"While we appreciate the fact that he agreed to work with the Brooklyn Nets and the Anti-Defamation League to combat antisemitism and other forms of discrimination, I am disappointed that he has not offered an unqualified apology and more specifically denounced the vile and harmful content contained in the film he chose to publicize."

As we previously reported, Kyrie made a $500k donation to "eradicate hate" on Wednesday ... but stopped short of completely denouncing the contents of the "Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America!" project.

"I do not believe everything said in the documentary was true or reflects my morals and principles," Irving said in the statement ... but did not clarify what parts he was distancing himself from.

Silver is so pissed, he says he will be personally meeting with Kyrie in person within the next week to discuss the situation.

Ray Guy NFL Legend Dead At 73

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NFL Hall of Famer Ray Guy -- the most legendary punter of all time -- has passed away. He was 73 years old.

Guy became the first pure punter to ever be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft ... going 23rd overall to the Oakland Raiders in 1973 after a stellar career at the University of Southern Mississippi.

He went on to win three Super Bowls with the Raiders in 1977, 1981 and 1984.

Guy's résumé is as good as it gets -- he was a 6-time first-team All-Pro selection, 2-time second-team All-Pro, 7-time Pro Bowler and was named to the NFL's 75th and 100th Anniversary teams.

Guy was famous for his long-hanging punts ... which allowed the Raiders to run downfield in coverage before opposing teams were able to get off a return.

The Ray Guy Award -- named after the icon -- is presented to the best punter in college football every year.

Guy was enshrined in Canton in 2014 -- the first punter to receive the honor. During his speech, he famously said, "Now the Hall of Fame has a complete team."

RIP

Johnny Depp Savage X Fenty Guest Appearance In Rihanna's Show!!!

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Johnny Depp is a wanted man in just about every lane Hollywood has to offer these days, and he's about to make a guest appearance in a huge show -- orchestrated by Rihanna!

No, Depp won't be shredding his guitar with RiRi at the Super Bowl ... but production sources tell us he'll be a featured surprise guest in her Savage X Fenty Vol. 4 fashion show.

We're told JD won't be walking the runway, instead, he's going to be a focus of one of the show's "star" moments -- which has included the likes of Cindy Crawford and Erykah Badu in the past. Depp -- who will wear items from the men's collection -- will be the first male in Savage X Fenty show history to take the role.

Our sources say Rihanna and her team invited Johnny to be a part of it, and both sides were super excited to make it happen. We're told Johnny has already filmed his part, and it'll be included in the show's premiere on Amazon Prime Video November 9.

As for how Depp will look, we're told the vibe is "cool and chic" and works for all aspects of Johnny's artistry -- music, modeling and acting.

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TIME TO WORK

TMZ broke the story -- it was just a couple months ago when JD made his big return to TV after the Amber Heard trial, when he appeared as the Moon Person at the VMAs. One thing's for sure ... he's been welcomed back to A-list status with open arms.

Selena Gomez I Contemplated Suicide During Bipolar Episode

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Selena Gomez is opening up even more about her struggles with bipolar disorder ... revealing she had suicidal thoughts and checked into 4 different treatment centers.

She says, "I think when I started hitting my early twenties is when it started to get really dark, when I started to feel like I was not in control of what I was feeling, whether that was really great or really bad.”

In the Rolling Stone interview, Selena also recounts having extreme highs and lows for weeks or months, before understanding her bipolar diagnosis. At times she would have symptoms of mania like feeling the need to buy everyone in her life a car so she could share her "gift" -- but then she'd fall into a deep state of depression and not be able to get out of bed.

And in her darkest moments, she said ... “I thought the world would be better if I wasn’t there." After a 2018 episode, she says she ended up on a ton of meds, which helped her psychosis, but made her feel unlike herself.

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BIEBER BREAKDOWN

She also touched on all the fan-stirred drama, where fans accused Hailey Bieber of stealing her ex, Justin Bieber ... saying it made her feel bad about herself.

In the past, she says this kinda incident could've set her back for months ... but this time it was diffused with kindness.

Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.

You'll recall, Selena and Hailey posed with each other last month at an event -- seemingly putting the whole mess behind them.

Selena gives a deeper look into her life in her new doc "Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me." It premiered Wednesday night in L.A. ... and stars such as Olivia Rodrigo, Camila Cabello and Billie Eilish were all in attendance.

The documentary is out on Apple TV+ tomorrow.

If you or someone you know is thinking of suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.

