Celebrity Death

Jonathan Davis says his wife Deven was very sick for the past decade, and suggests her mental illness led to her addiction ... and it's to blame for her death.

Korn's lead singer shared a message on Instagram Wednesday night to address what happened to his estranged wife. He said, "Over the past decade, my wife has been very very sick. She had a serious mental illness and her addiction was a side effect. I loved her with ALL of my being."

He goes on to say Deven was an amazing wife, mother and friend ... and he tried for a long time to hide what was going on with her in order to protect her.

Davis says Deven's the reason he has advocated so passionately for people struggling with mental illness, and hopes her story will help inspire change. He also mentions their 2 children, saying ... "I promise I'll do everything in my power to raise our precious boys the right way, teach them the good values you wanted them to have so badly, and break the cycle of abuse we both experiences as kids."

We broke the story ... Deven died Friday, and the news came on the heels of Jonathan's request for a domestic violence restraining order on her. Jonathan alleged Deven was deep into drugs and her drug use was causing emotional harm to their 2 sons.

According to the legal docs, Deven had been in a sober home but went AWOL a week before she died.

Stefan Karl Stefansson -- the actor who played Robbie Rotten on the popular children's show "LazyTown" -- will have a performing arts academy built in his honor ... TMZ has learned.

The Stefan Karl Academy & Center for the Performing Arts will be constructed and launched next year in Switzerland. It's the actor's dream project.

Stefansson died Tuesday after a long battle with cancer ... and we're told he was hammering away at curriculum details for the academy during his final hours.

The project will be a celebration of Stefan's life and contributions to the world of humor and human expression. The academy will focus on training young people in the history and skills of expression across multiple genres. The campus will include a theater, which will host live performances.

Stefan dreamed of opening a performing arts center for years. He envisioned humor as the center piece of the academy's mission.

Stefan's wife, Steinunn Olina, will provide creative leadership in opening the academy.

Aretha Franklin shockingly left no will behind ... which is surprising given her circumstances.

According to court documents obtained by TMZ, the singer died "intestate" -- meaning she had no will at the time of death.

It's especially surprising given that she has a special needs son named Clarence who needs financial and other forms of support for his entire life.

Aretha was ill for several years, but apparently did not see the end coming ... or possibly a will was low on the priority list.

According to Michigan law, Aretha's 4 kids will share equally in her estate.

Aretha died on August 16 at her Detroit home surrounded by friends and family after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. The Queen of Soul's death occurred on the same calendar day as "The King" Elvis Presley's ... albeit 41 years later.

As expected, Franklin's passing sparked an outpouring of emotion, sympathy, tributes and love from countless celebs ... including the Obamas, who said of Aretha -- "every time she sang, we were all graced with a glimpse of the divine."

Aretha's family has scheduled a multiple-day celebration of her life next week, beginning with an open casket memorial at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit. Her funeral will then be held August 31 at the Greater Grace Temple -- just for close friends and family.

The man who shot and killed John Lennon will have his 10th parole board hearing this week ... and TMZ has just obtained his latest mug shot.

Mark David Chapman -- who shot the Beatles member in front of Lennon's Manhattan apartment in 1980 -- has been serving 20 years to life after pleading guilty to 2nd degree murder.

Now 63 years old, Chapman will go before a parole board in New York sometime this week in a closed hearing ... and a decision will be announced in the coming weeks.

MDC has been denied parole 9 times since December of 2000.

Chapman shot Lennon 4 times in front of his wife, Yoko Ono in December, 1980 at the famed Dakota apartment building near New York City's Central Park ... and later admitted to planning the killing because he wanted to be famous.

He's been in prison since 1981.

Pat Houston says she and her family have no animus toward Max Lomas, a close friend of Bobbi Kristina's who himself died of a drug overdose last week.

We got Pat Monday on her way into LAX ... and Bobbi's aunt was remorseful and saddened by Max's passing -- last week he was found unresponsive on a bathroom floor with a syringe near his body.

As we reported ... Max played a big role in the mystery surrounding Bobbi Kristina's death. Lomas found Whitney Houston's daughter in her bathtub on the verge of death, and was often seen with Bobbi and her BF, Nick Gordon, in the days leading up to the incident.

