Ex-Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh Estate Hit With $40,000 Bill ... Pay Up for Brain Art!!!
Ex-Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh is getting dogged in death by a huge bill ... and it's all over a very strange unique piece of art.
According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Tony's estate just got hit with a $40,000 bill for the delivery and installation of a custom sculpture of a human brain at Hsieh's Park City, Utah mansion.
In the docs, a Las Vegas company claims it hauled the huge piece of art to the mountains and installed it above a ceiling fan inside Tony's crib back in July 2020 -- but the company claims Hsieh never paid. Now, they're going after his estate for the $40k, plus interest.
As we reported ... Tony was only 46 when he died in November after sustaining injuries suffered during a house fire in Connecticut.
According to the docs, the company claims Tony's estate confirmed the unpaid balance and told them the payment is being processed. Not fast enough, apparently, since they've now run to court to get the dough.
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NFL's Bruce Smith There Were Gay Players on '90s Bills Teams ... Didn't Matter to Us
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Bruce Smith says he has a ton of respect for Carl Nassib for coming out -- but the Hall of Famer tells TMZ Sports gay players in the NFL is nothing new.
"We had a gay player in our locker room," Smith says ... "I think it was the mid to late 90s and I think we might have had 2 but that wasn't what we were focused on."
Remember, Smith's Bills were legendary in the '90s ... making the playoffs 8 times (including 4 Super Bowl appearances).
But, Smith says he never cared about anyone's sexual orientation -- as long as that player could ball out on the field.
"We were focused on winning games and each and every person that was in that locker room contributing to the goal at hand which was winning football games. None of that other stuff mattered. This was about winning football games and trying to be a good person."
6/21/21
Smith says he completely understands the cultural significance of having an openly gay player in the NFL -- and believes Nassib's decision to come out will have a tremendous impact.
"Obviously, we like to see the inclusion part. We like to see folks that understand that the world is changing and you have to embrace those that may be a little bit different and it's okay."
But, ultimately, Smith believes NFL locker rooms have been more inclusive than people think ... and the notion that older players wouldn't have accepted a gay teammate is just wrong.
"Judge me by my character and judge me by the way I treat people. If we show a little bit more love and compassion in the world, this will be a much better place."
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Cardi B I'm Preggo with Baby No. 2!!! Surprise @ BET Awards
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Cardi B and Offset are expecting again -- and they made the announcement in grandiose fashion ... through a joint performance at the BET Awards!!!
The couple came out with the news Sunday during the broadcast -- and didn't have to say a thing about it either ... they let their actions speak for them. The Migos came out first for a medley songs, and were later joined by CB who was decked out in a revealing outfit.
OMG!!!!!! @iamcardib breaking some MAJOR news! Pregnant and slaying 🤩#BETAwards #CulturesBiggestNight pic.twitter.com/CCF5P8h8rt
— #BETAwards (@BETAwards) June 28, 2021 @BETAwards
And by that, we mean her massive baby bump was on display ... and, clearly, she's very pregnant. Looks like she's fairly far along too at this point ... at least 6 months, if not more.
BTW, Cardi didn't just come out to stand there and look pretty -- she was straight up performing on her own as well ... rapping to songs of hers like 'Type S***', and eventually getting shoulder-to-shoulder with her hubby as the audience went crazy with applause.
#2! ♥️ @OffsetYRN pic.twitter.com/TXjj8YLbAI
— iamcardib (@iamcardib) June 28, 2021 @iamcardib
Up until now, this wasn't publicly known -- as CB has been laying fairly low of late. And now, it's obvious that was for good reason. Her team was on the ball too for this ... posting official pregnancy photos on her social media pages as soon as she took the stage.
This would be her and Offset's second child together -- of course, they also share Kulture ... who's all of 2 years old.
Looks like she's getting a little brother or sister in the near future ... congrats!!!
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Guess Who This Cute Kid Turned Into!
Before this brunette baby was an all-star actress in numerous impactful roles, she was just another cute kid taking a ride on a swing set in Lincoln, Nebraska.
This little lady got her start on the big screen in the original version of "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" ... before the hit television show starring Sarah Michelle Gellar aired 5 years later. It wasn't until later in her career when she gained critical acclaim for her inspiring portrayal of a boxer -- which secured her the winning title of Best Actress at the Academy Awards that year.
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A$AP Rocky Sweeping Rihanna Off Her Feet in NYC ... No, Literally!!!
