WNBA's Maya Moore Marries Jonathan Irons Man She Helped Free from Prison

WNBA star Maya Moore just dropped a bombshell -- she MARRIED the man she helped free from prison!!

Moore -- considered one of the greatest WNBA players EVER -- had stepped away from the league in 2019 and 2020 to focus on social justice issues ... starting with freeing Jonathan Irons.

40-year-old Irons was serving a 50-year prison sentence stemming from a 1998 burglary and assault conviction in Missouri, despite no real evidence proving his guilt. Irons was only 16 at the time of the conviction.

Moore says she met Irons when she was 18 through a prison ministry program and grew close over the years while fighting for his freedom.

When he was released from prison in July, Moore was there waiting for him ... and they tied the knot shortly after.

FOUGHT FOR FREEDOM

"We wanted to announce today that we are super excited to continue the work that we are doing together, but doing it as a married couple," Moore announced on "Good Morning America."

"We got married a couple months ago and we're excited to just continue this new chapter of life together."

Moore explained the growth of their relationship ... saying, "Over the last 13 years we have just developed a friendship and just entered into this huge battle to get him home and just over time it was pretty clear what the Lord was doing in our hearts and now we're sitting here today, starting a whole new chapter together."

Irons told GMS it became clear he wanted to marry Moore while he was still locked up at the Jefferson City Correctional Center, but didn't want to make a move until he was free.

"I wanted to marry her but at the same time protect her because being in a relationship with a man in prison, it's extremely difficult and painful," Irons said.

"I didn't want her to feel trapped and I wanted her to feel open and have the ability any time if this is too much for you, go and find somebody. Live your life. Because this is hard."

Irons says he eventually proposed in a hotel room after hanging out with some close friends.

"It was just me and her in the room and I got down on my knees and I looked up at her and she kind of knew what was going on and I said, 'Will you marry me?' She said, 'Yes!'"

As for the wedding reception, Moore and Irons say they had special COVID protocols -- including guests in masks and social distancing.

Congrats!!!

Joe Exotic Jeff Lowe Has Big Money Beef With Joe's New Fashion Line

Joe Exotic just can't get Jeff Lowe off his tail ... Joe's former business partner's got beef over the 'Tiger King' star's new fashion line.

Here's the deal ... Joe has his nickname plastered all over his "REVENGE" fashion collection with Odaingerous streetwear ... but Jeff insists he's owed a cut of the profits.

Jeff's lawyer fired off a cease and desist letter to Odaingerous, obtained by TMZ, claiming he owns the trademark "Joe Exotic." Jeff's threatening a lawsuit if Odaingerous doesn't pull the merch or come to the bargaining table to work out a licensing deal with him.

But, sources close to Odaingerous tell TMZ ... the brand currently has a valid contract with Joe and his team related to the merch, and they claim Jeff's not the true owner of "Joe Exotic."

Jeff sees things much differently ... telling us he's owned and controlled intellectual property with regards to Joe Exotic and Tiger King since 2016. He also raises issue with the fact that Joe has started up a business while behind bars ... something he believes to be illegal.

As you know ... Joe's fashion line keeps selling out, whether it's boxer briefs or hoodies and t-shirts.

There's a lot of money at stake here ... and Jeff's fighting and clawing for his slice of the "Exotic" pie.

Heidi Klum Holy Crap ... I Got A Visitor From Hell!!!

Heidi Klum had the bejesus scared out of her ... after a strange man allegedly showed up to her place claiming Jesus told him to pay her home a visit.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... the incident went down last weekend at the supermodel's L.A. crib, when a man showed up at her front door and started pounding on it. Our sources say the man was yelling about how Jesus told him to come to the house.

We're told Heidi was home but never actually saw the man because someone else answered the door ... though still easy to see why she got scared.

We're told cops were called but by the time LAPD rushed to Heidi's home, the man had left. But, get this ... cops say they did a quick search of the area and found the man walking down the street. We're told when cops stopped him to have a chat, they determined he suffered from mental health issues and placed him on a 5150 psychiatric hold.

