Robert De Niro Jury Ordered Actor's Company to Pay $1.2M to Ex-Assistant

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Robert De Niro just lost big in a New York courtroom, after a jury socked his production company with a $1.2 million judgment.

A jury shut down De Niro's claim that his ex-personal assistant, Graham Chase Robinson, embezzled from him. He had sought $6 million in damages but after 5 hours of deliberation, the jury tossed his claim.

The jury was way more sympathetic to Robinson's $12 million countersuit, awarding her $1.2 mil against De Niro's company, Canal Productions.

De Niro testified during the 2-week trial, and the jury heard about the tensions between him. The actor admitted he had called her a "f**king spoiled brat" when she failed to wake him for an important appointment. He also admitted that he asked her to scratch his back several times, but scoffed at the notion it was sexual. Robinson called it "creepy" and "disgusting."

Robinson claimed she was bullied by De Niro's girlfriend, Tiffany Chen, whom Robinson called a sociopath.

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GOTTA PAY UP

The trial, which lasted 8 days, was explosive, from start to finish.

We covered it all on the latest episode of The TMZ Podcast, available on all podcast platforms.

Lil Pump Trump Shout-Out At Fl Rally ... '1 Of The Few' To Support!!!

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PUMP X TRUMP

Donald Trump doesn't forget his day 1 supporters -- Lil Pump was in attendance at the former commander-in-chief's Florida rally Wednesday night, and the "Gucci Gang" rapper got some public praise.

Trump singled him out in the crowd of 5,200 reportedly in attendance in the Miami suburb of Hialeah ... prompting Pump to stand up, collect his flowers and show off his fit ... head-to-toe MAGA!!!

Flip the calendars back 3 years to 2020 and Pump was extremely vocal in attempting to get Trump reelected ... despite not being a registered voter himself.

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LIL TRUMP

For Pump, it's the influence that counts in the long run. He's a fan of #45's rebellious persona -- as are Kodak Black and Waka Flocka.

Trump can count on Pump's endorsement to win the GOP nomination, but whether he gets his vote remains to be seen.

JFK Assassination Big Conspiracy Was The Real Deal ... Rob Reiner, Soledad O'Brien To Name Killers

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UNCOVERING THE TRUTH

JFK's assassination 60 years ago this month was not the work of a lone gunman, and Rob Reiner & Soledad O'Brien are naming names.

Rob and Soledad joined us on "TMZ Live" Thursday to talk about their new podcast, "Who Killed JFK?," which debuted Wednesday. They present a compelling case -- Lee Harvey Oswald did not act alone back on November 22, 1963.

The "All in the Family" star and mega-producer has been obsessed with the assassination since he was 16, when Kennedy was shot, and he's been doing deep research ever since. Rob previewed his theories with us, clearly suggesting there were rogue government officials who plotted to get JFK.

Soledad and Rob agreed ... much of the distrust Americans feel toward their government emanated from the Kennedy assassination.

There are CIA connections to the plot to kill Kennedy, and even President Lyndon B. Johnson -- who succeeded Kennedy -- had a significant role in the coverup, according to Rob.

The fascination with the assassination has hardly subsided ... there's even an auction going on to sell a portion of the infamous picket fence behind the grassy knoll.

New episodes of their 10-part iHeartPodcast, "Who Killed JFK?," will drop every Wednesday.

Tuohy Family Michael Oher Was Paid $138K In 'Blind Side' Profits ... We've Got The Receipts!!!

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The Tuohy family says it's doled out $138K to Michael Oher from profits it received from "The Blind Side" ... and it's now claiming it's got the receipts to prove it.

Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy shared images of the alleged payments inside new court documents filed in Tennessee this week ... insisting they show Oher received money from them in 10 separate installments.

The Tuohys said in the docs the payments began in June 2007 -- roughly two years before the blockbuster movie about Oher's life was released in the U.S. -- and most recently ended in April.

The payments to Oher, according to the docs, ranged from $117 all the way to $31,500 ... and represented an agreed upon split of the cash the Tuohys got from the "Blind Side" movie and the book that came out just before the hit flick.

"By agreement between the family members including Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, their children SJ and Collins as well as Michael Oher, the book and movie proceeds were to be split five ways," the Tuohys' attorneys wrote in court documents.