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A$AP Rocky and Rihanna are riding off into the sunset -- or the sunrise, rather ... and we mean it in every sense of the word, 'cause a late-night date night turned into just that.
The A-list couple kept their love fest going Saturday night into the wee hours of Sunday morning ... where we're told they popped up in the lower east side of NYC after a night out, walking hand-in-hand -- and, before long, body-in-arms thanks to A$AP swooping her up.
Check out the video we got of that exact moment ... it's like straight out of a movie, and RiRi seemed to be digging every minute of it. Eventually, they drove away in a waiting SUV.
BTW, we're told this was shot around 5:30/6 AM Sunday -- so yeah, it was definitely a marathon date they were on. Eyewitnesses also say they came across a dude who seemed drunk and sprawled out over the floor ... to which A$AP/RiRi said ... yo, help him out!
Unfortunately for him, his buddies seemed to be starstruck with this sighting ... and for good reason. It's not every day you might spot this -- but then again, maybe that's changing.
Frankly, A$AP and Rihanna have been spotted out and about all over town lately ... and are NOT shy to show off their PDA, this weekend included, it seems. They're clearly gaga for one another -- and apparently want the whole wide world to know it.
We hear ya, guys ... and we see you too. 💖
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Olympic Hammer Thrower Gwen Berry Protests Nat'l Anthem ... Ahead of Tokyo Games
Gwen Berry -- a U.S. hammer thrower who'll compete at the Tokyo Olympics -- partook in what event honchos have said they won't tolerate come game day ... national anthem protests.
Berry, who's Black, did well enough Saturday at the 2020 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials in Eugene, OR to qualify for her second Olympics as a pro athlete ... but when it came to accepting her bronze medal on the podium -- "The Star-Spangled Banner" began playing.
She wasn't having any of it ... with several photos capturing the awkward moment, in which GB refused to place her hand over heart, and even turning away from the flag -- unlike her fellow competitors, who did the exact opposite.
At one point, while she was standing up there, Berry busted out a T-shirt she had on her that read "Activist Athlete" ... holding it up high, and then putting it over her head while she continued to snub the flag/anthem as it played. She didn't stop there, either.
Afterward, she was obviously asked about her demonstration. Turns out, she was pretty "pissed" by the whole thing -- accusing organizers of staging the timing of it all and playing the anthem right when they knew Gwen would get up, almost like daring her to react.
She says, "They had enough opportunities to play the national anthem before we got up there. I was thinking about what I should do. Eventually, I stayed there and I swayed ... It was real disrespectful." Berry went on to claim she was told the anthem would be played before the podium ceremony, adding, "I don't really want to talk about the anthem because that’s not important. The anthem doesn’t speak for me. It never has."
A rep for the USA Track and Field Team denied her characterization, saying the anthem is scheduled to play daily at a certain time (5:20 PM, it seems) and no sabotage was in play.
Either way, it'll be interesting to see how Berry handles anthems at the actual games here in a few weeks. The International Olympic Committee has said athletes who compete are forbidden from making scenes like this, be it political, social or otherwise.
If they choose to do so anyway, they risk being fined -- and possibly worse -- all of which will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.
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Tristan Thompson Wishes Khloe a Happy Bday ... After Very Public Split
Tristan Thompson might not be with Khloe Kardashian romantically anymore, but he's still got a lot of love for her -- which you can see in a public birthday message he sent Khloe's way.
The Boston Celtics star posted a touching tribute to his baby mama Sunday -- Khloe's 37th birthday, no less -- which was accompanied with intimate photos of them and their daughter, True, wishing her well and also thanking her for being an incredible mother, pal and more.
Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.
TT writes, "Happy birthday @khloekardashian Thank you for being not just an amazing partner, mommy and best friend but also being the kindest, caring and most loving human being I've ever met."
He goes on ... "Your love and spirit is contagious to all who've met you. Thank you for always being there for me and putting our family first. I love you so much. Have an amazing day. ❤️❤️"
It's a very sweet gesture, and it doesn't appear he cares about the backdrop of things either -- namely, the fact they just called it quits (again) after allegations of cheating (again).
It all ties back to a woman named Sydney Chase, who claimed to have had sex with Tristan not too long after he officially reunited with Khloe. He seems to have denied that -- among other cheating/paternity claims that are also floating out there -- but the scandal, apparently, proved to be too much for Khloe.
Of course, they continue to co-parent ... and still seem to care for each other. Or, at least Tristan does, anyway -- Khloe hasn't commented much on the breakup since it went down.