Our sources say it appears after talking to the man, cops felt the man may have been confused and didn't specifically target Heidi's home. Not exactly divine intervention ... but a tiny silver lining.

Ryan Garcia ODLH & Tyson Are Nuts For Comeback ... But I Respect It!!!

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT
TMZSports.com

Boxing rising star Ryan Garcia says he's completely SHOCKED legends like Oscar De La Hoya and Mike Tyson making a comeback ... telling TMZ Sports those guys are straight-up "nuts!!!"

54-year-old Mike and 51-year-old Roy Jones Jr. are dusting off the cobwebs and facing off on Nov. 28 ... which seemingly started a trend.

We spoke with King Ry out in L.A. and since he's signed with Oscar's Golden Boy Promotions -- we wanted to know how he felt about ODLH getting back in the ring at 47-years-old.

"Aw man, Oscar, shoot. Let him do whatever he wants!" Garcia tells us ... adding, "If Mike did it, why not?"

Oscar does NOT have an opponent lined up yet but insists he's still got the skills to beat a real opponent in the ring.

So, how does Ryan feel about comeback season?!

"They're nuts, that's what I'm saying. They're nuts! I can't believe it."

There's a bunch more with undefeated 22-year-old Ryan -- he gives an update on his wishlist of upcoming opponents from Tank Davis to Henry Cejudo ... and also weighs in on his recent training sesh with TikTok stars Dixie D'Amelio and Addison Rae!!

Gimli in 'Lord Of The Rings' 'Memba Him?!

English Actor John Rhys-Davies is best known for his role as the ax-wielding dwarf, Gimli -- who helps to destroy the One Ring and navigate Middle-earth while dropping some epic one-liners-- in the early 2000s 'Lord Of The Rings' film trilogy including 'The Fellowship Of The Ring,' 'The Two Towers' and 'The Return Of The King.'

Rhys-Davies is cast alongside an impressive lineup of actors including Orlando Bloom as the fast-firing Elf, Legolas, Viggo Mortensen as the sword-swinging Aragorn, Sean Astin as the hobbit homie, Samwise Gamgee ... and of course, Elijah Wood as the ring-totting hero, Frodo Baggins.

Guess what he looks like now!

Kim K, Leo, Jamie & Other Celebs Vow to 'Freeze' Instagram for a Day ... Forcing FB to Check Itself

Kim Kardashian, Leonardo DiCaprio and a bunch of other celebs are banning together to make Facebook stop and listen ... by putting its biggest attraction on ice for a bit.

A massive amount of stars are participating in a 24-hour Instagram freeze Wednesday in partnership with Stop Hate for Profit ... which is leading the charge. It's a pretty simple idea ... a one-day moratorium on posting ANYTHING on Instagram, to stick it to Mark Zuckerberg and co.

Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.

Their ultimate goal is to let FB, which owns IG, know people are sick of them not running a tighter ship on their platform ... which, as you may have heard, has become home to a lot of misinformation and unchecked hate speech -- all in the name of "fairness."

SHFP isn't buying that "fairness" argument, and neither are its famous supporters like Katy Perry, Jamie Foxx, Ashton Kutcher, Jennifer Lawrence, Michael B. Jordan, Sacha Baron Cohen, Naomi Campbell ... and many, many more.

Obviously, the campaign goes beyond just the A-listers ... so far, this message has been shared by over 200 million accounts across different media platforms ... and it's growing by the hour.

Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.

So, you can imagine -- IG will probably be pretty quiet come midnight. No stories, no hashtags, no foodie posts ... nothin', at least from those who are committed to this.

And, if you're wondering if SHFP has a specific list of demands, it does. Among the changes it would like to see happen ... removing FB groups promoting violence, militia groups, white supremacy, conspiracy theories and other harmful content; remove misinformation posts and slap people with fact checks ... just to name a few.

