CELEBRITY JUSTICE ™

JWoww's estranged husband says she has painted him as a monster and a woman beater -- which he strongly denies -- but he's willing to call a truce and give her a hug ... for the good of their children.

Roger Mathews shared a lengthy letter online Saturday morning titled, "A Message to Jenni," in which he rehashed their recent turmoil and responded to her allegations this week that he's been abusive to her on multiple occasions.

Mathews says he's extremely saddened the 2 have not been able to find a better way to handle their differences but also slams JWoww for deliberately trying to using her platform to destroy his life. He also blames her getting a restraining order on him for hurting his relationship with their son.

As for the abuse allegations ... Roger admits to pushing her and says he takes responsibility for it but claims Jenni was the aggressor and edited out her violent behavior. As we reported, she shared a video of what looks like Mathews throwing her to the ground.

Despite Mathews recently vowing to take legal action against JWoww, he ends his letter by pleading with her to "stop the madness" and work things out for their kids.

He says ... "We are both assholes. Let’s raise our kids better. I want to help you. Please try and help me. We need each other. Not in the way we once did but this madness has to stop. Own your truths as I have owned mine. Work with me and I will work with you. A part of me will always love you. I had to clear my name. I can help you clear yours too. I know all the good things you’ve done in your life as well as knowing the bad. Let's make the necessary changes for our children. I will if you will. I want you to be happy and I deserve to be happy as well. Happy parents make for happy kids. We owe them this. I be willing to give you a hug at the end of the day today as a truce offering."

Tekashi69 is dropping a ton of cash to keep his family safe, which they're most certainly going to need more than ever, now that everyone knows he's cooperating with the feds and naming names.

Sources close to Tekashi tell us, since his arrest in November, he's spent thousands on personal security for his mother. We're told, for obvious reasons, the rapper's worried anyone looking for revenge against him ... might harm her.

TMZ broke the story ... 6ix9ine pled guilty to 9 counts and did a lot of snitching in the process -- implicating members of the Nine Trey Bloods in multiple crimes. For instance, he named the alleged trigger man in the attempted shooting of Chief Keef -- and that guy's since been indicted.

Tekashi's attorney, Dawn Florio, tells us, "6ix9ine has the means to pay for his family's private security, so the government expects the money to come out of [his] pocket to protect his closest family members."

She says the government would step in if, at some point, Tekashi can't afford the security.

As for his baby mama, Sara Molina, we're told she has her own 24/7 armed security too ... but she's footing the bill. She told us on "TMZ Live" that she's worried about their 3-year-old daughter's safety, and added, Tekashi's not in contact with them.

Edie McClurg, the beloved actress from "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," is battling dementia ... according to family and friends who say they're trying to protect her from a guy who's allegedly taking advantage of her.

Edie's niece, cousin and friend filed docs Friday requesting a conservatorship to take control of the actress' affairs. In the docs, obtained by TMZ, they say neurological tests revealed she's no longer able to live alone without assistance, and is "especially vulnerable to undue influence given her poor judgment and evident dementia."

Their immediate concern is with a longtime male friend who's lived with 72-year-old Edie for several years. According to docs, the guy has previously talked about marrying Edie ... who famously played Principal Rooney's assistant, Grace, in 'Ferris Bueller,'

Edie's family and friends don't think she's capable of understanding the relationship with the guy. They claim he's been verbally abusive and tried to compel her to sign documents to change her estate planning.

They're asking the court to appoint one of them -- Edie's cousin, Angelique Cabral -- the conservator.

5:08 PM PT -- Jerry's attorney, Orin Snyder, tells TMZ, "Jerry has been working in good faith to get to the bottom of this matter. He has asked Fica Frio for evidence to substantiate the allegations. Fica Frio ignored Jerry and instead filed this frivolous lawsuit."

He continued, "Jerry consigned the car to Gooding and Company, an auction house, which is responsible for the sale. Nevertheless, Jerry is willing to do what's right and fair, and we are confident the court will support the need for an outside evaluator to examine the provenance of the car."

Jerry Seinfeld has a hit show involving cars, and now he has a lawsuit involving one.

