Stolen Hearse Stolen Hearse Found!!! After Cop Chase Ends in Crash

UPDATE

8:09 AM PT -- The stolen hearse was involved in a police pursuit before it ended in a crash on the 110 Freeway in L.A. The driver has been taken into custody and law enforcement has confirmed the casket with the body is still on board.

Who ya gonna call? The Ghostbusters ain't in L.A. yet, so instead the Sheriff's Dept. is on the job, searching for a hearse, fully-loaded -- if ya get our drift -- that was stolen from a church.

Yeah, someone boarded the Hell Express and jacked a black Lincoln Navigator Wednesday night from outside a Greek Orthodox church in Pasadena ... according to cops. The luxury ride was carrying a casket containing a deceased woman who was going to be delivered to a different location.

The theft strikes even L.A. cops as especially bizarre ... or macabre.

The L.A. County Sheriff's Department tweeted a helpful hint to the suspect, saying ... "Out of all the bad decisions you have made, at least make one good one & bring back the deceased person & casket inside the Navigator."

If you're in SoCal, the Navigator hearse has the California license plate 7ZDG618.

Look for flames too. If the Sheriff doesn't catch 'em, we're thinking Satan will.

Originally Published -- 7:12 AM PT

Affleck, Damon & Driver Play Dress-Up for 'The Last Duel'

Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Adam Driver are dialing things way back -- to the 1300s, that is -- for their next film.

The trio are on the set of Ridley Scott's next period drama, "The Last Duel," in Sarlat, France. The film -- set in Medieval times -- stars Matt and Adam playing real-life knights and best friends, Jean de Carrouges and Jacques Le Gris. You 'memba them, right?

The revenge thriller has a pretty insane storyline ... after Jean returns from the war, he accuses Jacques of raping his wife. Jean turns to King Charles VI to do something about it and he orders a duel to the death. It's a double whammy for Jean because if he loses, not only is he a goner but his wife will also be burned to death.

Ben, rocking a blonde 'do, plays a supporting role in the film, which is expected to come out in late 2020 or early 2021. He was initially set to play the role of Jacques before Adam joined the cast.

This is also the first time Ben and Matt are working together on a film since 2004's "Jersey Girl." If that's less than encouraging ... the BFFs co-wrote this script -- along with Nicole Holofcener. It's their first time doing that since their 1998 Oscar winner, "Good Will Hunting."

How do you like them apples?

Kobe Bryant's Sister Tribute Tattoo ... for Kobe and Gianna

UPDATE

9:49 AM PT -- Vanessa Bryant just showed her appreciation for Sharia's tattoo ... writing on her social media page, "Love you @shariawash - ❤️. #Gigi #Kobe 2~24 forever."

Kobe Bryant's big sister just got a permanent tribute to Kobe and Gianna -- a brand new tattoo with their numbers encircled by a Black Mamba snake.

Sharia Bryant Washington -- the oldest of the Bryant siblings -- hit up tattoo artist Peter Barrios for the work ... and it turned out pretty great.

You can see the numbers 2 and 24 (worn by Gianna and Kobe, respectfully) -- with the Black Mamba snake in the shape of the infinity symbol.

In other words ... Gianna and Kobe forever.

In the past few weeks, a bunch of people who knew Kobe and Gianna have opted for tats -- everyone from LeBron James and Anthony Davis to J.R. Smith and Shareef O'Neal.

Odell Beckham and rapper The Game also got Kobe-inspired body art.

Lamar Odom, who was extremely close with Kobe, told us he's strongly considering a Kobe tat and will likely get one soon.

It's been more than a month since Kobe, Gianna and 7 others passed away in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, Ca.

As we previously reported, Kobe's widow, Vanessa Bryant, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the company that operated the doomed chopper essentially blaming the pilot for the crash.

