Dennis Rodman I Can't Pay My Child Support Bill ... Because I'm BROKE
2:18 PM PDT -- Rodman's rep tells TMZ ... the "sick" comment was a reference to the NBA legend's ongoing struggle with alcoholism.
The rep notes ... Dennis visited a doctor a few months ago and he's in "great physical shape."
Dennis Rodman can't afford to pay more than $800,000 in back child support ... because he's dead ass broke -- this according to new court documents.
Dennis' estranged wife Michelle Rodman filed new papers this month, claiming The Worm owes $808,935 in unpaid child support for his 9- and 10-year-old children -- and an additional $51,441 in unpaid spousal support.
But Dennis' attorney responded to the filing, insisting there's no way the Chicago Bulls legend can pay those bills -- because "Respondent Dennis Rodman is broke and cannot afford any additional fees."
According to his lawyer, Dennis is also "extremely sick" and just isn't making the same bank he made back in his heyday. The lawyer does not specify the nature of Rodman's illness.
According to Dennis' lawyer, the giant child support figure is based on an order Michelle obtained a while ago behind his back -- requiring Rodman to pay $50,000 a month in child support ... an order Dennis has been fighting since 2010.
Dennis' lawyer insists the monthly amount is "unjustified" because it isn't based on Dennis' actual income ... it's based on ludicrous estimates made by Michelle's attorney.
51-year-old Rodman is due in court today for a contempt hearing -- stemming from the child support bill -- and he could be sentenced to 20 days in jail for failure to make payments.
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'NCIS' Star's Ex-Hubby I'm No Restraining Order Violator
"NCIS" star Pauley Perrette's ex-husband did NOT violate the actress' restraining order against him -- he was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time ... this according to the man himself.
TMZ broke the story ... Francis "Coyote" Shivers is currently being investigated for allegedly violating the restraining order last Tuesday -- after showing up to the same Hollywood sushi joint where Pauley and her fiance were having dinner.
But Francis -- an actor in his own right -- tells us, it was a total accident ... he and his current wife have been eating at Shintaro for years ... and when they arrived, the host sat them right beside Pauley and her fiance. Francis says he even Tweeted his dinner plans that night.
According to Francis, Pauley's fiance saw him and "aggressively" got out of his seat to have it out -- at which point Francis whipped out his cell phone to record any potential confrontation.
Cops were called -- but Francis and his wife decided to leave the restaurant before they arrived.
Francis tells us he plans to file a police report against Pauley's fiance.
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Allen Iverson I Wanna Pull the Plug On My Divorce
NBA legend Allen Iverson is trying to slam the brakes on his divorce -- insisting he and his estranged wife have recently bumped uglies ... so her petition is null and void.
Iverson filed a motion to dismiss last week in his pending divorce case, claiming he and his wife Tawanna had temporarily reconciled from November 2011 to February 2012 -- and had "resumed their marital relationship, cohabiting, having sexual relations and holding themselves out as husband and wife."
According to Iverson, that's enough for a judge to throw out Tawanna's divorce petition -- on grounds the marriage isn't "irretrievably broken" ... as she had claimed.
It's unclear if Iverson actually wants to get back together with Tawanna -- the former NBA player's legal move might simply be an attempt to delay paying support.
A judge has yet to rule.
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'NCIS' Star Pauley Perrette Ex Investigated for Allegedly Violating Restraining Order
It's always awkward when you're out to dinner with your fiancé and your ex-husband shows up -- but if you're "NCIS" star Pauley Perrette ... the cops get called.
Sources tell TMZ ... Perrette was at Shintaro Tuesday night -- a sushi joint in Hollywood -- when her ex-husband, Coyote Shivers, showed up ... and started snapping pics of her.
Problem is -- Pauley currently has a restraining order against the guy ... so when she saw him, the cops were called. But by the time police arrived, we're told Shivers had split.
According to our sources, cops are now investigating whether or not Shivers violated the restraining order that Perrette has against him.
Attempts to reach Coyote were unsuccessful.
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Eddie Griffin FINALLY DIVORCED After 6 Months of Marriage
Eddie Griffin gave Kim Kardashian a run for her money ... for SHORTEST MARRIAGE EVER -- because after just six months of wedded bliss, the comedian is officially divorced.
TMZ broke the story ... Eddie tied the knot last September at a Vegas chapel -- with a woman named Nia Rivers -- and one month later, the couple filed a joint divorce petition, citing "irreconcilable differences."
A month after THAT, Griffin and Nia attempted a reconciliation -- but that was short-lived ... and last month, the divorce was finalized by a Nevada judge.