According to the lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, Jerry auctioned off a 1958 Porsche 356 A 1500 GS/GT Carrera Speedster and the winning bid was a whopping $1.54 million.

The buyer, FICA FRIO Ltd., says the authentication of the vehicle was bogus. What's more ... the buyer is saying Jerry intentionally misrepresented the authenticity of the whip. The suit says in the history file of the Porsche, the person who sold it to Jerry said, "Unfortunately we do not have a lot of information on the 1958 Porsche 356 A 1500 GT Carrera Speedster. We purchased the car from a broker who would not take me to the cars (sic) original location to meet the family that owned it originally."

The buyer took the car to one of the world's foremost historic Porsche dealers who expressed concern about the authenticity, and an investigation revealed it wasn't the real deal. On June 21, 2018, the suit claims Jerry called a rep for the buyer and left a voicemail that said he wanted to "offer my apology for this nuisance and assure you that you will be completely indemnified in full and not have to keep the car and get all your money back."

Porsche built only 151 Carrera Speedsters between 1955 and 1959, and fewer than 90 had the GS/GT trim the buyer thought he was getting.

The buyer says he didn't get his money, and is now suing to rescind the sale and get his money back. He's also suing for punitive damages.

We reached out to Seinfeld ... so far, no word back.

Originally Published -- 3:10 PM PT

One of Billy Joel's roadies says a Philadelphia concert was unforgettable -- not for "Piano Man" or "My Life" -- but because a part of the stage allegedly came crashing down on him.

Carl Anderson is suing Billy, claiming the singer is responsible for injuries he suffered back in September 2017 while working as a stage handler. According to the suit, he helped set up for Billy's gig at Citizens Bank Park, home of the Philadelphia Phillies ... who are also getting sued.

In docs, obtained by TMZ, Anderson says he was in the stage area when, out of nowhere, a scaffolding pipe fell and struck him ... leaving him with a herniated disc and severe nerve damage in his back and neck.

Anderson says the injuries cost him a bundle in medical bills, plus he lost wages and future earnings.

In the suit, he says Billy, the venue and the concert's promoter, Live Nation, were negligent in maintaining the stage equipment. He's suing all of the above, and the Phillies, for unspecified damages.

8:20 AM PT -- Jussie's broken his silence on his attack, stating ... "Let me start by saying that I'm OK. My body is strong but my soul is stronger." He then expressed thanks, saying ... "The outpouring of love and support from my village has meant more than I will ever be able to truly put into words."

As for the investigation, Smollett says he's working with authorities and has been 100 percent factual and consistent. He says, "Despite my frustrations and deep concern with certain inaccuracies and misrepresentations that have been spread, I still believe justice will be served."

Jussie also reiterated his family's statement -- these sorts of attacks are happening daily ... and his wasn't an isolated incident. He says he'll address the details of the "horrific incident" soon, but adds ... "Most importantly, during times of trauma, grief and pain, there is still a responsibility to lead with love, It's all I know. And that can't be kicked out of me."

Jussie Smollett did not refuse to hand over phone records to cops ... rather, he didn't want to turn over his phone ... sources directly connected to Jussie tell TMZ.

The sources say cops "informally asked" Jussie if he would surrender his phone ... to verify he was talking to his manager on his cell when he was attacked. We're told he felt "uncomfortable" doing that and declined, but he was never asked about phone records. A Chicago police official had said Jussie refused to turn over both the phone and records. We're told Smollett has already said he will provide the records, and is in the process of gathering them.

The sources want to clear up 2 other points. First, there are reports that Jussie told cops his assailants were wearing MAGA hats. The sources underscore what TMZ first reported ... that Jussie never said the men were wearing the hats. Rather, they screamed "MAGA country."

And the last point ... there are reports that Jussie had the rope around his neck long after the incident when he was being treated at the hospital. We're told that is not the case. He did have the rope around his neck when cops arrived at his building 42 minutes after the incident. The sources say he kept it there to "preserve the evidence."

Billy McFarland and Fyre Fest got nothing on this guy ... allegedly.

A Georgia man has vanished after cops say he ripped off friends and family members to the tune of more than $750,000 in a Super Bowl LIII ticket scam.