The real issue here for Facebook is about the First Amendment and how far is too far when it comes to censorship ... even of ideas with which you disagree.

Now, we know what you might be thinking ... if these celebs are really about this cause, why just "freeze" activity for a day? Why not a week?? Or ... forever?!?

Great question, and we're guessing the answer is money -- all the dough some of them make for IG posts. No one wants to bite the hand that feeds. At least not too hard, anyway 😅

Cardi B Files to Divorce Offset Wants Custody of Kulture

Cardi B is apparently over her marriage to Offset -- she just filed for divorce ... TMZ has learned.

The rapper filed court docs in Georgia indicating she's seeking a dissolution of marriage. Cardi is listed as the plaintiff and Offset is listed as the defendant. She filed the paperwork on Tuesday.

There's also this ... according to the court docs, obtained by TMZ, Cardi is seeking primary physical custody as well as legal custody of their 2-year-old daughter, Kulture. She also wants Offset to pay child support -- unclear how much though at this point. No word on spousal support either, for now at least.

She also makes clear in her docs that they're currently separated, and "there are no prospects for a reconciliation."

Cardi is also adamant in the docs she wants Offset to be ordered to pay her legal expenses.

And, get this ... it doesn't sound like there's a prenup, because Cardi is asking for "an equitable division of all marital assets."

Cardi and Offset were secretly wed in 2017 and shared their hitched status the year after. As we first reported ... their nuptials were a bit unorthodox from the jump, and almost went backward (publicly speaking).

Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.

In October 2017, Offset got on bended knee at the Philly Powerhouse concert ... and Cardi accepted his ring right then and there. As it turned out, they had already been legally married for over a month at that point ... 'cause they said "I do" in a bedroom that September.

We'd heard it was a spur of the moment thing ... Offset turned to Cardi and said "marry me," and she was down. They brought in an officiant to formally marry them, and shortly thereafter ... filed for and received a marriage certificate in Fulton County, which made it legit.

They hit a rough patch in the marriage a few years ago -- amid cheating rumors -- but they buried the hatchet and seemed tight ... this after a whole lot of apologizing and courting on Offset's end. Remember, he crashed her Rolling Loud set in 2018 to beg for forgiveness, but went full mea culpa on social afterward too. Eventually, Cardi did take him back.

12/15/18
I'M BEGGIN' YOUR FORGIVENESS
TMZ.com

Sadly, Cardi's divorce filing comes just a few days shy of what would've been their third wedding anniversary. Hollywood Unlocked first broke the story.

Story developing ...

Jon Stewart Rips Congress For Not Helping Vets ... Don't Burn Soldiers Again!!!

THE SYSTEM FAILED THEM
TMZ.com

Jon Stewart is calling out Congress for being stingy when it comes to soldiers injured by toxic fumes during battle -- and he claims the government's got the money, it's just spending it in the wrong places.

We got the comedian Tuesday on his trip to Capitol Hill, where he's lobbying Congress on behalf of nearly 200,000 veterans who say their health was harmed by exposure to burn pits while serving overseas.

Jon tells us the legislation he wants enacted -- making exposure to burn pits a presumptive condition for Iraq and Afghanistan war vets -- is way overdue, and he's comparing it to the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund.

Problem is ... the former "Daily Show" host says Congress has been dragging its feet for more than a decade, which he doesn't get because he says this is not a partisan issue. He's ripping legislators for not putting Department of Defense funds "to the right causes."

If you're thinking this really is about politics for Jon, you're wrong. Watch what he said when we asked if President Trump or Joe Biden can fix this problem -- or if he'd ever run himself.

Katy Perry Alleged Stalker's Arrest at Her Home Leads to Court Protection

Katy Perry's not taking any chances as a new mama -- she just got a restraining order against a man she claims is stalking her and is potentially dangerous.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, a 38-year-old man named William Terry has been posting lewd messages about her on social media for months -- along with threats directed at Orlando Bloom and others -- and his frightening behavior culminated with him jumping the fence last week at her Beverly Hills home.