Cher Holdin' Hands with Alexander Edwards ... Leave Together After Dinner with Tyga

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It looks like Cher has a new man in her life ... she and Amber Rose's ex, Alexander Edwards, seemed to head home together after a fun night out with his buddy, Tyga.

Cher pulled up to Craig's in WeHo Wednesday night, where AE and Tyga were waiting for her inside -- Alexander came out to escort her in, and they grabbed hands as they strolled inside.

They all bounced from Craig's a little after midnight, heading to The Nice Guy for some more fun just a mile away. Tyga got in his own ride, while AE and Cher shared one ... with him kissing her hand in the back seat.

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HITTING THE TOWN

Tyga headed into the restaurant solo ... and while photogs were all on him, he points out the obvious -- "You're gonna miss the real photo!"

Once again, AE and Cher -- and their 40-year age diff -- walk hand-in-hand to the spot ... and when the shindig was over, they left together, presumably heading to her Malibu home. What a night. 😉

The 3 amigos reportedly spent some time together at her place last week, too ... but it's unclear if these meetings are more about business or pleasure.

She was also spotted with Tyga at Paris Fashion Week at the end of September.

Of course, AE has been single for over a year now ... he and Amber broke up in August 2021 after she accused him of cheating on her. He later admitted on social media that he did have an affair.

Khloe Kardashian I Don't Need Tristan's $$$ ... I'll Pay for True's Party!!!

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Khloe Kardashian is putting her foot down with Tristan Thompson when it comes to footing the bill for their daughter's lavish parties ... something she made clear on True's 4th birthday.

Khloe's approach -- basically, "thanks but no thanks," Tristan -- comes through loud and clear in the latest episode of "The Kardashians." She was throwing a huge birthday bash for their daughter when Kris pulled Khloe aside to let her know Tristan had paid for the whole party behind her back ... and KK wasn't having it.

Khloe immediately shut down the idea, and was adamant she's paying for the entire baby banger by herself.

She told her momager .. "No, he's not taking care of the whole party."

Kris actually defended Tristan, and insisted Khloe should let him pay -- but after going back and forth, Khloe said, "That's nice, but I won't let that happen."

As you know, their relationship has seen a lot of turmoil before they split.

We broke the story ... they had a baby boy via surrogate, but Khloe later found out Tristan had cheated on her again, and had gotten another woman pregnant -- all behind her back.

In recent episodes of the show, she called TT a "liar." They've since been focused on co-parenting and denied rumors about rekindling.

As for the party, he apparently had a game and couldn't attend, but Khloe still wasn't about to let him pay for the whole party.

In her confessional, she said, "I work really hard to do elaborate things for True and I don't need anyone's help."

Whichever way the bill was split ... the good news is True seemed to enjoy her big day!

Clooney, Aniston & Sudeikis Louis Bag, Omega Watch and More ... Buy Our Stuff, Help Vets!!!

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If you've ever wanted to grab lunch with Paul Rudd, Zoom chat with Jason Sudeikis or go to work with Ben Stiller, here's your shot -- all those things are up for grabs, and all to our support veterans.

A ton of celebs are teaming up with Homes For Our Troops in honor of Veterans Day -- it's an annual online auction raising funds for injured vets, and this year's lineup is amazing.

A-list celebs like Whoopi Goldberg, Bryan Cranston and Jake Gyllenhaal are offering you a chance to link up for an online chat ... or maybe you'd prefer an in-person experience.

You could grab lunch in NYC with Rudd or Jake Tapper, or get a one-hour tennis lesson from Andy Roddick!

If memorabilia is more your thing ... bid on George Clooney's Omega luxury watch in an autographed case, Jennifer Aniston's designer Louis Vuitton bag and/or Kenny Chesney's autographed guitar. There's so much more you can peruse on their site.

The best part of this particular auction is 100% of proceeds go to Homes For Our Troops, which builds and donates custom homes for severely wounded post-9/11 veterans.

This is the 6th year of the Veterans Day Celebrity Auction -- bidding opens today and runs through November 13.

Best of luck!

Kanye West Can't Sell 'White Lives Matter' Shirts ... 2 Black Men Got The Trademark!!!

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Kanye West could dig himself an even bigger hole if he tries to sell his "White Lives Matter" shirts in America ... because that phrase has already been trademarked -- and guess what? It's owned by 2 black men.

Ramses Ja and Quinton Ward, hosts of the radio show Civic Cipher, legally got rights to the phrase last month ... telling CNN it's all about making sure it doesn't end up in the wrong hands.

