CELEBRITY JUSTICE ™

The NYC cab driver who REFUSED to allow Kenny Smith into his taxi DID NOT racially profile the former NBA star ... so says the government agency who oversees the drivers.

TMZ Sports sent the clip -- which shows Smith being refused service by a yellow cab driver on Tuesday afternoon -- to the Taxi & Limousine Commission.

Some people -- including Rev. Al Sharpton -- suggested Smith was denied 'cause he's black ... an offense that would not only violate taxi regulations ... but U.S. law.

Using the video, the TLC identified the taxi, and investigated why Smith wasn't allowed in the cab.

A rep for the organization tells us the denial had NOTHING to do with Smith's race ... the driver was simply trying to go home.

"We've been able to confirm that he had just dropped off his last passenger, and did indeed then go off duty. He had no further pickups."

Buyin' it or not?

The woman who hired Cesar Millan to break her dog's aggressive attitude toward pigs ... is ripping critics of his techniques, and the officials now investigating Millan.

Sandy owns Simon -- the French bulldog/terrier mix that bit and bloodied a pig during one of Millan's training sessions on "Cesar 911." In a video testimonial, she insists Millan is a lifesaver ... because Simon's aggression was threatening her other animals.

As for the injured pig ... Sandy thinks people have blown the injury way out of proportion.

TMZ broke the story ... Animal Control officers went to Millan's training facility to investigate multiple viewers complained about animal cruelty. No decision's been made on whether Cesar will be charged.

Watch Sandy's passionate explanation of Cesar's methods and end result. He might want to put her on retainer if this case moves forward.

Just sayin' ...

Cesar Millan is adamant he saved Simon the bulldog's life -- even if it meant a little pig blood was spilled in the process.

Millan tells TMZ Simon hadn't shown any signs of aggression toward the pig prior to being taken off his leash ... so he thought it would be safe. However, Simon attacked, biting and ripping the pig's ear.

Millan says it's not the first time he's brought an aggressive dog face-to-face with an animal with which it had a rocky past. In fact, he says the strategy's been very successful and in the end ... worked for Simon too.

Cesar tells us he spoke with investigators Friday and is working to set up a time for them to view the pig.

Rick Hilton has sympathy for the enemy, as in Marriott ... because he thinks his family's rival hotel got the shaft when it was ordered to fork over $27 million to Erin Andrews.

Rick and Kathy Hilton were at LAX when we asked what they thought about Monday's verdict -- Andrews was awarded $27 mil from the Nashville hotel and $28 mil from Michael David Barrett.

Cesar Millan insists the pig that was bitten by an over aggressive dog during a training session ... is totally fine now, and video from his show proves it.

TMZ broke the story ... Animal Control went to Cesar's training center to investigate an incident shown on "Cesar 911." He was trying to train a French bulldog with a penchant for attacking its owner's pot-bellied pigs -- but the dog ended up biting a pig's ear.

Nat Geo, which airs the show, says Cesar created a "safe and controlled environment" to rehabilitate aggressive dogs. It stresses he took precautions before "making initial corrections and removing the leash." And although the dog attacked it says the pig was tended to immediately, healed and showed "no lasting signs of distress."

Video shows Cesar putting the dog and the pig back together the next day ... and the pig actually walks its attacker.

It's unclear if the clip is enough to clear Cesar from animal cruelty charges, but Nat Geo seems to be saying ... since the dog was cured, the end justifies the means.

While Drake's rolling out hit after hit, Jas Prince -- the guy who discovered him -- keeps getting the shaft because one exec isn't keeping up his end of the deal ... according to a lawsuit.

Jas Prince is going after Derrick Lawrence, who co-owns Aspire Music. According to the suit, Prince has a very specific contract regarding his finder's fee for Drake. Here's how it works: Young Money pays Aspire 1/3 of its Drake profits, then Aspire keeps 1/3, and gives the other two-thirds to Prince.

In the suit, Prince says the problem is Young Money hasn't paid Aspire, so he's getting zippo -- and he's wondering why Lawrence isn't suing to get the money. JP points out the contract requires Aspire to use "best efforts" to get the funds.

Sources connected to Prince's company say they think something fishy's going on at Aspire -- that it's possibly struck a side deal with Young Money, and cut JP out of the equation.

Lawrence tells us there's no side deal, and Aspire's received zero Drake profits from Young Money. Sounds a lot like Young Money owner Lil Wayne's beef with Cash Money, right?

Cesar Millan is under investigation for possible animal cruelty ... and officials are currently at his dog psychology center ... TMZ has learned.

L.A. County Animal Control tells us their major case unit, along with the sheriff, are currently at Millan's dog training center in Santa Clarita, CA after numerous complaints flooded in when Millan's show, "Cesar 911," showcased a dog attacking and injuring a pig during a training session.

We're told officials want to question Millan about the pig's current location and well-being.

We're told after investigators have questioned Cesar and employees ... they'll present their findings to the D.A.

Cops are on scene ... but so far have not made contact with Cesar.

Story developing ...

50 Cent only flashes stacks of fake money because his fans are flat broke, and they NEED to see Fiddy flossing like a mogul ... at least that's what his attorneys said in court.

We got audio of Wednesday's bankruptcy hearing -- which was filed with the court -- and you can hear 50 Cent's legal team trying to explain his social media strategy. As they put it ... "He has to keep up his image for the fans. Rap fans, they're poor and they want their idols to be rich and something to look up to."

Listen, there's more ... about how 50's caught between bankruptcy and keeping up appearances.

Don McLean's wife is singing bye bye Mr. "American Pie" ... she's filed to divorce him following the alleged domestic violence blowup at the their home in January.

