A source with direct knowledge tells TMZ ... Rick claims his actions were in self-defense during the altercation that led to his recent arrest. He claims his girlfriend was the instigator in the fight.
Our sources say the two have not lived together since the incident, and he has no interest in reconciling.
Rashee Rice has another major headache off the football field ... the Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver has filed for bankruptcy, claiming he's more than $3.45 million in debt.
According to court records cited by ESPN, Rice filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy Wednesday in Texas ... claiming he has just $677,000 in assets against his mountain of debt.
A massive chunk of that debt comes from Rashee's legal troubles ... with more than $2.1 million tied to civil lawsuits involving his 2024 Dallas car crash.
3:34 PM PT --Bryan Seaver's attorney, Dominic J. Leonardo, tells TMZ ... "Mr. Seaver cares deeply about his Aunt Dolly, her music, her family, and the incredible legacy she left behind. He has made a career out of protecting his aunt while she was alive and remains committed to Dolly and his entire family. Mr. Seaver is grateful to put this misunderstanding behind him so that the entire family can continue to grieve peacefully and ensure that the bright light of Dolly's legacy remains entirely untouched."
Dolly Parton's nephew Bryan Seaver just scored a major legal victory ... because the late legend's manager has dropped the lawsuit against him.
According to Rolling Stone, Danny Nozell filed a notice of voluntary dismissal of his lawsuit Thursday ... in the suit, Danny alleged Bryan had threatened Dolly's business empire.
The dismissal comes before a hearing scheduled for Tuesday ... and before Danny needed to respond to Bryan's denial of the allegations.
The gunman who killed a woman and injured five others in a deadly rampage at Citibank's campus in Florida was also shot ... and video shows a heroic security guard hitting his target.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office released video from the shooting ... it shows suspect Jacob Pearson entering a building armed with a rifle on Wednesday after smashing his car into the front gate.
The footage is difficult to watch ... it shows the moment Pearson was shot by Citibank's Vice President and Intelligence Lead Analyst, John Fraley. He fired multiple shots and hit the gunman. Pearson later died at the hospital.
Flyysoulja from the Island Boys is setting the record straight about his recent hospitalization ... telling TMZ he didn't actually suffer a drug overdose, but instead experienced drug-induced psychosis.
Flyysoulja tells TMZ ... doctors clarified his diagnosis after his hospitalization, explaining he suffered a psychotic episode brought on by drug use and sleep deprivation. He says no Narcan was administered during the medical emergency.
The rapper, whose real name is Alex Venegas, tells us medical professionals caught the psychosis as soon as it began and were able to address it immediately.
Sen. Ruben Gallego is looking for an upgrade on Capitol Hill ... and while he's eyeing a better office, he's also got his sights set on Elon Musk, whom he wants hauled before Congress.
Jacob caught up with the Arizona senator Thursday in D.C. ... and Gallego kicked things off by showing off his tie-tying skills, managing to knot a double Windsor on the sidewalk in under 30 seconds. Pretty impressive stuff.
But the real inside scoop came when Gallego explained how senators play musical chairs with their offices after elections ... with senior lawmakers getting first dibs on the best spaces.
Vince Neil's girlfriend has been arrested for domestic assault after allegedly attacking the rocker in Tennessee ... TMZ has learned.
According to inmate records obtained by TMZ ... Rain Hannah was booked Sunday for domestic-related assault.
A source tells TMZ ... she was arrested for allegedly assaulting Vince. We're told they got into an argument -- it's unclear what it was about -- when she allegedly started destroying his house and assaulted the Motley Crue frontman.
Hugh Hefner is the last man Karissa Shannon wants her unborn son to take after ... and she's already planning to raise him differently.
The former Playboy Playmate told Page Six she's determined to raise her son, Genesis, to be the complete opposite of Hef ... saying she wants him to be a gentleman with manners who "leads with his heart."
Karissa also revealed she's engaged to a mystery man, whom she describes as a "simple, blue-collar guy" from Canada.
Governor Gavin Newsom just commuted the sentences of all 548 prisoners on death row in California in what is one of the largest single-day acts of clemency in U.S. history ... but that doesn't mean they're being freed from prison.
Newsom detailed his decision in an open letter Thursday, writing ... "State-sanctioned killing is incompatible with California's values, undermines the foundations of our legal system and diminishes each of us."
The governor added ... "I know we cannot execute people in our imperfect legal system and remain true to our core values, first among them justice and human decency."
The Miss USA organization and its CEO are firing back at former Miss North Carolina USA, Brittany Boltinhouse, who is suing after she was stripped of her crown ... TMZ has learned.
In court docs, obtained by TMZ, Miss USA's leader, Thom Brodeur, slammed Brittany's lawsuit, in which she claimed the pageant execs defamed her.
Thom and the organization argued their public statements about the matter didn't defame Brittany. They claim the statement did not name Brittany … and say, even if they did, it would still be an expression of opinion … and you can't sue someone for defamation over stating their opinion.
Miss USA and Thom also insist Brittany already admitted to using racist slurs in social media posts … and therefore her lawsuit is nonsense.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Riley Keough are taking their Hollywood friendship off the set and onto the streets of New York City ... grabbing dinner together after a long day of filming.
The stars were spotted strolling through the Big Apple together Wednesday, sharing laughs and animated conversation as they made their way to dinner.
A source familiar with the outing tells TMZ ... Aaron and Riley broke bread after wrapping filming for the day on their upcoming Netflix series, "Enigma Variations."
Body cam footage from Perez Hilton's shocking suicide attempt has been released ... showing the disturbing aftermath inside his home as first responders rushed to help him.
Much of the footage, obtained by TMZ, has been redacted ... with Perez blurred out as emergency crews place him on a stretcher and transport him to an ambulance. However, blood can be seen on the walls of his home as first responders attend to him.
As we reported ... cops rushed to Perez's home back in August after receiving reports of his actions in an alarming live stream.
Your Thirsty Thursday treat is here ... can you guess the babe from Brazil showcasing her coconuts?!?
TikTok is her claim to fame ... she is most recognized for her dance videos, beauty, and fashion content ... but she's also brought her good looks to Sports Illustrated and the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.
Gavin Newsom is sparing hundreds of inmates from execution in California ... but Los Angeles County's top prosecutor says the governor can't wipe out the death penalty entirely.
In a statement Thursday, District Attorney Nathan Hochman acknowledged Newsom has the constitutional power to commute death sentences ... but stressed, "That power does not extend to eliminating the death penalty."
Hochman pointed out California voters have twice rejected efforts to eliminate the death penalty ... pointing out only voters or the state Legislature can change that law.