The trademark covers the right to sell clothing with those words displayed.

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WELCOME TO THE SHOW

The trademark was acquired by an anonymous listener of Ramses and Quinton's racial justice show ... filing it the same day Ye wore his controversial outfit at Paris fashion week.

The listener transferred ownership over to their show a few weeks back.

Ramses and Quinton said it was a tough call to take the trademark ... but added, “Once it was clear that someone stood to gain significant profit from it, because as you’ve seen, even though (Kanye) says some really hurtful, divisive and sometimes crazy things, he has a bit of a zealot following and every time he releases something, it sells out.”

As we reported, Kanye was stirring the pot before his antisemitic rants ... donning a "White Lives Matter" hoodie at his Yeezy fashion show at the beginning of October -- Candace Owens joined him in his outfit choice, too.

Elon Musk & AOC Jabfest Over Twitter Subscription Fee

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Elon Musk got into a big 'ol Twitter fight with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, trading jabs over the billionaire's intent to charge verified users a fee to maintain their status on the social media platform.

Musk -- Twitter's new owner -- announced this week he would implement a policy charging an $8 monthly fee for users to keep their blue check badges to prove their accounts are authentic. He originally set the price at $20, but then lowered it. It's unclear when he plans to make the $8 fee official.

This didn't sit well with many critics and AOC, who sent out a flurry of Tweets Tuesday/Wednesday, giving Musk a piece of her mind.

"Lmao at a billionaire earnestly trying to sell people on the idea that 'free speech' is actually a $8/mo subscription plan," the New York congresswoman tweeted.

AOC followed up with another zinger ... "One guy's business plan for a $44 billion over-leveraged purchase is apparently to run around and individually ask people for $8. Remember that next time you question yourself or your qualifications."

She even complained that her Twitter notifications weren't working properly.

Musk then got into it with her. The Tesla/SpaceX boss tweeted a photo of an AOC sweatshirt selling on her website for $58, seemingly defending his $8 subscription fee by showing she, too, is trying to monetize her business.

But, the Democratic lawmaker wasn't having it, tweeting ... "My workers are union, make a living wage, have full healthcare, and aren’t subject to racist treatment in their workplaces. Items are made in USA."

Musk fired back ... "Your feedback is appreciated, now pay $8." AOC landed the last punch, though, declaring she had "gotten under a certain billionaire's skin" next to a laughing emoji.

As we reported ... Musk bought Twitter for a whopping $44 billion in late October. Since then, he has fired several top executives and reportedly plans to lay off half of the staff.

Chief Keef BENCH WARRANT ISSUED ... Legal Troubles Mounting

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Chief Keef is in legal hot water ... a California judge issued a bench warrant after the rapper failed to show for a court date.

Chief Keef was MIA from a Wednesday court hearing relating to his DUI case, so the judge issued a $10K bench warrant.

Things seem to have been unraveling for Keef, legally speaking, since his arrest for DUI back in June 2021.

According to our sources, there was an outstanding warrant in that case from missing a court hearing. Law enforcement sources tell us cops were running plates during a routine traffic stop last month and pulled Keef over for driving on a suspended or revoked license. That's when officers saw an active warrant in the system from the DUI case, and Keef was booked and released without bail.

Our law enforcement sources tell us Keef was ordered to appear Wednesday in court but never showed, which led to the new warrant being issued.

We reached out to Keef's camp ... so far no word back.

Jerry Jones Halloween Costume Plays Into Harmful Stereotype ... Blind Org. Says

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Halloween costumes like Jerry Jones' "blind referee" play into stereotypes that the visually impaired are incompetent ... so says the National Federation of the Blind, which tells TMZ Sports these kinds of outfits are "harmful."

Jerry dressed up in a ref uniform and sported sunglasses and a walking stick over the holiday weekend ... in an attempt to playfully go after NFL officials for missing penalty calls.

While Jones certainly isn't the first person to sport the costume, the NFB tells us it's an "unfortunate" choice ... especially because it leans into the underlying stereotype that the blind are "incompetent."

"When anyone perpetuates that stereotype, it's harmful," Chris Danielsen, the NFB's director of PR tells us ... pointing out nearly 70% of blind people are unemployed.

Instead of ripping into the Cowboys owner for his choice, Danielsen believes this can be a teachable moment for Jones and anyone else considering wearing costumes that make light of the blind.

"He does have blind Cowboys fans," Danielsen added. "They show up at games and put on headsets or listen on the radio. It may be something for him to think about."