Pat filed the docs in Maine on Thursday citing "adultery, cruel and abusive treatment, and irreconcilable differences."

This one isn't the least bit shocking ... considering a judge ordered Don to stay away from Pat following his arrest for the alleged 4 hour domestic assault. Pat said she thought she was going to die during the incident.

The couple was married for 30 years.

The D.A.'s investigation into the LeSean McCoy bar fight is running "silent and deep" -- with no decision expected to be made this week -- this according to our Philly law enforcement sources.

Investigators have been on the case since February ... when McCoy and friends allegedly beat up several off-duty cops at Recess Lounge in Philly.

Cops concluded their investigation roughly 3 weeks ago and kicked the case over to the D.A.'s office -- recommending aggravated assault charges for McCoy.

The D.A.'s office says it's still conducting its own investigation before making an official decision -- and a rep tells us there is no timeframe for when a decision will be reached. We were told it won't come before next week.

We spoke with a Philly law enforcement source with knowledge of the situation who tells us the D.A.'s office is keeping police "in the dark" and called the situation "weird."

"They are running silent and deep. Assault cases are usually cut and dry."

As for McCoy -- he doesn't seem worried ... catching the Knicks vs. Suns game in AZ Wednesday.

Getting raided by cops at gunpoint is where Katt Williams' chick draws the line -- Hazel-E says she's getting out while the getting's good.

We got Hazel at LAX, right after she got off a plane from Georgia ... and she made it clear she and the oft-arrested comedian are officially "on a break."

You gotta see her describe Katt's latest bust -- the "Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood" star was in the house Tuesday when cops showed up to arrest him for allegedly attacking one of his bodyguards.

Hazel addressed the big question everyone's asking: What the HELL is wrong with Katt lately?

Check out her take -- even ride or die chicks have their limits.

3:40 PM PT -- Lil Mama is apologizing and acknowledging it was "totally irresponsible of me to drive without a valid drivers license." She added that she understands there will be consequences, but she very much wants to "continue to be a role model for young women and men."

Lil Mama is sitting in an NYC jail after getting busted doing a little more than 10 miles over the speed limit ... unfortunately for her, cops say she was doing it without a driver's license.

The 27-year-old rapper -- best know for her 2008 hit "Lip Gloss," and for playing Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, was cruising around Harlem around 4 AM Thursday -- when cops lit her up for doing 38 in a 25, according to our NYPD sources.

When officers ran her info ... they discovered the ex "America's Best Dance Crew" judge's license had been revoked. Cops took her into custody, but beats the hell out of a DWI.

'Memba when she was just a kid ...

Reggie Bush only has HIMSELF to blame for slipping, falling and injuring himself at the Edward Jones Dome back in November ... so says the city of St. Louis in new court docs obtained by TMZ Sports.

As we previously reported, Bush sued the city (which owns the stadium) -- claiming it stupidly installed a ring of concrete around the perimeter of the field ... incredibly dangerous for the players wearing slippery cleats.

Bush badly injured his left knee during a fall on the concrete on Nov. 1st -- just one week after another player injured his shoulder slipping on the surface ... and he says the city must pay.

But the city is calling BS -- saying Bush knew about the concrete ring and should have SLOWED DOWN before reaching it.

The city of St. Louis says Bush could have "stopped, slackened his speed to have avoided the accident."

"[Bush] assumed the risk of running on concrete in shoes with cleats on them, and of all danger inherent of playing football."

The craziest part of this lawsuit ... Bush was PUSHED past the playing field and onto the ring.

Watch the clip -- you really think he had time to stop???

Chumlee from "Pawn Stars" has been arrested for guns and drugs after police raided his home while investigating an alleged sexual assault ... TMZ has learned.

Las Vegas Metro PD says officers showed up at his home Wednesday afternoon with a search warrant in connection with a sexual assault case. We're told Chumlee is the suspect in that case.

Our law enforcement sources tell us cops found marijuana, meth and at least one weapon during the search.

Chumlee was taken into custody and booked for drug and weapon possession. We're told the sexual assault is still under investigation.

Story developing ...

Katt Williams got out of a Georgia jail cell -- even though prosecutors fought hard to have him held without bail -- but the judge put several restrictions on his release.

During Katt's bond hearing prosecutors hit him with 2 new charges -- marijuana and firearm possession, both felonies -- and argued the comedian should be held behind bars. He'd already been charged with terror threats and false imprisonment for allegedly directing others to choke and hold his bodyguard, Corey Dixon, hostage.

The judge released him on a $60k bond -- and ordered Katt to stay away from drugs, alcohol and guns.

In court, prosecutors said Katt and his crew shaved off Corey's beard while holding him and threatening to kill him. As part of his release ... Katt must also stay away from the bodyguard, and surrender his passport.

No more international gigs, at least for now.

3:25 PM PT -- The hearing's ended, and the judge did not rule yet on whether an examiner will be needed to review 50 Cent's assets. Nor did she comment about the "fake" money pics that prompted his creditors to demand an examiner.

Stay tuned.

50 Cent thumbed his nose at his many, many creditors by showing up in bankruptcy court with stacks of cash -- possibly fake -- sticking out of his waistband.

50 had to show up in a Hartford, CT court on Wednesday to face the judge over his social media poses with giant wads of money. As we first reported ... Fiddy claimed in docs the dough is just prop money he uses to keep up his image as a rich mogul.

Considering the reason for today's hearing, it was pretty bold (or stupid) of him to post this shot ... WHILE the hearing was still in progress.

We'll see if the judge digs 50's cents of humor.