Katy says after Terry jumped the fence on her property -- while she was home with her newborn daughter -- he refused to leave when apprehended by security ... so he was placed under citizen's arrest until the cops came and busted him for trespassing.

However, Katy says Terry's already been released and she fears he will return ... because he allegedly also tried to enter her property in early August by claiming she invited him.

In the legal docs, Katy includes multiple alarming messages posted on Terry's Twitter account dating back to December 2019. They include tweets tagged #activeshooter, comments about killing dogs and cops, threats to "snap Orlando Bloom's neck" and wishing Orlando's son and his ex, Miranda Kerr, "catch covid and die."

The tweets also include numerous graphic and sexually explicit comments about Katy.

According to the docs, Terry is believed to be homeless but attempts have been made to serve him the temporary restraining order. The judge granted it for Katy, Orlando, their newborn daughter and Orlando's son, Flynn. Terry must stay 100 yards away from all of them until a hearing next month.

As you know ... Katy just became a mother for the first time last month, as she and Orlando welcomed a baby girl, Daisy Dove Bloom.

Breonna Taylor's Family Historic Settlement a Good Start ... But We Demand Full Justice!!!

JUSTICE FOR BREONNA
WDRB

Breonna Taylor’s family and legal team are giving praise to the City of Louisville for reaching a historic settlement in her wrongful death case, but they’re making it crystal clear their mission’s not changed … they want full justice for Breonna, and for the cops who killed her to be arrested and charged.

Attorney Ben Crump says the huge financial settlement has helped assure that Breonna’s death won’t be swept under the rug like so many black women before her, but equally important is the comprehensive police reform to be instituted to prevent future tragedies like Breonna’s.

Crump claims the $12 million settlement is the largest amount ever for a Black woman in a wrongful death case involving police, and may be the largest ever for a Black person in America. He attributes the victory to all the people who have been protesting and fighting for justice.

The civil rights attorney calls it a “landmark step on the journey to justice,” but he’s not backing down from his demand that KY Attorney General Daniel Cameron immediately brings charges against the cops who shot and killed her. Crump says he wants charges this week -- at the very least, a charge of second-degree manslaughter.

Crump says, “We want full justice, not just partial justice,” and is also calling for all charges to be dropped against nonviolent protesters who were arrested for demanding justice for Breonna.

Tamika Palmer, Breonna’s mother, echoed Crump's words by saying the settlement is just the beginning of getting full justice for her daughter … and it’s time to move forward with criminal charges.

Breonna’s mom says, “Her beautiful spirit and personality is working through all of us on the ground … please continue to say her name.”

Finally, Tamika Mallory from Until Freedom put the pressure on Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, challenging him to fire every police officer involved in Breonna’s death “on the spot” in the event that they aren’t charged by AG Cameron.

MAKING BIG CHANGES
WDRB

Earlier in the press conference, the Mayor listed off multiple facets of police reform to be implemented within the Louisville Metro PD as part of the settlement, including new programs to create positive community relations between citizens and cops … and social workers supporting police on certain calls.

Fischer also confirmed there will be major changes coming in how search warrants get approved, and new protocols for making sure cops are accountable for their actions, are properly investigated, and receive proper training. The mayor also confirmed the settlement amount of $12 million to Breonna’s estate.

News of the settlement in the case broke Tuesday morning, with reports the Louisville metro government had agreed to pay out millions of dollars and implement multiple reforms regarding law enforcement -- including a requirement that commanders approve all search warrants before they go to a judge.

As you know ... Taylor, a 26-year-old EMT, was shot and killed by Louisville Metro Police officers on March 13 while they were executing a no-knock warrant.

Though no criminal charges have been brought against the cops who shot Breonna, her family sued the city in April.

Attorney Sam Aguilar has expressed frustration with the City's response to Breonna's case. As for the wrongful death settlement he says ... "the fact that they've been willing to sit down and talk significant reform was a step in the right direction and hopefully a turning point."