Danielsen says there are plenty of blind people who want to be more involved in sports in any capacity ... and the "blind referee" costume only complicates things for them.

There was another potential issue with Jones' outfit -- owners and coaches are subject to fines for publicly criticizing league officials -- but the NFL elected not to punish him.

Guess Who This Sassy Baby Turned Into!

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Before this baby with 'tude turned into a reality television star and a hot shot real estate agent, she was eyeing the camera and serving an adorable pout while growing up in Beverly Hills, CA.

This brunette babe has 3 younger sisters (who all resemble each other) ... and she has paved the way for them at her step dad's real estate agency. If you're a Real Housewives of Beverly Hills fan ...  you've definitely seen her with her famous momma.

Need one more hint? You can catch her on Netflix's "Buying Beverly Hills" this month!

Can you guess who she is?

Future Drops $16.3 Million For Miami Mansion

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The future is bright for Future when it comes to his real estate portfolio ... because he just dropped 10 figures on an island paradise.

Real estate sources tell TMZ ... the "Mask Off" rapper just bought a $16.3 million home on Allison Island in Miami Beach.

The place is absolutely palatial ... it's 8,897 square feet of pure luxury, as the 7-bedroom home features picturesque water views from the super exclusive island.

The master bedroom has a full wet bar and wine fridge, plus two huge walk-in closets and a private balcony spanning the entire length of the home.

Future's new crib has a backyard that sounds straight out of a tropical resort ... there's a pool and a spa, plus multiple dining areas and even a place to park a yacht. Miami living at its finest.

Jordan Karp represented Future in the sale, while Dina Goldentayer of Douglas Elliman repped the sellers.

Will Smith said it best ... bienvenido a Miami!!!

Jemele Hill on Takeoff I'm Speaking Out Against Gun Violence ... Hip Hop Should Too!!!

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Jemele Hill says she's had enough with rappers dying from gun violence ... and wants to see folks come together to talk about how to stop it once and for all.

We got Jemele at LAX Wednesday and asked her for solutions following Takeoff's death in Houston ... she's calling on artists, record labels and politicians to start tough conversations on gun violence.

While Jemele senses some of these talks may be going on behind closed doors ... she highlights why it's important to discuss issues and solutions surrounding gun violence in a public forum.

As we reported ... Takeoff was shot and killed this week while visiting Houston, the coroner's reports says bullets struck the Migos rapper in the head and torso.

Jemele also has strong thoughts on the practice of rappers "checking in" with certain people wherever they are traveling -- comparing it to "some slave s***." She says Black people should never have to feel unsafe going into another area.

For Jemele, she wants industry leaders to say enough is enough after the shooting deaths of Takeoff and PnB Rock -- lamenting the fact nothing's really changed since Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur were gunned down back in the day.

While Jemele says there's certain things within her own community that need to be addressed in terms of gun violence, she tells us why the solution can't be to stop going out and stop wearing bling.

Jay-Z Accused of D'Ussé Double-Cross ... Bacardi Claims He Backed Out of Deal

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Jay-Z wants to sell his D'Ussé cake and eat it too ... at least according to Bacardi, his partners in the top-shelf liquor, who now claim he's trying to double the brand's value and make a bundle.

Bacardi's subsidiary, Empire Investments, responded to Jay's lawsuit, and in the docs it says both parties actually had a "handshake deal" last December ... in which Empire agreed to buy  Jay's 50 percent stake in the cognac line.

But the company alleges Jay "abruptly reneged on its agreement and doubled its demanded valuation."

TMZ Hip Hop broke the story ... Jay's company, SC Liquor, exercised an option last year for Bacardi to buy him out. They had been 50/50 partners in D'Ussé since its inception in 2012. Bacardi doesn't disagree with that, but takes issue with Mr. Carter's attempt to "outrageously inflate" the price ... in their words.

In the new docs, Empire/Bacardi doesn't say what, if any, price they'd agreed upon when they made the handshake deal -- much of the document is redacted as we're guessing neither side wants any valuation of D'Ussé to be made public at this point.

As we reported, Jay thinks Bacardi is trying to lowball him on the price, and that's why he filed the lawsuit.

As for his demand for his partners to open up the books ... the company says it already handed him more than 800 pages of financial records, and says any further documents he wants are not for his eyes, because they involve Bacardi data ... which they see as entirely separate from the D'ussé venture.

We've reached out to Jay's camp, but no word back yet. There's a hearing scheduled Friday in NY.