Anyway, happy birthday, Khlo!
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JFK Jr. Back (in the flesh???) at DT rally QAnon'ers Actually Buy It!!!
John F. Kennedy Jr. was incognito among a MAGA crowd this weekend and happily posed with Trump fans at his first public rally in a while ... that is, if you buy what QAnon's selling.
Different photos have sprung up from Saturday's gathering in Wellington, OH -- where DT held his first MAGA party in an official capacity and spewed falsehood after falsehood about the 2020 election ... while also teasing his inevitable return to politics in the near future.
Another person taking a picture with Vincent Fusca at the rally yesterday. QAnon believers think he’s JFK Jr. pic.twitter.com/z5iV6xiz54
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) June 27, 2021 @patriottakes
It was a lot of the same stuff he's regurgitated in his speeches of late -- but one of the quirky headlines to emerge from the red hat forum was photo-ops with a fella Q'ers apparently believe is the REAL JFK Jr. ... who, of course, is long dead and buried (at sea).
The dude's name is Vincent Fusca, and he's definitely a Trump supporter from what we can see on his social media. However, somehow, he's also been labeled as John John in disguise ... and is a bit of a celeb among the QAnon crowd whenever they get together.
On the left is Vincent Fusca. QAnon believers think he is JFK Jr. He is not. pic.twitter.com/0AziUbqvK5
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) June 26, 2021 @patriottakes
Folks seem more than happy to snap selfies with Vince if they spot him out -- and he's kind of hard to miss ... as he always seems to be rocking the black hat and matching outfit, not to mention his signature shaggy 'do and beard. It doesn't appear Vincent has openly embraced the wild story, but based on his Twitter feed ... he ain't batting it down either.
While we will acknowledge there might be *some* sort of a resemblance to JFK Jr. (barely one, really) ... it doesn't take a genius to know, this is obviously NOT the real McCoy.
Like we said, John died in a plane crash in 1999 (along with his wife, Carolyn, and her sister) ... and was laid to rest by the Kennedy family. It's an absolutely absurd conspiracy theory -- one which we've detailed in the past -- but Q'ers, for some reason, think he'll re-emerge after faking his death, and "re-take the country" alongside Donald Trump.
That narrative has debunked time and again after missed dates and, you know, real life ... but the Q crowd are holding out hope that their savior will return. For now, VF will do. 🤷🏽♂️
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Bow Wow Celebrates 'Verzuz' Win Against Soulja Contribution Solidified???
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The people have spoken, and they say Bow Wow beat Soulja Boy in a "Verzuz" -- which begs the question ... can Shad get a little respect on his name now??? Sheesh!
That's exactly what we asked BW Saturday in WeHo as he was leaving Catch ... this after his highly-anticipated showdown with his 2000s contemporary, which was put on in front of an audience at the Hollywood Palladium (where "Verzuz" battles have gone down lately).
Soulja and Bow Wow energy was on fire like that blunt… Marco Polo #VERZUZ pic.twitter.com/1Y3YMfKcv6
— Aria (@aria_is_chicc) June 27, 2021 @aria_is_chicc
Check out what Mr. Moss had to say when we asked if him (unofficially) winning the faceoff solidifies his contribution to music and culture ... something that's actually been in question in recent years, as Bow Wow's often been the butt of many online jokes/challenges.
Bow Wow had possibly the best answer to the question of relevance ... all you gotta do is punch his name into a search bar, and you'll quickly learn who he is. Well said, sir.
Romeo gave Bow Wow and Soulja Boy their flowers💯 #VERZUZ #souljaboyvsbowwow #Romeo pic.twitter.com/xiNlpGX7gX
— Grind Mode Joe (@GrindModeJoe) June 27, 2021 @GrindModeJoe
BTW, Lil Romeo came out as a surprise guest during the jam-packed "Verzuz" and gave both Bow Wow and Soulja their respective props ... which many say were long overdue considering their legacy and impact as it pertains to pretty much everything hip-hop.
It made for a sweet moment ... but it was just one of many highlights. At one point, Bow Wow busted out the Harlem shake -- which he made famous as a little tyke -- right around the time he was blowing up from his "Like Mike" role. We gotta say ... he hasn't lost a step!