Originally Published -- 6:06 AM PT

'Bachelorette' Alum Chad Johnson 86'd from Charity Boxing Match ... After Dom. Violence Arrest

Chad Johnson is getting a TKO even before his "Battle of the Bachelors" boxing match, because organizers want nothing to do with an alleged domestic violence abuser.

TMZ has learned Chad, the bad boy from JoJo's season of "The Bachelorette," just got axed from next month's fight for charity at SoCal's Commerce Casino. Hearts Entertainment is putting on the event and its CEO, Bruce Thomas, tells us, "In no way shape or form do we condone the type of behavior Chad Johnson's been accused of."

TMZ broke the story ... Chad was busted Monday night following a heated argument with his GF, Annalise Mishler. She alleges things got physical, and responding cops say they found visible red marks on her face.

Johnson was arrested for felony domestic violence and also robbery ... for allegedly snatching Annalise's phone while she called 911.

2/26/20
CHAD'S EXPLANATION

He's admitted on camera to getting heated, throwing a phone and punching a hole in Annalise's wall -- but he denies getting physical with her.

Just last week Chad was at a boxing gym prepping to be the main event, and talking major smack ... even though he didn't yet have an opponent for the April 23 bout.

We're told the new main event is 'Bachelorette' fan favorites, Robby Hayes and Luke Pell ... who are also alums from JoJo's season.

Even though Johnson's out, we're told proceeds will now be split between Safe Horizon -- a domestic violence victims group -- and the event's original charity, the Grand Bahama Disaster Relief Foundation.

Ethan Suplee Tricking Trump Into Dieting Won't Work ... He'll Just Pig Out Later!!!

YOU GOTTA WANT IT
TMZ.com

Ethan Suplee knows what it's like to have a diet forced on him, so he thinks President Trump's never gonna fall for covert cauliflower ... until he's onboard to change his diet.

We got the "Remember the Titans" star Tuesday at LAX, and his own incredible body transformation was apparent ... so we asked him about Trump's former physician saying they tried to improve his health by "putting cauliflower into the mashed potatoes."

Ethan tells us back when he was overweight, his family tried to put him on all kinds of diets but it never worked ... it just made him sneak unhealthy foods. He believes the same will happen with POTUS -- he'll seek out Popeyes and Chick-Fil-A later.

According to Ethan ... the only way a diet or exercise regimen will work for the Prez, or anyone else, is if they really want it, and it can't be forced.

Case in point, the actor tells us chef Andre Rush -- a guest on Ethan's "American Glutton" podcast -- has said Trump can have any healthy meal he wants 24/7, but tends to fall back on his fast-food habit.

When and IF Trump decides to change on his own, Ethan Suplee believes he won't regret it.

We don't wanna say there's a fat chance of that happening, but ... oh well, we just did.

Ray J & Princess Love Still Married ... But Living Separately

Ray J and Princess Love are still husband and wife -- doing the whole co-parenting thing -- but they're not back under the same roof, and that's just the way they like it for now.

Sources close to the couple tell TMZ ... they still haven't reconciled after she claimed in November he'd "stranded" her and their daughter, Melody, in Vegas after a heated argument. Remember, Princess was weeks away from giving birth to their second child at the time.

We're told they're getting along fine now ... doing family stuff together with no drama or arguing. This includes over the holidays, which is also when they welcomed their baby boy, Epik.

Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.

Our sources say the couple's living situation -- Princess stays at her luxury Beverly Hills condo while Ray J's at a nearby bachelor pad -- helps keep the peace. We're told she keeps the kids but Ray comes by to visit daily, and he has their dogs at his house.

As for the potential threat of divorce ... our sources say there's zero talk of that currently, and they're using the time apart to focus on themselves and being good parents. Princess, we're told, is very happy with the current set up.

That doesn't mean Ray J's not still trying to make amends though ... our sources say he went all out for Valentine's Day, covering the Bev Hills condo with more than 2,000 roses for both Princess and Melody.