According to the docs, obtained by TMZ, the couple is incompatible in marriage -- but the split was pretty amicable ... because both agreed to joint custody of their two-year-old child King Edward Griffin.
According to the docs, Nia will receive $2,500 in monthly child support.
One last thing -- the couple agreed that neither person would ever disclose details about the split ... whether in a book, a screenplay, or any media interviews. So much for that made-for-TV special.
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Deion Sanders to Pilar You Can't Sue Me ... You ARE a "Gold Diggin' H*e"
The truth hurts ... at least according to Deion Sanders -- who insists his daughter wasn't lying when she called Pilar a "gold diggin' h*e" on the Internet ... so Pilar has no right to sue for defamation.
TMZ broke the story ... Deion's estranged wife filed a $200 million lawsuit last month against Deion and his daughter Deiondra -- after Deiondra went on a Twitter rant, in which she trashed Pilar as a "gold diggin' h*e" ... and publicly accused her of cheating on Deion.
Pilar sued for defamation, plus a laundry list of other things like fraud, slander, libel, civil conspiracy and emotional distress -- claiming Deiondra and Deion have been out for her for years ... and the Twitter outburst was just the latest example.
But now, Deion's firing back ... filing a response to the lawsuit -- insisting Pilar has no grounds to sue for defamation ... because Deiondra wasn't lying when she called Pilar a "gold diggin' h*e."
In fact, Deion insists, his daughter's Twitter insult is TRUE -- claiming, “Any statements made by any defendants were true, did not create a false impression ... and were not malicious.” The last part is less believable.
Deion also claims the "h*e" insult didn't actually hurt Pilar's reputation -- especially not to the tune of $200 million.
Deion wants Pilar's lawsuit dismissed. Pilar’s lawyer Larry Friedman tells TMZ, "We will leave it up to the good citizens who will sit on the jury to decide whether the constant and still on-going remarks made by Mr. Sanders and his agents and employees are appropriate."
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'The Artist' Star Files for Separation
Actress Penelope Ann Miller -- who played Doris in "The Artist" -- has filed for legal separation from her husband, TMZ has learned.
48-year-old Miller -- who was also naked in "Carlito's Way" -- filed the docs in L.A. County Superior Court last week, citing "irreconcilable differences." Miller also starred opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger in "Kindergarten Cop."
Miller and her husband James Huggins got married in 2000. They have two children together.
Fun fact: Miller was married to "Arrested Development" actor Will Arnett for one year from 1994-1995.
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'One Tree Hill' Star I'm Divorcing My Husband ... and Changing My Name Back
"One Tree Hill" star Bethany Joy Galeotti -- who plays Haley on the show -- is calling off her marriage to her musician husband Michael Galeotti ... and says she's already mentally preparing to ditch his last name.
Bethany made the announcement on her blog ... writing, "I'm sorry to say that Michael and I have decided to divorce. We remain friendly and dedicated to raising our beautiful girl."
She continued, "The only reason I'm saying anything about this at all is because you'll all be wondering soon why everyone is calling me 'Bethany Joy Lenz' again."
The two married in 2005. Bethany gave birth to their daughter Maria, their only child, in February 2011.
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Allen Iverson Divorce Ex Wants a List of Everyone He's Slept With
The estranged wife of NBA legend Allen Iverson has done a complete 180 -- after first saying their divorce had nothing to do with other women ... she's now filed court documents asking Iverson to turn over the names of any girls he slept with while they were married.
Back in June 2011, Tawanna Iverson told TMZ her split from Allen had "nothing to do with another woman."
But Tawanna has changed her tune and earlier this month filed documents requesting A.I. "give the name and telephone number of every person other than your spouse whom you have had sexual relations and/or intimate physical contact from the date of the marriage to the date of trial."
It's unclear why Tawanna is requesting the list ... but it's most likely a power play to make Iverson look bad ... in an effort to push a favorable settlement as quickly as possible.
Tawanna is also asking to see all of Iverson's financial info as well as any purchases he's made over $1,000 since they got hitched. She has previously claimed Allen has been spending money on himself ... leaving her and their five kids hard up for cash.
Calls to A.I. were not returned.
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Kim K and Kris Humphries Annulment is the Sticking Point
Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries are both willing to end their marriage with an annulment, but each is insisting that the other confess to fraud -- and that's what is holding up their settlement.
Sources connected to the former couple tell TMZ ... Kim would be happy to annul the marriage, if Kris will admit he defrauded her by promising to live with her in Hollywood and then demanding that she move to Minnesota -- something we told you about last October.
As we first reported, Kris wants Kim to admit fraud -- that she never had any intention of making this a real marriage ... something Kim has adamantly denied.
We're told Kim will open the vault and spend anything it takes to win this case if Kris insists that she confesses fraud.