The highlight of #VERZUZ tonight🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/P1aUQH4U6J
— Elite Media Group (@TheEliteMedia_) June 27, 2021 @TheEliteMedia_
The show ended up being an awesome walk down memory lane for pretty much anyone who was born in the '90s and grew up on Soulja and Bow Wow's music.
One last thing from our interview with BW ... he really wants people to go see 'F9' (the newest 'Fast & Furious' movie). Y'know -- 'cause he's in it and everything. Vroom, vroom.
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John Langley 'Cops' Creator Dead at 78 ... Apparent Heart Attack in MX
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John Langley, the creator of the hit TV show "Cops" has died.
Langley's reps confirmed the news to Variety, saying he passed away Saturday in Baja, Mexico of an apparent heart attack -- this while the guy was involved in an off-road race ... and was actually on the track himself. Word is, he was with his son, Zak, at the time.
He's obviously best remembered as the brains behind the long-running, real-life, crime-fighting reality show on FOX ... which aired 32 seasons and over a thousand episodes between 1989 and 2020. The series was canceled last year amid social unrest after George Floyd's murder.
Prior to that though ... "Cops" was a cultural hit, and some say it served as a giant blueprint for reality TV shows to come. Crazy as that sounds -- it IS reality TV ... just not in the way we're used to seeing it now. All the same, Langley was a trailblazer in the subgenre.
There were other law enforcement-type shows and projects JL was involved in over the years as well -- including EP titles for series like "Jail," "Vegas Strip," "Undercover Stings," "Las Vegas Jailhouse," "The Tony Rock Project" and pretty much all of the "The Amazing Video Collection" spin-offs that surfaced in the late '90s.
He also had a hand in movies and made-for-TV documentaries -- such as "Brooklyn's Finest," "Leaves of Grass," "Tiptoes," "Hollywood Vice," "Wildside," "American Expose: Who Murdered JFK?" and his first on-camera project from '83, "Cocaine Blues."
Langley was well decorated as a TV vet -- having won the American Television Award and four Emmys for his work on "Cops." He's survived by his wife, Maggie, and their children.
He was 78.
RIP
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Serena Williams I Won't Be Havin' a Ball in Tokyo ... Passes on Olympics
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Serena Williams will not be Tokyo-bound this Summer ... because she just said she's not heading to the Olympics.
It's a big blow for the games losing that kind of star power -- Serena snagged 4 gold medals in prior years, most recently in 2012.
She said Sunday at Wimbledon, "I'm actually not on the Olympic list, not that I'm aware of," adding, "If so, then I shouldn't be on it."
If that sounds a little vague, Serena cleared it up with this ... "There's a lot of reasons that I made my Olympic decision. I don't really want to. I don't feel like going into them today. Maybe another day. Sorry."
Still not enough? Well, she ended with this ... "I have not thought about it. In the past [the Olympics] has been a wonderful place for me. I really haven't thought about it, so I'm going to keep not thinking about it."
As for her Olympic hardware, in the 2000 games in Sydney she beat Maria Sharapova in singles and won doubles as well, in 2008 she won in Beijing and 2012 won doubles with her sister, Venus.
As for the present ... Serena's eying her 8th win at Wimbledon. She's up against Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus Tuesday.
Serena isn't the first to bow out of tournaments recently. Naomi Osaka passed for mental health reasons and Simona Halep was sidelined as a result of injuries.
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Pop Smoke Family Thankful for Travis Scott Dior Collab ... Let's Work Together More!!!
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Pop Smoke's family is showing Travis Scott some serious love for paying tribute to the late rapper through a fashion collection with Dior ... and they want to work with him again for future projects.
Pop Smoke's brother, Obasi Jackson, tells TMZ ... the family is thankful Travis' Cactus Jack brand made the first item in its Dior collection all about Pop, and he thinks it could be the start of a great partnership.
It's a special moment for Pop's family ... he rapped about Dior and loved the brand, and often talked about leaving the country for the first time so he could check out Paris Fashion Week, where the collab was unveiled.
Pop's bro says the family appreciated the final product, a t-shirt with Pop's face on the front and lyrics from his popular "Dior" song on the back, but more than that ... they sound inspired.
Obasi told us how Pop's family wants to get more involved on the creative side moving forward.
Business deals aside, he says seeing Pop's image on a Dior shirt is bringing up a lot of emotions ... and the family's just thankful for all the folks keeping his memory alive.
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Travis Scott Back From Paris ... What's in the Bag?!?
Travis Scott knows when you take a trip to Paris, you gotta bring back some goodies for your GF ... we're guessing that's what he did, but it's not for sure.