"These funds represent funds paid to Mr. Tuohy and the portion paid over to Mr. Oher."

As we previously reported, Oher had accused the Tuohys of essentially tricking him into a conservatorship ... before screwing him out of a ton of cash in the "Blind Side" deal that they negotiated -- which precipitated this week's court filings from the Tuohys.

Meanwhile, the Tuohys have consistently maintained they did nothing wrong ... accusing Oher of actually trying to shake them down for $15 million, before willingly ending the conservatorship in September.

"The Tuohy's have never received any money as conservators on behalf of Michael Oher," the Tuohys' attorneys wrote in this week's court documents, "and further never had control over any funds or any dealings on behalf of Mr. Oher during the entire term of the conservatorship."

"In fact," they continued, "the Tuohy's spent tens of thousands of dollars of their own money to support Mr. Oher during his high school and college years."

Human Remains Found Ex-H'wood Agent's Son Arrested for Murder ... Dismembered Body Found in Bag

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There's a Hollywood connection to a deeply disturbing crime ... the son of a powerful former Hollywood agent has been booked for murder after a woman's dismembered torso was found in a bag.

LAPD arrested 35-year-old Samuel Haskell Wednesday following the grisly discovery -- the bag containing the female victim's body was in a dumpster in Encino, CA. Haskell's wife, Mei Haskell, and her parents are currently missing. The coroner hasn't identified the victim yet ... but in the meantime, Haskell's being held on $2 million bail.

Haskell's father, Sam Haskell Sr., is currently the President of Magnolia Hill Productions -- the company behind several Dolly Parton specials -- including "Dolly Parton's Magic Mountain Christmas" and "Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors."

Haskell Sr. was once a powerful agent at William Morris Agency ... he retired as an agent in 2005, but during his 27-year-career represented the likes of Dolly, Whoopi Goldberg, Ray Romano, George Clooney, Martin Short, Kirstie Alley, Tony Danza, Debbie Allen, Kathie Lee Gifford ... and even King Charles' younger brother, Prince Edward.

As for the criminal investigation into Haskell's son, investigators are currently searching through Junior's Tarzana home where he lived with his wife and her parents Yanxiang Wang and Gaoshen Li.

So far, police say they've found evidence of a crime with blood in the home.

The dismembered torso was reportedly found Wednesday by a homeless person who was sifting through a strip mall dumpster. Haskell Jr. and Mei have 3 kids who are safe in the custody of L.A.'s DCFS.

We've reached out to Haskell Sr. at Magnolia Hill Productions ... so far, no word back.

Shawn Mendes Hits The Beach In His Undies ... With New Rumored GF

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Shawn Mendes & his potential new boo enjoyed a day at the beach ... strippin' down to their undies for some fun in the sun after she had his arm around him at a WeHo eatery.

The singer and TV personality Charlie Travers hit up Point Dume and El Matador Beach Wednesday out in sunny SoCal -- and it appears their trip to the ocean might've been an unplanned one, seeing as they have no bathing suits on hand.

No worries, 'cause Charlie took off her top and pants, while Shawn got down to his boxer briefs to enjoy the day -- and we're assuming Shawn's strip down helped any ladies nearby enjoy their day, too.

TMZ broke the story, Charlie had her arm around Shawn at a restaurant in West Hollywood on Tuesday ... witnesses told us the pair was pretty touchy-feely, too.

Unclear if her arm around him was a sign to ward off the ladies, or something more mild ... but there's obviously something going on here.

Of course, this potential romance comes after Shawn's relationship with Camila Cabello, which first ended in November 2021.

We saw them try their hand at love again earlier this year, but no dice ... so we'll see if his luck with Charlie -- if this is the real deal -- will hold true.

PRISCILLA PRESLEY WAS NEARLY A KARDASHIAN!!! Romance with Rob Cut Short By 'Controlling' Elvis

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Priscilla Presley was very nearly a Kardashian ... had her unwavering loyalty to her ex, Elvis Presley -- and lack of cooking skills -- not been an issue for Robert Kardashian.

In light of the new movie based on her romance with the King of Rock & Roll, Priscilla has been doing lots of promo lately ... revealing in a Q&A that she had "never wanted to marry again" after Elvis because no one would match up to him.

