Breakups

Kobe Bryant and his estranged wife Vanessa didn't appear too estranged last night ... strolling around NYC together last night arm in arm ... but sources tell TMZ, it's a different story behind the scenes.

Kobe and Vanessa looked as couply as a couple could look on their way out of the 12-12-12 concert at Madison Square Garden ... even sharing a ride home.

Of course, in public ... Kobe and Vanessa appear to be well along the road to reconciliation ever since she filed for divorce in 2011 -- kissing in public, lunching together and now going on concert dates.

But sources connected to the couple tell TMZ ... Kobe ain't outta the woods yet.

Hayden Panettiere and her football player boyfriend Scotty McKnight are officially broken up ... this according to sources close to the couple.

Sources tell us ... the two broke up a couple of weeks ago ... but it wasn't a nasty breakup. We're told the two are still "really good friends."

One source tells us, "They will probably be back together sometime down the road."

Scotty -- who played for the NY Jets -- is the 2nd pro athlete Hayden has dated -- she was with pro boxer Wladimir Klitschko for a year and a half starting in late 2010.

Meanwhile, Hayden's already showing signs of post-breakup hotness ... as demonstrated below in a screen grab from her show "Nashville."

Remember when Kat Von D vowed to NEVER remove her tattoo of Jesse James' face even though they broke up?? 'Memba that? Well ... she just changed her mind.

Kat just posted a photo showing a laser beam blasting away at the portrait of a young Jesse that Kat had inked on to her rib cage back when they were dating.

When they broke up last year, Kat told us the tat had "a lot of meaning" ... and she wanted to keep it to preserve the memory.

But Kat has obviously had a change of heart ... and paid a visit to Dr. Tattoff. She also tweeted, "AND SO IT BEGINS! First round of tattoo removal well underway! :)"

No word on why Kat changed her mind ... but we're guessing a giant portrait of the ex-boyfriend doesn't sit well with the current boyfriend.

The Wanted singer Max George is 100% not dating Lindsay Lohan -- sources close to the heartthrob tell TMZ -- but no one seems sure of exactly how she got backstage at Jingle Ball last night in Philadelphia.

As we reported, Lindsay was spotted signing autographs at the concert -- but according to our Max sources, IF he invited LiLo ... he's not owning up to it. We're also told Max had no idea she was planning to come.

It's unclear if the two made contact while Lindsay was backstage -- but sources tell us, Max has no desire to be in a relationship right now ... with Lindsay or anyone ... seeing as he only recently broke things off with his ex-GF Michelle Keegan (some English actress).

FYI -- Michelle's smokin' hot.

So we gotta ask ...

Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman are actively trying to save their marriage ... so says Danny.

DeVito revealed the status of his 30-year marriage at an event in L.A. this week -- after "Extra" correspondent Jerry Penacoli asked how he was adjusting to life as a single man.

"It's not something you adjust to," DeVito said ... adding, "Rhea and I are really close. Actually, still together, just separate, but together.”

When asked if there was a chance of a reconciliation, Danny revealed, "We're working on it."

DeVito and Perlman separated back in October ... but appeared at an airport together a few weeks ago ... the first sign that their marriage still has a chance.

Actor Jason Patric is embroiled in a bizarre custody war, in which he donated sperm so his ex-girlfriend could have a baby, but according to the deal she could never tell anyone or ask for financial support.

TMZ has learned the facts surfaced in a court hearing earlier this month -- Patric was with on-again-off-again girlfriend Danielle Schreiber for more than a decade. They broke up in early 2009, and he allegedly told her that he didn't have any money to give her but he would give her the next best thing -- his sperm, so she could have a baby.

We're told Jason made it clear ... he would only provide his sperm if she didn't breathe a word to anyone and never asked him for child support. She agreed.

Baby Gus was born in December, 2009. In 2011, Jason and Danielle got back together but it didn't last long. They broke up in May, 2012.

Apparently, while they were together, Jason, who never paid Danielle child support, took a liking to Gus, because he filed legal docs in family court asking a judge to award him 50/50 custody.

But there's a little known law which says if an unmarried man artificially inseminates an unmarried woman with the help of a physician, he's NOT legally the dad and has no custody rights.

The judge has given Danielle temporary sole legal and physical custody of the boy. Jason has visitation rights. We're told Danielle is fine VOLUNTARILY giving Jason the right to spend time with the boy, but objects to a judge ordering visitation -- she doesn't believe Jason has or should have any LEGAL rights to custody or visitation.

The case is back in court this afternoon. We'll let you know what happens.

