Basketball Wives

Former NBA star Eric Williams -- the estranged husband of "BB Wives" star Jennifer Williams -- allegedly had a secret child in 2011 ... and now the baby mama wants him to pony up some child support ASAP.

Tavia Serena Cannon filed a Complaint for Support in PA last week, she claims she had a child with Eric in October 2011. Cannon says she makes $300/week babysitting and wants Williams to fork over some cash and medical coverage for the kid.

Here's the rub ... at the time the baby was allegedly conceived -- Jan/Feb 2011 -- the former NBAer was still married to Jennifer ... who didn't file for divorce until June 2011.

Sources close to Jennifer tell TMZ this news comes as a shock. They claim the "BB Wife" had NO CLUE about the child. Their divorce is still pending in a NJ court.

"Basketball Wives" star Jennifer Williams has lost about 4,000 lbs ... because her super swanky Bentley just took a one-way trip to the repo yard, TMZ has learned.

As TMZ first reported, Williams was sued by the Toyota Motor Credit Corporation after they claimed she stopped making payments on the sweet ride.

Sources tell TMZ, the Bentley was repossessed earlier this month with no-return order on the car ... which means Williams ain't gettin it back. We're told the car is already scheduled for auction.

Sources connected to Williams and her estranged husband Eric tell TMZ ... the repo isn't Jennifer's fault. We're told Eric was the one who stopped making payments and when Jennifer found out ... she asked him to come pick up the ride himself. Seems the repo man showed up first.

Salt on the wound for fired "Basketball Wives" star Jennifer Williams -- TMZ has learned her expensive Bentley is on the verge of being repossessed ... by force of law.

The Toyota Motor Credit Corporation in Syosset, NY just filed a lawsuit against Williams, claiming she stopped making payments on her used 2006 white Bentley back in 2009 -- and it wants the car back.

According to the lawsuit, TMCC has made several attempts to peacefully repossess the vehicle ... but was unsuccessful. Now, it wants a court to FORCE Williams to give back the car.

TMCC is also demanding Williams pay the entire outstanding balance on the car -- $92,310.

A rep for Williams tells TMZ, "Jennifer hasn't been served documents in reference to this lawsuit. Anything related to community property acquired during the marriage, such as the car, is an issue that is currently being addressed in her divorce proceedings."

"Basketball Wives" star Shaunie O'Neal says it's not her fault three cast members were axed ... telling people she learned the news when everyone else did ... sources close to Shaunie tell TMZ

As TMZ previously reported, three major "BB Wives" were canned recently -- Jennifer Williams, Royce Reed and Kesha Nichols.

But Shaunie is telling friends, despite the accusations, the cuts were NOT made by her. Sources close to Shaunie (who, in addition to being on the show, serves as one of the executive producers) tell TMZ she was blindsided by the news.

We're told Shaunie says the show leaves her in the dark about everything after she butted heads with them over the violent direction the show was headed (i.e on-air brawls and cat-fights).

If you get smacked in the face on reality TV, it's your own damn fault ... this according to "Basketball Wives" star Nia Crooks in her response to a lawsuit by a fellow cast member.

If you recall, "BB Wives" co-star Jennifer Williams filed a suit against Crooks -- claiming she suffered emotional distress and mental anguish after being hit upside the head on an episode of the VH1 show.

Now Crooks has fired back at the "face-slap" lawsuit -- claiming that Williams brought the slap on herself by the way she behaved.

In court docs filed by Crooks' lawyer, Javier Solano, she claims the slap was "caused in whole or in part by the culpable conduct, carelessness, contributory negligence or assumption of risk of [Williams]." In other words, Williams is just as much to blame for getting herself smacked.

Crooks also says Williams' injuries are bogus and is asking the judge to dismiss the suit entirely.

FYI -- in case you forgot the epic face-slap, you can re-live it here.

Dwight Howard can finally relax -- because his baby mama Royce Reed (left) just got her ass axed from "Basketball Wives" ... along with two other stars on the show.

Sources connected with production tell TMZ, Jennifer Williams (right) and Kesha Nichols (center) also got the chop -- and will be replaced next season. It's unclear who's in line to take their spots.

According to sources, producers will be giving the girls their walking papers any day now to drop what they called "dead weight" from the show.