And no one had better first-hand knowledge of her devotion to the icon post-split than Robert ... who was head over heels for her when they first met and thought they would marry and have babies together.

However, in the 2017 unauthorized biography, "The Kardashians: An American Drama," the author says Rob frequently felt like a third wheel, because Elvis repeatedly interrupted their romance in bizarre and controlling ways.

In the book, a close pal recalled Robert complaining Elvis called while he was making love to Priscilla ... who then propped the bedside receiver on the pillow between them, forcing Rob to listen to their convo. Awwwkward.

According to the biography, Elvis just didn't want his ex to see other men ... for the sake of their daughter Lisa Marie.

Another blow for Robert was that romancing Priscilla came at the expense of family affairs as his older brother Tom was also interested in her ... and when she chose Rob, his bro grew envious.

But, Rob's bud Joni Migdal said the final straw for their relationship was when Priscilla cooked a meal for Robert, which he hated so much ... he suggested she never make dinner for him again!

His desire to forge a life with Priscilla dissipated soon after, and as we all know, Rob went on to marry Kris Jenner and have their 4 kids ... Kourtney, Kim, Khloe and Rob. Rob and Kris were married from 1978 to 1991.

Priscilla never forgot Robert, calling him one last time during his final days -- as he battled cancer in 2003 -- to "gently tell him she loved him."

Kim Kardashian SKIMS Happy Holidays from The Mahomes Family!!!

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The holidays are right around the corner, and Kim Kardashian and her SKIMS marketing elves are hard at work, this time with a little assistance from one of the biggest names in sports.

Check out the latest SKIMS campaign to drop Thursday, featuring none other than Kansas City Chiefs superstar Patrick Mahomes, and his wife Brittany with their adorable kiddos; 2-year-old daughter Sterling and 11-month-old son, Patrick, "Bronze."

The family is helping Kim's brand launch its annual Holiday Shop with items for the whole family ... including the winter-must-have, fleece.

We gotta say, the pics are pretty cute, and the whole family appears to be having a good time -- surrounded by teddy bears and gifts.

As for the campaign itself, Patrick seems pretty pumped, adding, "This is our first campaign as a family, and shooting for SKIMS all together was an awesome moment."

It was Snoop Dogg and his family who did the honors for the SKIMS holiday campaign last year, with 3 generations of the rapper's family appearing in photos ... but the pivot to an athlete makes a lot of sense considering the recent launch of SKIMS Men's line.

Remember, Kim and team recruited soccer, basketball and football stars -- Nick Bosa to be exact -- for the reveal of the new items ... and as we first reported, sales went through the roof.

Jared Leto Scales Empire State Building In Honor of Upcoming Tour

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SCALING EMPIRE STATE

King Kong ain't got s*** on Jared Leto ... not after he scaled the tippy-top of the Empire State Building simply to promote his band 30 Seconds to Mars' new tour.

The singer/actor took to the sky above NYC Thursday morning, telling the 'TODAY' hosts he made it to the top of the iconic skyscraper -- something that had always been a goal of his.

He says on his way up, he stopped around the 80th floor where he saw his mom inside, which was a nice surprise ... but when he got to the top of the 102-floor building, he said the views were pretty incredible, especially as the sun started to rise.

The feat wasn't done without a bit of bloodshed, however -- showing hosts Al Roker, Savannah Guthrie, Carson Daly, Craig Melvin and Sheinelle Jones his beat-up paws ... but it sounds like it was worth it.

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SKY HIGH

Jared's big climb wasn't just a bucket list check-off -- he's also promoting the upcoming world tour for his band, 30 Seconds to Mars ... which kicks off in March.

Gotta admit, it's a pretty unique way to sell tickets.

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LIGHT WORK

The guy's no stranger to daring climbs like this ... he's been scaling buildings and some insane rock formations for a while now, all of which certainly prepared him for his grueling skyscraper milestone.

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SPIDER-LETO

As we reported, Jared scaled a Berlin hotel in June, making his way up without rope or a harness to keep him safe -- just a true free climb. While he didn't get that high up, it was still pretty dangerous ... but nothing like Thursday's big accomplishment!