STILL MAD ...
TMZ.com

As we've reported ... Princess said she was done with the marriage after the Vegas incident, and Ray J briefly stopped wearing his wedding ring. He had it back on a few days later, though ... but said Princess was still mad.

We're told things are looking a lot better now, but clearly, they still have plenty of smoothing out to be done.

Floyd Mayweather $11k Shoe Shopping Spree ... At NYC Sneaker Shop

TRUE TO HIS NICKNAME
TMZSports.com

It was a regular Wednesday afternoon in the life of Floyd Mayweather ... which means he hit up a high-end sneaker shop in NYC and dropped an INSANE amount of dough.

The boxing superstar and his entire crew dropped by Flight Club near Union Square Park and you already know TBE didn't leave empty-handed.

Check out the video ... Floyd walks out of the store followed by his bodyguards -- one carrying what appears to be 8 bags.

We're told Mayweather copped several pairs of sneaks -- including multiple pairs of rare Nike Air Force 1's -- coming in at a combined price tag of $11,000.

Obviously, these aren't your normal $90 dollar AF1's ... these are special and hard to get.

So, why the huge haul? We're told Floyd has new TMT sweatsuits that are dropping soon ... and he wanted to get coordinating kicks.

$11k might sound like a lot of money ... and it is. Unless you're Floyd ... who according to Forbes, made almost a billion dollars last decade.

Give me 10 pairsssssssssssss 💸 ... you know you were thinkin' it.

Guess Who This School Kid Turned Into!

Before she was co-ruling empires in the TV world music industry, this schoolgirl was posing for cute yearbook pics and cheesing for the camera.

Getting her start in acting in the early 1990s, this eventual rock star would go on to star in some of the biggest shows and movies in the 2000s and 2010s ... and it doesn't look like she's gonna slow her roll either.

Some of her most notable appearances were in "Baby Boy," "Hustle & Flow," "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (for which she got an Oscar nom) as well as comedies like "Think Like a Man," "What Men Want" and slew of Tyler Perry films too.

Perhaps her most famous role though ... playing Lucious Lyon's wife, Cookie, on "Empire," where she's reigned supreme for at least 4 years now.

Ever versatile ... she's shown her range in movies time and again. And, at this rate, we're sure to see her more and more.

Can you guess who she is?

Maitland Ward on Spielberg Your Daughter in Porn ... Don't Worry, She'll Be Protected!!!

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS
TMZ.com

Steven Spielberg is reportedly worried about his daughter jumping into the adult entertainment scene -- but he's got nothing to sweat about ... so says Maitland Ward.

We spoke to the former "Boy Meets World" star-turned-porn star Wednesday in L.A. and asked her to weigh in on the famed director's adopted child, Mikaela Spielberg, announcing she's now a porn star ... and dad apparently not being thrilled about it behind closed doors.

At first, Mikaela said her parents seemed pretty supportive about her career choice ... which Maitland says is awesome and how more parents should look at it if their kid goes down that road. But, when we point out Steve is said to have been privately "concerned" and "embarrassed" over the whole thing ... Maitland says she gets that side of it too.

Fact is ... it might be surprising for parents to hear, but with more talking -- the more Maitland feels people will come around to the porn scene being part of the entertainment biz. And, as far as Mikaela goes, MW thinks her name alone will keep her safe and sound.

Mikaela, who's 23 years old BTW, isn't doing hardcore stuff yet -- just solo on-camera performances. If she makes that next step to include more people, that's where Steve might need to fret a bit, according to Maitland. Even then though ... she says she'll be fine.

Oh, and check out what sorta porno spoof Maitland says she wouldn't mind doing with Spielberg's little girl. There are tons of options, but she settles for a classic.

College Admissions Scandal Rick Singer Says FBI Told Him to Lie about Bribery ... And When he Wouldn't He Got Yelled At

UPDATE

5:23 PM PT -- Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli just filed their own motion regarding the exculpatory evidence prosecutors finally produced ... and their docs include even more notes from Singer.