We're told Royce was cut because she wasn't legally allowed to talk about Dwight due to a 2009 gag order, blocking her from discussing her ex in any way. The other girls on the show had also decided to ostracize her, so Royce couldn't shoot scenes with the rest of the cast.

As for the others -- producers think Jennifer's too big a liability after suing Nia Crooks for slapping her on the show. And Kesha was just too boring.

It's a win-win situation for NBA star Gilbert Arenas -- a judge has granted his request to officially drop his lawsuit over his fiancée's role on "Basketball Wives" ... but gave him the option to bring it back whenever he likes.

If you recall, Arenas sued Shed Media last year in order to stop "BB Wives" from airing ... all because he felt his baby mama, Laura Govan, had no right to exploit his name on reality TV. When a court shot down his request to axe the show ... he continued to sue for cold, hard cash.

But after the former exes got engaged, Arenas changed his tune and asked for the suit to be dismissed, but only if he could still pick it back up -- a condition the the show vehemently begged a court not to allow.

Earlier this week, the court sided with Arenas ... dismissing the case like he asked and made it possible to bring back any time he wants (ya know if the whole marriage thing doesn't work out) ... and all Arenas has to do is cover the show's attorney fees to the tune of $32,618.

"Basketball Wives" star Evelyn Lozada and NFL fiancé Chad Ochocinco are now personae non grata at luxurious Miami hotels, TMZ has learned ... since several establishments have rejected the couple's request to tie the knot at their fancy digs because they don't want glasses and fists flying.

The reality TV couple is currently filming their "BB Wives" spin-off show "Ocho and Eve" ... and the big season finale will feature their glamorous wedding -- but the couple hit a snag because none of the best venues want to deal with their TV show drama.

We're told the St. Regis, The Ritz, and Breakers have all turned the couple down so far ... telling producers they didn't want to deal with any fighting or risk having their hotels portrayed in a negative light on camera.

Undeterred, the wedding is set to film next month ... but the duo is still scrambling to find a location that will take them in.

The estranged husband of "Basketball Wives" star Kenya Bell insists ... he supported her for YEARS with his NBA salary -- but now his cash supply is running low ... and it's her turn to keep him financially afloat.

Former NBA player Charlie Bell -- who filed for divorce from Kenya earlier this year -- filed legal docs, claiming he's been low on cash ever since the NBA dropped him last year. Charlie's been playing pro ball internationally ever since, but the money's just not the same -- not nearly.

Charlie concedes he's got over a mil in the bank, but claims Kenya's the one who's hit it big with her role on "Basketball Wives" -- even releasing music on iTunes -- so it's her turn to lend him a helping hand, in the form of spousal support.

Charlie claims he only makes $100k a year playing basketball in Italy -- while Kenya rakes in three times that amount on "Basketball Wives."

Kenya shot back calling BS on Charlie's cries for help -- denying she earns $300,000 on the VH1 show.

"Basketball Wives" star Tami Roman finally settled the hair lawsuit filed against her and TMZ has learned the show will NOT be disappointing its "millions" of fans ... and will air as originally planned.

As TMZ previously reported ... Roman was sued by Crème de la Crème beauty products who claimed she breached her endorsement contract with them -- by promoting her own hair-product line instead of theirs on the show -- and they asked a judge to prevent that footage from airing.

Roman fought back against Crème de la Crème and the two parties officially settled privately out of court this past week ... but the specific terms were not released.

We are told that Roman is no longer affiliated with Crème de la Crème and, as part of the deal, the reality TV show will NOT be cutting any clips due to the lawsuit ... which, according to Roman, will keep "millions" of fans happy.

"Basketball Wives" star Tami Roman is begging a Texas court NOT to let a hairy legal battle stop her reality show from airing ... because, according to her, millions would suffer.

TMZ broke the story ... Roman was sued in March by Crème de la Crème hair company for allegedly bailing on her endorsement duties and then promoting her OWN hair line instead. The company asked the court to stop VH1 from showing any segments where Tami promoted her line instead of theirs.

Now Roman is firing back ... claiming in court docs that she is the VICTIM because Crème didn't pay her on time, thus breaking any obligation she had to them or their hair extensions.

Roman goes on to claim that prohibiting the show from airing would affect "millions of people" and the harm suffered by Crème de la Crème "pales in comparison."