Kentucky AG Daniel Cameron has responded to public criticism about the investigation into the death of Breonna, saying it's ongoing and does not have to follow a specific timeline.

Cameron insists his office has "endeavored since day one to find the truth and pursue justice" and he's not working on a deadline ... but will make an announcement whenever the investigation concludes.

Originally published -- 6:53 AM PT

Kacey Musgraves & Ruston Kelly Reach Divorce Settlement

Kacey Musgraves and her singer-songwriter hubby are on the same page about breaking up -- they've finalized the terms of their divorce.

Kacey and musician Ruston Kelly agreed to put their marital home on the market and, when it sells, Kacey will get 84.4% of the proceeds and Ruston gets the remainder .... according to new docs, obtained by TMZ.

Kacey and Ruston also agreed their prenup is valid, so that will largely control how they split things up ... along with the tweaks in their settlement. All that's left is for the judge to issue the final divorce decree, and they'll each be officially single.

As we reported ... Kacey filed for divorce back in July after 2 years of marriage. They wed in October 2017 in Tennessee after meeting in Nashville in early 2016. Kacey and Ruston announced their split, saying divorce announcements "are always met with scrutiny and speculation and we want to stop that before it even starts."

They added, "We believe that we were put into each other’s lives for a divine reason and have both changed each other infinitely for the better. The love we have for each other goes far beyond the relationship we’ve shared as husband and wife. It’s a soul connection that can never be erased."

Marriages, on the other hand, can be.

Dr. Oz America Needs More Black Doctors ... It's a Life or Death Matter

WE NEED TO DIVERSIFY
TMZ.com

Dr. Oz is appalled, and embarrassed, by stats like Black newborns are 3 times more likely to die under the care of white doctors -- and now he's on a mission to do something about it.

The doc joined "TMZ Live" on Tuesday to explain why he launched the #moreBlackdoctors initiative as part of his effort to raise awareness about racial bias in hospitals. He told us how one of his staffers opened his eyes to the Black community's view of the medical field.

Oz, who just kicked off the 12th season of his show, says he got goosebumps after learning Black babies taken care of by Black doctors have a higher survival rate than Black babies under the care of White doctors. It's shockingly true.

A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the U.S. (PNAS) showed the mortality rate of Black newborns dwindled from 58% to 39% when they're under the care of Black docs. But, when it came to white babies, their mortality rate was hardly affected regardless of the doctor's race.

You'll recall, activist Bakari Sellers recently shared his shocking tale about his wife's pregnancy -- and Dr. Oz says that's a stark reminder of the biases that exist even in medicine.

You gotta see how he's planning to plant seeds of change with kids of color. It's an important initiative that can have a long term, long-lasting impact.

Derek Jeter Selling $29 Million Tampa Mansion ... After Renting It To Tom Brady

Wanna live like both Derek Jeter AND Tom Brady?!?! Hope ya got a small fortune to spend!

The New York Yankees legend is selling off his Tampa, FL palace just a few months after renting it out to Brady ... with a reported listing price of $29 MIL!!!

It seems it's the best time ever for DJ to unload the pad ... since TB12 moved in after signing with the Buccaneers, the place has gotten a TON of publicity -- with Brady himself even praising the hell out of it after working out in the backyard!

BACKYARD FOOTBALL

As for what the money gets you in addition to roaming the same bedrooms Brady and Jeter once slept in? It's A LOT.

The place is reportedly 30,875 square feet of awesome ... featuring 7 bedrooms, 16 bathrooms (8 full, 8 half), a saltwater lap pool and a pretty awesome bar.

The mansion also has its own gym, wine cellar AND movie theater ... and overlooks Hillsborough Bay!!!

"This is the most impressive home to ever hit the market in the Tampa Bay area," a real estate agent for the property told The New York Times.

