4:02 PM PT -- The other woman who Jelicia says lied is firing back. She wrote on social media, "You can't threaten me with a lawyer because you're the one who dragged me into this. I wanted nothing to do with it. You mentioned my name -- otherwise, I would have kept my mouth shut. You know you're screwed, that's why you're scared."
Soccer star Maduka Okoye's baby mama, Jelicia Westhoff, is preparing to take legal action over what she claims are fake DMs circulating online ... TMZ has learned.
A source close to Jelicia tells TMZ ... she's met with lawyers after a woman posted screenshots purporting to show an Instagram direct message conversation between them.
Maduka’s insane bm getting exposed by one of his ex’s on Instagram. She admitted TODAY in the girl’s DMs that he never hit her and that they haven’t been together in nearly 2 years.
The alleged messages appear to show Jelicia denying Maduka ever abused her ... a sharp contrast to what she previously posted on social media, where she accused Maduka of cheating and abuse.
Caitlin Clark's no stranger to taking a beating on and off the court -- this time the thumping is coming from a USA Today writer who's now scrambling to clean up her own mess after the internet lost its mind.
Nancy Armour torched the Indiana Fever superstar this week in a story titled, "Caitlin Clark's flopping isn't just annoying -- it's becoming dangerous" ... where she argues CC's dramatics are putting the safety of Black and queer WNBA players at risk.
The reaction was fast and furious. Fellow media members and sports fans ripped the piece as over-the-top and totally unfair.
On Thursday, Armour admitted she missed the mark ... while still standing by the core of her attack.
"In my recent column, I made an inartful comparison with the murder of Emmett Till," she wrote. "I intended to connect the issues the WNBA is currently facing with its All-Star Game being hosted in Till’s hometown of Chicago. I obviously did not provide enough context for that."
Then she doubled down.
"However, this point stands: There is a history in this country of perceived threats to white women being weaponized against African-Americans, and the danger that poses to Black players in the league. Players have been abused online and have reported receiving death threats. That has to be taken more seriously."
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Whether the clarification cools things off remains to be seen.
A private investigator connected to D4vd's case was kicked out of the courtroom during the preliminary hearing ... and apparently it's because he might end up being a witness in the potential murder trial.
Here's the deal ... the private eye was booted from the courtroom Thursday after prosecutor Beth Silverman pointed out to the judge that he was present during grand jury testimony -- and could be called as a potential witness somewhere down the line.
Potential witnesses -- besides alleged victims likeCeleste Rivas' family -- are barred from the preliminary hearing ... so the judge ruled this dude had to go.
A Connecticut man savagely beat his father to death with a baseball bat outside their home before the suspect was fatally shot by police .... and it was all captured on chilling video.
Connecticut's Office of the Inspector General released the shocking body cam footage this week ... and it begins with a police officer racing to the Meriden residence on July 19 ... encountering a harrowing scene.
When he pulls up in his squad car, the cop jumps out with his sidearm drawn and approaches 38-year-old Robert Jenkins III, who is armed with a bat. Jenkins is standing over his father, 69-year-old Robert Jenkins Jr., who is lying helpless and motionless on the ground.
Rep. Gabe Amosays Elon Musk's "historically accurate" A.I. remake of "The Odyssey" sounds more like a personal fantasy ... one where everybody looks exactly the same.
Charliecaught the Rhode Island congressman on the Hill Thursday and asked about Musk's bold promise to have Grok produce a full-length version of Homer's epic before the end of the year.
Musk says his version will be faithful to both history and Homer's iconic literature -- but Amo mocked the idea ... predicting a cast of look-alikes and tying that vision to Elon's Afrikaner roots in South Africa.
11:39 AM PT -- Sources close to VERZUZ, a rap battle series, tell TMZ ... Thursday night's event will continue as planned.
Rapper YG had a run-in with cops Thursday morning during a SWAT response ... but he was ultimately released ... TMZ has learned.