As for money ... we've already told you Kris is demanding $7 million from Kim -- something Kim thinks is absurd since he MADE money off the wedding and the reality show PLUS they have a prenup which gives Kris a big fat zero.
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Peter Facinelli Cruisin' Along After Break-up
The same day news broke that his marriage to former "90210" star Jennie Garth was over, "Twilight" hunk Peter Facinelli was spotted out riding his motorcycle -- and no longer wearing his wedding ring -- in L.A. on Tuesday.
The couple were married for 11 years, have three daughters, but have yet to file divorce documents.
For now, Peter is riding off into the sunset alone.
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Jennie Garth Divorcing 'Twilight' Hunk
Another celebrity marriage bites the dust ... this time "90210" star Jennie Garth and "Twilight" hunk Peter Facinelli are calling it quits after 11 years together.
The couple -- who have 3 minor daughters -- released a joint statement saying, "While we have decided to end our marriage, we both share the same deep love and devotion to our children."
The statement continues, "We remain dedicated to raising our beautiful daughters together."
We're told the couple has not filed divorce docs yet ... but it's just a matter of time.
Recent Divorces
Kim Kardashian My Husband Already Cashed In On Our Marriage
Sources extremely close to Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries tell TMZ ... Kris is full of B.S. when he says he didn't cash in on their wedding -- they say he's already profited handsomely and his greed is now being exposed.
TMZ broke the story ... Kris claims all the the money he and Kim made from the wedding and surrounding events went into a joint bank account and he hasn't taken a penny. But our sources say ... not true.
According to sources, Kris -- who raked in a million bucks from the wedding and somewhere between $250,000 and $300,000 for his appearances on the reality show -- HAS withdrawn some of his loot ... but he spent a big chunk of the withdrawal on the wedding and Kim's ring.
Sources close to the ex-couple tell us, the money Kris made on the realty show was transferred directly into one of his business accounts ... separate from Kim.
Our sources say the joint account is now frozen until a judge decides who gets what, but bottom line ... Kris is bellyaching about money he has never been denied.
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'Basketball Wives' Star Baller Hubby Files for Divorce
"Basketball Wives" star Kenya Bell is finding out ... a marriage just can't hold up when you attack your husband with a box cutter -- because the guy just filed for divorce.
Former NBA'er Charlie Bell filed the papers in Michigan Court -- claiming there was a breakdown in the marriage (no duh).
Kenya -- presumably separated from Charlie at the time -- was famously arrested in May 2011, after allegedly breaking into the couple's home and attacking Charlie with a box cutter in front of their children.
Kenya was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and domestic violence -- but struck a plea deal in which she avoided jail time ... pleading guilty to misdemeanor domestic violence.
Calls to Kenya were not returned.
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Usher I'm Not Giving My Ex $50,000 to Fight Me in Court!
Usher says there is noooooooo way he is going to foot the bill so his ex-wife Tameka can pay for her legal battle against him ... this according to new documents filed in their ongoing custody case.
As TMZ first reported, Tameka wants Usher to write a check for $50,000 to cover her costs as the two trade legal shots in their fight for custody of their two children.
Usher finds that request absurd ... saying in court docs filed earlier this month that Tameka has consistently defied court orders and filed frivolous motions, like the one trying to force him to take a drug test.
Usher claims he's already forked over 25k for her attorneys and has shouldered the brunt of the financial associated with this case, especially when it comes to their kids.
Bottom line ... Usher feels Tameka's actions "directly harm the best interests of the minor children. Clearly, such actions should not be tolerated, much less rewarded."
A judge has yet to rule.
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Kris Humphries Kim Kept All My $$$
Sources close to Kris Humphries say he has no beef with the story we posted yesterday -- that he made a bundle off of his wedding to Kim Kardashian -- but according to Kris' camp ... the bballer hasn't seen a penny and Kim has it all.
We're told before they were hitched ... Kim and Kris opened a joint account in which they deposited all the money they made from the wedding and other ventures. Our sources say Kris did indeed get money for selling wedding photos and appearing on the Kardashian reality show ... but they say all that money went into the joint account and Kris never got any of it.
Here's what's perplexing. Since it was a joint account, Kris would have as much access to the money as Kim. But sources connected to Kris say he's never attempted to withdraw any of it.
As we reported yesterday ... Kris wants millions from Kim as part of the divorce settlement, even though they were together in marriage for only 72 days.
Sources close to Kris tell us ... he doesn't even care about the money -- all he wants is an annulment.
Problem for Kris is .... in order to get an annulment, he has to prove the marriage was fraudulent, and that's going to be tough.
Kris' lawyer had no comment.