Travis landed at the Van Nuys Airport Saturday and deplaned with a boatload of luggage and bags, including some bearing the name "Givenchy." The bags are huge, and what's inside may rival the cost of flying private across continents.
Now Givenchy sells both men's and women's duds, so it's unclear if these are presents for Kylie. As we reported, they've rekindled their romance, so at least SOME must be for her.
Travis was in Paris for the unveiling of his Cactus Jack Dior line at the Dior fashion show. 500 folks watched the men's runway show ... the first in-person event of its kind in a year-and-a-half because of the pandemic.
The 29-year-old beat a hasty retreat from the airport in a Maybach minivan -- yeah, Maybach and minivan don't really belong in the same sentence, but there it is.
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Car-Shaped Boat Cruisin' the Waters of Egypt!!!
God help the poor soul high on weed who sees this thing cruising the waters.
Check out the powerboat designed to look like a sports car ... and guess what? There's a plan to make it amphibious.
A dude name Karim Amin and 2 of his buddies were tooling around the ocean in Alexandria, Egypt in cars that were, well, sort of James Bond-y.
In pictures: Who needs a boat if you have this car? Karim Amin and two other Egyptians who designed and invented an amphibious vehicle take it for a test float at Porto Marina in Alexandria pic.twitter.com/ejn1yhZyta
— TRT World (@trtworld) June 17, 2021 @trtworld
The "boats" can hit speeds of up to 40 MPH. They even have Bluetooth and a GPS. They say it rides more like a jet ski than a traditional boat. There are only 12 of its kind, but it seems there are plans to expand. They're working on a 2.0 which would function on land and on the sea.
As for the price ... they start at $19,000 (no power windows) and go up to $44k.
Pretty awesome, and fun.
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Former Skid Row Singer Johnny Solinger Dead at 55
11:39 AM PT -- Johnny's wife, Paula, released a statement on Facebook, saying, "Johnny passed. I was holding his hand. He went in peace. Thank you all."
Johnny Solinger, the former singer of Skid Row, has died.
Johnny passed on Saturday, a month after he disclosed he was battling liver failure.
Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.
Members of the rock band announced Solinger’s death, saying, “We are saddened to hear the news of our brother Johnny Solinger. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and fans. Godspeed Singo. Say hello to Scrappy for us.”
Solinger started a GoFundMe account last month to help pay for his treatments. He wrote: “It is with a heavy heart I must let everyone know what’s going on with me and my health. I have been hospitalised for over the last month. I have been diagnosed with liver failure. And prognosis is not so good. As with most musicians I do not have health insurance and it’s very difficult to get proper care without it.”
Skid Row hit pretty big in the late 80s and 90s with its first two albums – "Skid Row" and "Slave To The Grind." Its biggest hits ... "Youth Gone Wild," and "18 and Life" together sold 20 million albums.
Solinger became a member of Skid Row back in '99, replacing Sebastian Bach. He stayed until 2015 when he was replaced with former TNT singer Tony Harnell.
He's on several Skid Row albums, including the "Thickskin," "Revolutions Per Minute." "United World Rebellion" and "Rise Of The Damnation Army."
Solinger is survived by his wife, Paula Marcenaro Solinger.
He was 55.
RIP
Originally published -- 6:46 AM PT
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Tour de France Authorities on the Hunt for Woman Who Caused Massive Crash
It seems that massive crash Saturday during the Tour de France might have been downright criminal ... because French authorities are now on the case.
As we reported, a spectator with a cardboard sign was apparently mugging for the TV cameras when she got way too close to the racers ... striking German rider Tony Martin who was at the front of the pack.
What the heck is wrong with this fan?! It’s only Stage 1 of the #tourdefrance! pic.twitter.com/oxeQAK7WVI
— Julio Deluxe (@Julio_Deluxe) June 26, 2021 @Julio_Deluxe
She stepped in front of the racing pack holding the sign, appearing to display a message for the television cameras.
The sign hit Martin who was cycling near the head of the pack. Martin tumbled to the ground, setting off a chain reaction as nearly 2 dozen other cyclists ate it.
So now, law enforcement is on the hunt for the woman they say caused "unintentional injuries by manifestly deliberate violation of an obligation of safety or prudence." Translation, recklessness.
Authorities are asking witnesses to come forward who can ID the woman -- who quickly left the scene before investigators arrived.
Three riders had to drop out of the race after the crash.