Logan Paul Shower Time With WWE U.S. Champ Belt ... Check Out My Hardware

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Logan Paul turned his U.S. Championship belt into a censor bar this week -- the WWE Superstar posted a completely naked shower snap on social media ... with only his new, shiny addition covering his junk!!

The Maverick -- who won his first wrestling title over the weekend after beating Rey Mysterio at Crown Jewel -- shared a few snaps of his life as the champ on Thursday ... and let's just say he's been getting some quality time with the hardware.

The 28-year-old clearly wouldn't let his new belt leave his side as he went about his daily routine -- spooning in bed with his fiancée, Nina Agdal, enjoying a rooftop stogie, working out ... and even when he was rinsing off!!

A lot of Logan's followers cracked jokes in the comments ... with one person saying, "Nahhh no one is wearing that belt after the last pic 😂" and another going a bit more blunt by adding, "Bro got his meat all up on da belt."

It's been an insane start for Logan's wrestling career -- the dude has fought big names like Roman Reigns, Seth Freakin' Rollins, Ricochet and The Miz over the past year and a half ... and now, he can finally call himself a champion.

WWE might need some disinfectant wipes on deck ... just in case he ever loses the belt.

Wynonna Judd Clings To Jelly Roll During CMA Awards Performance ... Fans Worried About Her

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6:20 AM PT -- Wynonna Judd has clearly seen the criticism and worry from her fans, posting a video to address the performance -- she blames the whole thing on nerves, saying she wanted to be at her best for Jelly Roll. Wynonna says she was simply holding on for dear life ... and will be back on the road for another show.

Wynonna Judd clung to Jelly Roll during their performance Wednesday night at the Country Music Awards -- and now her fans are worried something is wrong with her.

The country music legend hit the stage with JR to sing a duet of Jelly's tune, "Need A Favor," at the 2023 CMA Awards in Nashville.

At one point, Wynonna walked over to Jelly and grabbed his arm, giving off the impression she needed help to stay on her feet. It's unclear if Wynonna was experiencing some type of health issue, but she was able to polish off the song and leave the stage on her own.

Still, her fans took to social media and voiced their concerns after watching her seemingly unsteady performance. Remember, Wynonna lost her iconic mother, Naomi, to suicide in 2022, so she's had a rough time lately.

One fan wrote on X, "She could barely walk. She took baby steps."

Another one asked, "Am I the only one concerned for @Wynonna."

A third person observed, "Something is wrong with her. Hope she is ok. Wynonna Judd is holding on to Jelly Roll for dear life #CMAawards."

And a fourth freaked out, "It was seriously bizarre. I wonder what’s going on? She barely moved once she got a death grip on him."

In some good news from the show ... Jelly Roll took home the trophy for "Best New Artist."

Congrats, JR!!

Originally Published -- 6:10 AM PT

Olivia The Corgi Member of 'Hammy & Olivia' Dead At 8 ... After Kidney Emergency

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Olivia the Corgi -- known as 1/2 of the famous doggy duo "Hammy & Olivia" -- has died ... this according to her owner, Chris, who broke down in tears telling fans about her recent health emergency.

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SHARING THE HEARTBREAKING NEWS

Chris got extremely emotional in Wednesday's video, telling people Olivia passed peacefully after an emergency -- saying she was unable to empty her kidneys and he and his partner, Sarah, made the tough call to put her down ... adding, "We just didn't want her to suffer."

He rightfully says the family is "crushed" by the sudden death ... adding she was his best friend, and is urging his fellow pet owners to love their furry friends a bit extra today.

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OLIVIA'S BEST MOMENTS

Olivia and Hammy rose to viral fame in 2020, gaining traction for their hilarious videos together -- getting decked out and hilarious costumes and even barking in a handful of comedic sketches, too.

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Their stardom didn't end online, however ... because the pups -- along with Chris and Sarah, of course -- made it onto shows like "Access Hollywood" and several L.A. local news programs to talk about their recent dog food cookbook, "Barkcuterie."

Olivia was only 8 years old.

RIP

For more viral news, tune in to the TMZ Verified Podcast. Dropping every Thursday on all podcast platforms.

Blob Discovery ET Sighting in Australia ... Then Again, Maybe It's Just a fish!!!