The wife of the lead singer of Korn has died Friday ... and it comes on the heels of a request for a domestic violence restraining order and major drug issues ... TMZ has learned.

Deven Davis was the estranged wife of Jonathan Davis. Deven was a former porn star who married Jonathan in 2004. They had 2 kids together.

Jonathan filed for divorce in October 2016, citing irreconcilable differences. Jonathan filed for a domestic violence restraining order today -- August 17, 2018. The judge issued a temporary order blocking any child custody or visitation by Deven. The restraining order also prohibits her from having contact with the family dog, Chaos.

Our sources say Deven was unaware Jonathan filed the restraining order ... she had not even been served.

Jonathan alleged in the docs Deven was deep into drugs -- something she had struggled with for more than 20 years. He alleged her drug use was causing emotional harm to the kids through neglect. He says in his court declaration she has been dependent on both prescription and illegal narcotics. She'd been to rehab 6 times and "is constantly under the influence of the nitrous oxide, cocaine and Norco."

Jonathan claimed she had a drug dealer boyfriend who was recently passed out on her living room couch when he brought the kids to her house. Jonathan says he found a heroin pipe and cocaine floating in the toilet bowl and found Deven passed out on the floor upstairs.

And there's this ... Jonathan claims when she binged on drugs she would "routinely bring home unsavory characters, including strangers. Some of these people are random fans of my music who she allows to come into the house, go into the master bedroom closet and try on my clothes."

According to the docs, Deven had been in a sober home but went AWOL last Friday and hadn't been seen for a week.

At this point we do not know the cause of death.

Story developing ...

How's this for a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T? One of Aretha Franklin's favorite joints paid tribute to the late singer with a gigantic banner making it crystal clear ... she'll never be forgotten.

Hollywood's famous Pink's Hot Dogs has good reason to bow to The Queen ... Aretha loved her some Pink's, in particular the spicy Polish dog -- loaded!

Simple, yet mouthwatering -- mustard, chili and onions. Aretha loved Pink's so much, she had it brought to one of her shows in downtown L.A. and chowed down during intermission. When she came back onstage she wore a ballgown and a Pink's hat for the rest of the show!

And Pink's traveled for Aretha ... for one of her birthday celebrations in Detroit, she flew out a Pink's staffer to serve up the famous dogs.

BTW ... Aretha was not alone. Sometimes the line for Pink's stretches for more than a block. She was a taste-maker with good taste.

Aretha Franklin died as the result of pancreatic cancer ... according to her death certificate.

The doc says the Queen of Soul died at 9:50 AM on August 16, 2018.

The death certificate also says Aretha will be entombed at Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit, the same place Rosa Parks is buried.

The document lists her occupation as Singer/Song Writer.

As we reported ... Aretha passed away in her Detroit home Thursday surrounded by friends and family. She'd been in failing health for many months and was under hospice care.

Her family is planning a 4-day celebration of her life with an open casket public memorial at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit, followed by her funeral at Greater Grace Temple just for close friends and family.

Stevie Wonder choked back tears during an interview in which he revealed his last words to Aretha Franklin before she died.

Stevie joined "CBS This Morning" Friday and almost immediately got emotional when asked about his last real conversation with the Queen of Soul, which was about 2 months ago. Stevie -- who said Aretha couldn't talk when he visited her Tuesday -- said he told her to "say hello to my sister."

Stevie's sister died earlier this year. Reports say her decomposed body was found in her home.

Stevie revealed there were plans to do some music together ... including a duet with Aretha for a song he'd written. Aretha and Stevie were incredibly close. She covered Stevie's 'Until You Come Back to Me' and they performed it together at the Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards in 2005.

Bethenny Frankel's late boyfriend, Dennis Shields, was able to utter a few words to EMTs and police before he died -- and they paint a clearer picture of how he passed.

Sources say Dennis told the responding EMTs and cops he'd taken some of his prescribed oxycodone as well as Vicodin and a sleeping pill ... all to ease the pain from a back injury.

Doctors warn that opioids should never be taken with sleeping pills or other sedatives. Opioids slow respiratory function and sleeping pills do the same. The two combined can have a dangerous, synergistic effect that could result in death.