Roman is asking the court to let the show air as is, along with ordering Crème to remove her name and likeness from any products and pay her court costs.

"Basketball Wives" producers are taking their feud with cast member Jennifer Williams to the next level ... the show's big-wigs are currently in talks to file a lawsuit against the "BB Wife" for publicly trashing the show.

If you recall ... producers of VH1's hit series were PISSED after Williams filed a lawsuit against fellow cast member Nia Crooks after she slapped Williams in the face while taping an episode.

Now sources tell TMZ -- producers are ready to take their own legal action after Williams went on a media rampage and blasted "BB Wives" alleging the show portrays African-American women negatively.

According to our sources, producers feel Williams' show-bashing is in violation of her contract -- which forbids cast members from doing any media appearances or press without approval, or speaking negatively about the show. We're told they feel she is "ruining the brand" they worked so hard to build.

Just months after getting engaged to his baby mama, NBA star Gilbert Arenas decided he wants to drop his lawsuit over her reality show "Basketball Wives: LA" -- but with one catch ... he can bring it back any time he sees fit.

If you recall ... the Grizzlies star filed a suit over the VH1 series -- which featured his then ex-girlfriend Laura Govan -- claiming the show and his ex had NO right to make money using his image without his permission.

Now the b-baller is changing his tune, asking the court to dismiss the suit -- coincidentally after his ex officially became his fiancée. But Arenas still wants to keep his right to bring it back whenever he wants, in case he feels exploited again ... or if ya know, the engagement goes south.

Shed Media -- the people behind "BB Wives" -- have fired back ... urging the court to dismiss the case permanently

Jennifer Williams' "face-slap" lawsuit is the giant shovel digging her reality TV grave ... TMZ has learned ... 'cause we're told "Basketball Wives" producers are PISSED!

Sources close to production tell TMZ ... Williams was already on thin ice with the show -- even before her slaptastic showdown with Nia Crooks -- but now that she has filed a lawsuit ... that ice is breaking FAST.

We're told producers think the suit is BS ... claiming Jennifer never had a problem with fighting before and insist this is a desperate publicity stunt to keep her storyline interesting -- securing her a place in season 5.

But a source tells us the stunt is not working, adding, "Filing broad lawsuits when you are as much to blame for the drama, is not the way to get your contract extended."

"Basketball Wives" star Nia Crooks has been charged with misdemeanor battery for pimp slappin' the taste out of Jennifer Williams' mouth back in January ... TMZ has learned.

A rep for the Broward County State's Attorney's Office tells us ... officials decided to file the charge on April 10 ... after Williams filed a criminal complaint.

If convicted, Nia faces up to a year in the slammer.

During the incident, which aired on last week's episode of "Basketball Wives" -- Nia can be heard threatening to slap Jennifer ... to which Jennifer replied, "I wish you would." Her wish was granted.

4:39 PM PST -- Nia's lawyer Marc David Seitles tells TMZ ... "We will vigorously defend Nia against these charges. The women on the show executed contracts expressly accepting the risk that a physical altercation could occur."

The lawyer adds, "Given that Jennifer herself has previously instigated fights on the show, to cry foul now is absurd and a desperate attempt for publicity and money. We will fight until Nia is vindicated."

Several "Basketball Wives" are adamantly refusing to tape the big upcoming reunion show next month, TMZ has learned -- and it's all because of the face-slap lawsuit Jennifer Williams filed against Nia Crooks.

As we reported, Jennifer is suing Nia for assault and battery over a January 21st incident at a race track in Florida -- when Nia slapped Williams in the side of the head after a nuclear argument (below). Jennifer says she was injured badly during the attack.

But according to sources at VH1, the castmates are convinced Jennifer's lawsuit was filed out of spite and desperation to dredge up drama around her character -- in the vain hope of securing a spot on the show next season. Our sources also think Jennifer's claim of emotional distress is BS because she never missed a day of shooting.

We're told several prominent castmembers have vowed to shun her completely ... refusing to even speak to Jennifer -- and are threatening not to attend the reunion show early next month if she attends.

And there's this -- the contract signed by the "Wives" castmates specifically states .... "Participant expressly assumes the risk of any physical or emotional injuries participant may suffer as a result of participant's participation in the project.""