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It seemed like we finally had proof of life outside planet Earth when a bizarre-looking creature washed up on the Western shores of Australia ... but now we know what it is, and it's a real shock.

The blob has the appropriate name -- Coffin Ray -- aka a Numbfish.

Get this ... Mr. Ray produces a shock of more than 200 volts  ... it's 20 times more powerful than the device divers use to shock sharks into retreat mode.

One of the folks who had a bad experience with a Coffin Ray compared it to touching an electric fence.

Although Coffin Rays don't seem to like the U.S.A., divers say they've seen a bunch of them in the shallow waters of Australia, where they bury themselves in the sand.

Watch where you step, Aussies!

Janelle Evans Son Has No Contact With Her & David ... Best He's Been in Awhile

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Jenelle Evans' teenage son, Jace, has been keeping his distance from his mom and her husband, David Eason ... and we're told the kid's happier now than he's been in a long time.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... 14-year-old Jace has zero contact with the "Teen Mom" star and David, as he's been living with Jenelle's mom, Barbara, while he remains under custody of Child Protective Services. Sources say Barbara also isn't in contact with Jenelle or David.

TMZ broke the story, David was charged with child abuse in a case involving Jace ... allegedly roughing up the teen and causing "marks on the right arm and left and right side of the neck," according to court docs.

The docs also say Jace's injuries weren't sustained by accident ... and the date of the alleged incident was the same day Jace slipped out his bedroom window and ran away from home.

We're told Jace is glad to be back living with his grandma ... and the place feels like home to him. Jenelle just regained custody of Jace earlier this year, so he's really spent most of his childhood in Barbara's care.

He also recently enrolled in a brand new school after being out for the past few months. You'll recall, he was reported as a runaway after getting in trouble at school back in August.

As for David, he's set to appear in court at the end of the month for the child abuse misdemeanor charges that were filed against him.

Kel Mitchell I'm On 'Road To Recovery' ... After Hospitalized In L.A.

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"Good Burger" and "Kenan & Kel" star Kel Mitchell is now at home and on the road to recovery after his mysterious hospitalization ... something he's calling "genuinely frightening."

Kel broke his silence about the ordeal Wednesday night, saying on Instagram, "Grateful for the flood of prayers and positive vibes" -- adding, "The scare was real, but so was the support."

The 45-year-old goes on to say, "With the grace of God and the skill of the medical team, I'm now on the road to recovery at home, embraced by the love of my family" ... and he's shouting out all the folks who wished him well while spending time at the hospital.

Fans have been sounding off in the comments ... wishing him well, and asking what happened to land him in the ER -- but he's staying silent for the time being.

TMZ broke the story, Kel was admitted into a Los Angeles-area hospital Tuesday night, coming in through the facility's emergency room. We're told he appeared alert when he arrived.

Glad to hear you're doing well, Kel!

Gal Gadot Israeli/Palestinian Protesters Brawl in L.A. ... Near Hamas Terror Attack Film Screening

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Gal Gadot's screening of a new film about the October 7 Hamas terror attack on Israel turned into a battleground of sorts ... as protestors clashed outside the Los Angeles theater where it was shown.

About 150 people attended Wednesday night's screening of the extremely graphic 47-minute film titled, "Bearing Witness to the October 7th Massacre," at the Museum of Tolerance. Media reports indicated Gadot -- who was supposed to host the event -- was MIA.

During the viewing inside, mobs of pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli demonstrators arrived outside, waving flags and shouting at one another.

Witnesses shot cell phone video of the rapidly devolving situation, which soon erupted into violence.

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PROTESTERS CLASH IN THE STREETS

Check out the footage posted to X ... protestors are seen going at it, throwing wild punches and tackling each other to the ground. One woman can be heard screaming, "Free Palestine!"

LAPD officers were dispatched to break up the fights and quell the tension. It's unclear if anyone was injured or arrested, but we've put in a call to the LAPD. So far, no word back.

Earlier this week, news reports surfaced that Gadot was planning to host the L.A. screening -- which was met with backlash.

The gruesome footage in the film was intended to show the truth of what happened that day amid many skeptics.

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SCREENING SPIRALS OUT OF CONTROL

Some people believe the terror attack was a false flag operation used by the Israelis to justify their invasion of the Gaza Strip, where the Palestinians live under Hamas rule.