As we reported, Dennis' assistant had administered 2 doses of Narcan before authorities arrived. They administered an additional dose of Narcan, but Dennis could not be saved.

Our law enforcement sources say police also found numerous prescription bottles scattered throughout his apartment ... although no illicit drugs nor drug paraphernalia were uncovered.

Bethenny attended Dennis' funeral service earlier this week and dissolved in tears. She paid tribute to both Dennis and her deceased dog, Cookie, on IG.

8/17 -- The celebration will be a 4-day event. Her body will lie in state for 2 days at the Charles H. Wright museum, and her funeral will be held at Greater Grace Temple on August 31 -- just for close friends and family.

8:39 PM PT -- Family sources tell us the viewing will be an open casket. And, there will be singing ... lots of singing.

Aretha Franklin's family knows a massive turnout's expected to honor the legendary singer -- and a church just won't cut it -- so they'll hold her public viewing at a much larger venue ... TMZ has learned.

Sources close to the family tell us ... the memorial for the Queen of Soul will be held at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit. We're told the location was chosen to accommodate the thousands expected to show up. Aretha was also a frequent visitor.

As of now, no date's been set ... and it's unclear if it will be open casket.

Our sources say Aretha's family determined a traditional church service for her viewing just wasn't an option because of the projected turnout.

The museum was also the site of Rosa Parks' viewing in 2005.

As we reported ... Franklin died Thursday at her home in Detroit surrounded by friends and family after a long battle with cancer.

Wesley Snipes took a crack at his favorite Aretha Franklin tune and it was ... super entertaining.

We got the action star Tuesday night leaving Hyde nightclub on the Sunset Strip ... where he paid tribute to the Queen of Soul. Wesley bowed down to her and then exercised his pipes.

Our photog asks Wesley to take us out with an Aretha song. He finds it "impossible" but quickly changes his tune with "Mary, Don't You Weep."

Ariana Grande did something she did not want to do today, but powered through in honor of Aretha Franklin and then broke down in tears.

Production sources tell us Ariana was scheduled to appear on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" Thursday ... but she was only going to do a comedy skit. She was not going to sing.

When she arrived on set, producers asked her if she would perform an Aretha song in honor of the late singer. Ariana told them she couldn't do it ... she was just too emotional in the wake of her death. She said Aretha was one of her heroes.

We're told Questlove then approached Ariana and convinced her it would be awesome for her to perform an Aretha song with the Roots.

Ariana changed her mind and opened the show with 'Natural Woman.' It's the first thing you'll see if you watch the show. Ariana brought the house down and got a standing O.

We're told when Ariana left the stage she broke down in tears.

Aretha Franklin taught us all the meaning of "Respect" ... and the iconic singer truly lived by those words ... so says the son of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King III says Aretha was committed to the cause as a friend and supporter of his dad.

In fact, Aretha's father, C.L. Franklin, marched alongside MLK during the civil rights movement. They were both Baptist ministers.

The R-E-S-P-E-C-T for Aretha Franklin has spread across Detroit, with memorials on display on some of the most famous buildings in the place the Queen of Soul called home.

The Fox Theatre, Comerica Park and Little Caesars Arena have all put up tributes to Aretha with the message "Forever Our Queen" ... while fans have added balloons and gifts to Aretha Franklin Way.

The Fillmore Detroit and the Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts have also posted messages of love for Franklin on their marquees. A memorial has popped up in front of New Bethel Baptist Church, which was founded by Aretha's father.

Aretha passed away Thursday in her Detroit home, and has received an outpouring of heartfelt and emotional shout-outs from countless celebs ... including Barack and Michelle Obama.

She was 76.

Aretha Franklin's body has been removed from her home and is en route to a funeral home.

A hearse was spotted at the Queen of Soul's Detroit condo building Thursday, several hours after she passed away.

Family sources tell TMZ they have struggled this week, as news broke Aretha was in her final days of life. The family wanted privacy as they said goodbye and grieved, but also understood their relative was a national treasure and felt the grief must be shared.

The family has not announced plans for a funeral or a memorial, but there are already plans for multiple memorials in various forms in Aretha's hometown. In addition, a tribute concert will be held at Madison Square Garden in New York City in November.