UPDATE

After Singer described the "loud and abrasive" call he added, "Essentially they (FBI agents) are asking me to bend the truth which is what they asked me not to do when working with the agents and Eric Rosen (Asst. U.S. Attorney)."

UPDATE

Singer also noted that someone named Liz, presumably a federal agent, "raised her voice to me like she did in the hotel room about agreeing with her that everyone bribed the schools. This time about asking each person to agree to a lie I was telling them."

UPDATE

According to the motion, filed by Lori and Mossimo's attorney Sean Berkowitz, Singer also noted the "Government's desire to 'nail' one of the defendants 'at all costs.'" The defendant they referred to was not Lori or Mossimo.

UPDATE

The docs, obtained by TMZ, also say Singer's notes demonstrate that "those agents attempted to bully him into lying and saying something different" from what he told clients prior to the FBI beginning its wiretapping.

UPDATE

As Berkowitz says in the docs, Singer's notes are "devastating to the Government's case and demonstrate[] that the Government has been improperly withholding core exculpatory information, employing a 'win at all costs' effort rather than following their obligation to do justice."

UPDATE

For now, Lori and Mossimo are requesting a postponement of setting a trial date, which was scheduled to happen Thursday in a Boston federal court -- but their motion also informs the court they're considering filing motions to dismiss and motions for sanctions against prosecutors for withholding this evidence.

UPDATE

They also point out prosecutors' lengthy delay in handing over Singer's notes has already screwed over defendants who took plea deals "without the benefit of this evidence."

The FBI told the ringleader in the college admissions scandal to lie and say his clients knew he was bribing college officials, and when he wouldn't play ball they yelled at him ... this according to Rick Singer himself.

It's a stunning, possible game-changing development in the case. One of the parents who's being prosecuted -- Elisabeth Kimmel -- filed legal docs Wednesday claiming the government just belatedly produced notes from Singer's iPhone.

Singer writes, "Loud and abrasive call with agents. They continue to ask me to tell a fib and not restate what I told my clients as to where there [sic] money was going -- to the program, not the coach and that it was a donation and they want it to be a payment."

In other words, Singer says he told his clients the money they were paying was a donation to the school, not a bribe to a coach.

Singer's notes have implications that go far beyond Elisabeth Kimmel. Fact is ... Lori Loughlin and other parents will benefit from the new revelation because it goes to the heart of the government's case -- namely, where the parents thought the money was going. If they thought it was going to the school, prosecutors may have had the rug pulled out from under them.

As we reported, Lori and other defendants have complained prosecutors have been withholding key evidence that tends to show the parents did not commit a crime. This new piece of evidence may be the smoking gun ... made all the more powerful by the fact the government didn't disclose it in a timely fashion ... not even close.

Originally published -- 2:35 PM PT

'Bachelorette' Alum Chad Johnson 'I Never Laid Hands on a Woman' ... Responds to Arrest

2/26/20
CHAD'S EXPLANATION

Ex-'Bachelorette' star Chad Johnson is breaking his silence following his arrest for domestic violence and robbery ... adamantly denying he roughed up his girlfriend.

Chad gave his side of the story Wednesday, and explained what led to the heated argument with his GF Annalise Mishler. Chad says they briefly broke up and got back together, but she got pissed when she found out he signed up for a dating app ... during their short break up.

He also says he's "100% confident any type of domestic abuse charges are gonna be dropped" because he didn't commit "any type of domestic abuse whatsoever."

2/24/20
"YOU'RE SCARIN' ME!!!"

Johnson reacted to the video Annalise posted of him yelling at her door after allegedly punching a hole in her wall. He does cop to ripping her phone away from her when she wouldn't stop recording him ... saying it was a "stupid decision."

TMZ broke the story ... Chad's argument with Annalise allegedly turned physical and responding cops say they found visible red marks on her face. He was arrested and booked for felony domestic violence and robbery.