Sadly, if ya wanna tour the place to buy it ... you will NOT run into Brady on campus -- the real estate agent says Tom and Derek worked out a rental agreement that allows Jeter to show off the place without bothering the future Hall of Famer.

Bummer ... but still great to be rich, right?!

Anti-Masker 'You're Gonna Have To Drag Me Out!!!' Police Take Him Up On It

KICKED OUT
Facebook/J.P. Skelly

An anti-masker told police they would have to drag him out of a school board meeting before he would cover his face, and his wish came true ... soon enough he was out on his keister.

Reed Bender took a stand Monday at the Mitchell Board of Education meeting in South Dakota, railing about why forcing people to wear masks is wrong in his eyes.

Superintendent Joe Graves tells TMZ ... a mask mandate for anyone inside the school has been in place since July 13, and Bender's raised several objections to wearing masks before ... claiming they don't work, and it's a violation of his civil rights.

This time, the Superintendent told Bender he would call the cops if Reed didn't put on a mask, and Bender dared him to do it, so he did. You'll notice, Bender's the only one in the library not wearing a mask.

Bender was NOT arrested even though he seemed to resist when cops dragged him away. There's also a threat of a taser. See, police can show restraint when they want.

It's pretty crazy ... the Superintendant says it's the first time he's had to kick someone out of a board meeting in his 30-year career.

And people think the students are the big problem.

'KUWTK' Season19 Kourtney and Scott Tease Baby #4!!!

The Kardashians are packing it in next year for "KUWTK" ... but they're going out with a bang, insinuating Kourtney and Scott Disick are back together and trying for baby #4.

The trailer for season 19 just dropped ... and it looks to be chock-full of drama. Among the moments ... pandemic, Tristan and Khloe rekindling their relationship, Kendall rebelling and Kourtney/Scott pregnancy rumors.

Check out Kourtney's reaction, or lack thereof. It's revealing, to say the least.

Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.

Now it seems both Scott and Kourtney are not with anyone else at the moment, so some people thought the decks were cleared for another go at it ... especially since they've been hanging together, and sometimes without the kids.

We'd been hearing they are not getting back together, but the promo seems to suggest otherwise.

Considering Scott and Sofia were on-again, off-again for a while -- now officially off, probably forever -- we suppose something like this could make sense. Time will tell though 🤷🏽‍♂️

Chris Evans Talks Penis Pic Flub ... Says Get Out & Vote!!!

MAKIN' THE MOST OF IT
Tamron Hall
UPDATE

7:53 AM PT -- Captain America was just on the Tamron Hall Show and briefly addressed the penis pic ... saying it was a lesson learned. He also thanked his fans for their outpouring support. He was a pretty good sport about it.

UPDATE
UPDATE

Chris also talked about the life and legacy of Chadwick Boseman, who he shared the screen with, during a touching moment with Tamron.

Chris Evans has addressed his NSFW leak ... and the response is so good Captain America would be pretty damn proud.

The actor grabbed everyone's attention when he accidentally leaked video this past weekend displaying a gallery of videos and pictures ... which included a photo of Chris' penis. He had uploaded it to Instagram Live but forgot to trim the video to hide the NSFW pic. He deleted the video ... but by then it was too late. Fast-forward to Monday ... and Chris had an epic response to his social media gaffe ... turning it into something positive by telling folks -- now that he has their attention -- they need to exercise their franchise and VOTE!!!

Chris' co-stars came out to support their pal ... Mark Ruffalo tweeted, ".@ChrisEvans Bro, while Trump is in office there is NOTHING you could possibly do to embarrass yourself. See.... silver lining." Chris' brother, Scott, also chimed in ... "Was off social media for the day yesterday. So. What'd I miss?"

Chris' fans also supported him with some heartwarming pics. The Chris Fans account, Cevans Archive tweeted, "pictures of chris evans with his dog dodger to cleanse your timeline."

Originally published -- 6:46 AM PT

Old news is old news!
Be First!

Get TMZ breaking news sent right to your browser!