Don't count 'em out yet ... 'cause Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman were spotted TOGETHER at an airport this morning ... a possible sign they're trying to save their marriage.

It's a pretty big deal ... considering the two revealed they separated back in October ... and it seemed their 30 year marriage was done for.

FYI -- the two married back in 1982 and have 3 children together.

"West Wing" star Dule Hill has filed for legal separation from his wife ... TMZ has learned.

Hill filed the docs in L.A. County Superior Court against wife Nicole Lyn, citing irreconcilable differences. His wife Nicole's a TV actress known for her role on the Canadian show "Student Bodies."

Nicole also DJs under the name Ms. Nix.

Dule and Nicole were married in July 2004 and separated just days after their anniversary in 2012, eight years later. They have no minor children.

Trying to keep up with the status of the relationship between Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez is proving to be maddening -- as the on-again/off-again (repeat 7x) couple was on again last night after the American Music Awards.

Bieber and Gomez didn't show up to the AMAs together, but they did walk hand-in-hand into Bootsy Bellows nightclub in West Hollywood for an AMA after-party.

As TMZ first reported, Gomez's main beef with Bieber is the fact he tends to hang around A LOT of supermodels. Our sources say Biebs is starting to think they're better off as friends.

But if he is trying to win her back, Jenny McCarthy did him no favors last night by practically molesting him on stage after handing him an award.

UPDATE: As of 1:00 AM. Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez are single, and Justin now thinks it may all be for the best.

Feelings: As of 1:00 AM, Selena wants to right the relationship and get back to boyfriend/girlfriend status. Justin is now telling his close friends he's on the fence, partly because Selena has been so erratic. You'll recall, Friday night she stormed out of a restaurant they were eating at and wouldn't open the gate to her home to let him in.

Justin thinks they may be better off as friends ... unclear if there's a benefits package.

SOURCE OF FRICTION: Supermodels (see photo below).

STATUS LATER TODAY: Anyone's guess.

You're a 20-year-old female pop star and you've just broken up with a famous fella ... who better to understand what you're going through better than the Queen of Breakups ... Taylor Swift.

Yes, Selena Gomez shared a meal in L.A. last night with the woman who has famously been linked and then unlinked with the likes of Joe Jonas, Taylor Lautner, John Mayer, Cory Monteith, Toby Hemingway, Jake Gyllenhaal, Zac Efron, Garrett Hedlund, Eddie Redmayne, Harry Styles and Conor Kennedy.

Just hours after the two had a nuclear fight, Justin Bieber's white Ferrari was seen pulling out of Selena Gomez's home early Saturday morning.

As TMZ first reported, the on-again/off-again couple went out to dinner Friday night, but left after just 10 minutes. The two then drove separately back to Selena's place (Justin was a few minutes behind) but she denied him at the gate.

Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez got in an epic argument during dinner Friday and let's just say ... they didn't even make it to the appetizer.

A source inside the San Fernando Valley Japanese restaurant tells TMZ ... the "couple" had an argument while inside the restaurant and Selena left less than 10 minutes into the meal. Justin quickly followed with his head bowed.

According to a photog on scene ... Selena drove home with Justin trailing a few minutes behind. When Justin got to her place ... she denied him entrance at the gate and Bieber drove off.

WNBA superstar Chamique Holdsclaw threw a brick through the window of her ex-GF's Range Rover .... then poured gas all over her car -- presumably to set it on fire -- this according to the 911 call placed moments after the alleged attack.

The call was placed by the friend of then ex in question -- another WNBA player named Jennifer Lacy. The caller describes Holdsclaw as "mentally unstable."

According to the caller -- who sounds frantic and scared on the phone -- Chamique "tried to destroy" her ex's car ... then fled the scene.

"Strawberry Wine" singer Deana Carter has filed for legal separation from her husband, TMZ has learned.

Deana -- also famous for her song "Did I Shave My Legs for This?" -- filed the separation docs in L.A. County Superior Court, citing "irreconcilable differences."

In the docs, Deana claims she separated from her husband Brandon Malone in August 2011 -- fewer than two years after the couple got married.

Deana wants spousal support, and is asking the court to make Brandon pay her attorneys' fees.

As quickly as Selena Gomez blocked Justin Bieber from her life via her telephone and whatnot, they hooked up again ... capping off a 24-hour rendezvous at a swanky Beverly Hills hotel.

TMZ has learned ... Bieber had a driver take him to LAX Wednesday night, where they picked up Selena ... and rolled over to her home. We're told Bieber spent the night at SG's place.

The next morning, the two hitched a ride to the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills ... but entered the building at separate times, presumably so no one would snap a shot of them together.