Britney Spears This Dance Broke My Foot It's Kind of Loud!!!

FEEL LIKE DANCIN'

Britney Spears is giving pop music a whole new meaning ... it's the very loud sound her foot makes after breaking it following this electric dance routine.

You'll recall Britney's boyfriend, Sam Asghari, revealed last week Britney broke her metatarsal bone on her left foot that required a trip to the hospital. Well, fast-forward to Wednesday and Britney posted a video of the dance routine that broke her foot.

Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.

You won't see anything crazy but it's the loud pop you hear that'll make ya wanna schedule a foot rub. Britney captioned her video saying, "I haven't danced in six months so I was full throttle at this spot. And yes .... I know I'm barefoot .... don't laugh but I grip the floor better that way!!!! PS you can hear where I broke my foot here. Sorry it's kind of loud!!!!"

Britney's gonna be sidelined for a while cause she's now wearing a cast. Sam grabbed a marker and wrote "STRONGER" on it. Slow your roll next time, Brit!!!

Jennifer Lopez & Shakira Halftime Show Too Hot To Handle ... 1,300 FCC Complaints!!

"The halftime show last night was beyond inappropriate. Shakira laying on her side gyrating like sex, Lopez on a stripper pole, Lopez bending over to expose her butt crack, both performers grabbing their vaginas, Shakira grinding her butt against some tinfoil wearing man’s penis. This was incredibly offensive. My children were watching."

That was one of 1,312 super pissed-off people who complained to the FCC after Jennifer Lopez and Shakira's scorching hot Super Bowl halftime performance.

TMZ Sports requested the complaints made to the Federal Communications Commission -- a U.S. government agency which regulates television -- and it's clear while many praised the performance ... others, not so much.

"Completely inappropriate half time-show with simulated orgies, stripping, and borderline pornography. This is a family event during prime time and should never have happened," ... a viewer from Indiana wrote.

"I do not subscribe to The Playboy Channel, we do not buy porn for $20 a flick, we simply wanted to sit down as a family and watch the Super Bowl. God forbid we expected to watch football and a quick concert but instead had our eyes molested," a family from Tennessee wrote.

The continued ... "JLo’s movie Hustlers was rated R so since when is rated R viewing allowed on network TV at 7/8:00pm?"

A person from Michigan even evoked Janet Jackson's infamous wardrobe malfunction ... saying JJ's performance was "by far better," despite showing nudity.

Some people were so pissed, they say they're DONE watching football.

"That was a disgusting display allowed of something that our children can't un see!!!"

"Strip clubs have that crap with sluts performing like this! This is soft porn! Fine the NFL or stop the HALFTIME shows! Beyond INAPPROPRIATE!!! Honoring a dog killer now THIS! BOYCOTTING THE NFL!!!"

Despite all the outrage, the performance has almost 136 MILLION views on YouTube ... so someone's watching!!

John Singleton Baby Boy'z Ready for Higher Learning ... Mom Requests Allowance

John Singleton's youngest child son is growing up so fast ... little Seven is about to start preschool in Bev Hills, and the late director's baby mama wants his estate to cough up the tuition.

Rayvon Jones has filed a petition asking Singleton's estate to give her a monthly allowance of $1,078 to cover Seven's expenses. The money would cover things like the kid's clothing, groceries, gas, and phone costs ... according to the docs. The phone cost might seem weird -- Seven is only one year old, but that's an L.A. one.

In docs, Jones also requests a one-time payment of $2,450 to cover Seven's preschool registration fee to a popular Beverly Hills school. Jones, who says she used to live with Singleton and stayed home to take care of the kid, says she'll begin looking for a job to support their son once he starts preschool.

Singleton's mother, Shelia Ward, is the executor of his estate. As we first reported ... she already granted a monthly allowance request filed last year by John's daughter, Cleopatra.

Old news is old news!
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