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... the SWAT team responded around 7 AM PT in Burbank, CA. YG was detained during the police response before officers eventually let him go.
Sources tell TMZ ... CHP was the lead agency on the matter and Burbank SWAT assisted.
We're told cops were executing a search warrant for the investigation into Drakeo the Ruler's murder -- the property is connected to YG, who had beef with the late rapper but has denied any involvement.
A CHP official tells TMZ ... YG was not arrested ... he was detained during the search warrant and released.
President Donald Trump has a message for Andrew and Tristan Tate, who are entangled in another international legal mess ... smell ya later, bros.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told the media Thursday that Trump has no plans to intervene while the Tates await extradition to the United Kingdom after they were arrested in Florida on charges of rape, sex trafficking and pornography.
During the White House press briefing, Leavitt quickly throws cold water on the rumor that Trump is the super misogynistic influencers' knight in shining golf attire.
Kim Zolciak's boyfriend, Kyle Mowitz, claims his estranged wife wasn't telling the truth about her relationship with Kim's estranged husband, Kroy Biermann ... and now he's asking a judge to keep the former NFL star away from his kids.
According to court docs, obtained by TMZ, Kyle saysJillian Green testified during a deposition in their divorce that she and Kroy were "just friends" and had only met once and weren't continuing to talk.
Kyle says Jillian also testified she didn't expect to have an ongoing relationship with Kroy and had no plans of having him around her children.
But months later, Kyle claims he found Kroy's vehicle parked outside the family's home while their kids were there. He also says text messages produced during the divorce show Jillian communicated with Kroy far more than she admitted under oath.
Don't lose your breath, but Destiny's Child is so back ... they're going to be dropping a bunch of new music for the group's upcoming 30th anniversary, TMZ has learned.
Beyonce's father, Mathew Knowles, tells TMZ ... Destiny's Child has 10 to 15 remixes locked and loaded, including an urban and dance mix.
As of right now, it's unclear if the tracks will be released as an album ... but Mathew tells us Beyonce, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams are all on board for the new drop.
The driver in the crash that killed "Godzilla vs. Kong" actress Kaylee Hottlewas NOT impaired by alcohol ... though investigators in Maryland are still waiting to learn whether drugs were involved.
The Frederick County Sheriff's Office tells TMZ ... they have ruled out alcohol impairment for the 19-year-old driver, but results from a drug test have not yet come back.
As for whether the driver could face criminal charges ... the sheriff's office says "that is still under investigation."
Rep. Jonathan Jacksonsays the Nolan Wells death investigation down in Mississippi has all the makings of a potential cover-up ... and he thinks race is playing a factor.
Jacobcaught up with the Congressman from Illinois Thursday on Capital Hill ... and Rep. Jackson raised a bunch of issues with Nolan's death and the police response.
Rep. Jackson believes there is a pattern of deception, denial and cover-up ... and says the blame starts with local law enforcement.
The way Rep. Jackson sees it ... Mississippi authorities are bungling the investigation and failing to press the young people who were with Nolan for answers ... and he wants the feds to take over the probe.
Phil Mickelson's marriage looks like it may be in the rough ... because his longtime wife was just spotted out in public without her wedding ring ... just as Phil is embroiled in misconduct allegations.
Amy Mickelson's ring finger was noticeably bare Tuesday when she went on a grocery run with their daughter, Amanda Brynn Mickelson.
Take a closer look ... Amy's left hand is a barren wasteland with no rings in sight as she holds her Trader Joe's bag.
Ty Lawson is breaking his silence after his most recent arrest ... claiming he's never experienced such racism in his life -- and he's calling out a "pasty face white woman" for lying.
The former Denver Nuggets star went to social media on Tuesday ... saying, "Being black in America is tough…. Being lied by a pasty face white woman wild… stay outta castle rock Colorado!!!!"
He continued ... "This the wildest and more racist s*** I been thru."