At least a dozen say Ketan Shah promised them primo seats to see the Patriots take on the Rams, and got a ton of money up front for those tickets ... but never delivered before going MIA. Cops say one alleged victim forked over $20k, and another gave him $500k.

Perhaps worst of all is a $36,000 payment Shah allegedly took -- from his own mother!! He also took out a half-million dollar loan against the digital printing shop he owns in Gwinnett County.

All the victims say Shah promised them 100 level seats, plus access to a concierge lounge and Super Bowl pre-parties. They're all getting bupkis.

BTW, Mama Shah wasn't having it ... she's among the alleged victims who dimed out Shah to cops. WSB in Atlanta first reported the scam, and says Shah's wife reported him missing in early January, and hasn't seen him since.

Bill Cosby isn't America's favorite dad anymore, but he's up there on the list of favorite prisoners at the State Correctional Institute Phoenix ... so says his spokesperson.

Andrew Wyatt tells TMZ ... he's visited Cosby at the Pennsylvania prison more than a dozen times, and whenever the disgraced TV father enters the visiting area, other inmates and their families shower him with cheers and applause.

We're told the adoration doesn't stop there -- one of the convicted sex offender's biggest supporters is a white, female correction staff officer who grew up watching "The Cosby Show."

Wyatt says the other guards are also very respectful -- they call him Mr. Cosby -- and the comedian often jokes around and regales them with stories ... especially of his days on "I Spy."

On top of getting the celeb treatment, we're told the other inmates and their visitors let Cosby know they think it's wrong he's locked up ... and blame a "corrupt" judge and DA in Montgomery County for his conviction.

Wyatt's statement to the media when Cosby was sentenced in September -- he called the trial "the most racist and sexist trial in the history of the United States" -- echo this sentiment.

Two huge K.C. Chiefs stars refuse to turn their backs on Kareem Hunt -- with Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce saying they're supporting their ex-teammate as he gets help off the field.

Of course, the Chiefs cut Hunt back in November after he was captured on video attacking a woman at a Cleveland hotel. He's been getting treatment ever since and hopes to play in the NFL again.

So, when we saw Mahomes at the EA Sports Madden Bowl event in Atlanta, we asked if he's been keeping in touch with the running back.

"He's still a buddy," Mahomes tells TMZ Sports ... "I wish all the best to him."

"It's stuff that he has to handle off the field and hopefully he might get another chance on it."

When asked if he thinks a team will sign Hunt next season, Mahomes told us, "I know he works hard. I know he does a lot of things on field really well."

"As long as he keeps doing stuff off the field and getting back right, I'm sure he'll get another chance."

As for Kelce, the Chiefs tight end echoed his QB -- saying Hunt is "always gonna be a brother to me."

Kelce also says Hunt can count on him for support as he continues to seek treatment for his personal issues.

Hunt has apologized for his role in the February 2018 incident -- saying, "I deeply regret what I did. I hope to move on from this."

The sight of Ariana Grande dancing in a candle for her "God Is a Woman" music video was too much for one artist to stand ... because he says she stole the idea from his painting.

Vladimir Kush is suing Ariana over the imagery in the music vid which was released in 2018. If you've seen it, the singer dances in silhouette inside a candle flame -- Ariana's wick.

But, Vladimir says nearly 20 years earlier he made 2 paintings called "The Candle" and "The Candle 2" ... which both featured a woman as the wick with raised arms against a partially cloudy sky.

According to the suit, the similarity is uncanny ... and a rip-off. Vladimir says Ariana's video features the same cloudy sky, ring effect of clouds around the flame and the same light beams radiating from the flame.

The production company Ariana used has experience in stealing artistic works, according to Vladimir. In the suit, he says Freenjoy, Inc and its prez were also involved in producing Kendrick Lamar's "All the Stars" video -- and you might recall ... a different artist sued over that one, also claiming a rip-off.

Vladimir is suing Ariana and Freenjoy for copyright infringement, and wants an injunction to remove her music vid from the Internet. BTW, it already has nearly 200 million views ... so, the genie's kinda outta the bottle.

Netflix is being sued by the company that carries the torch for Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh -- aka Osho -- who was featured in the hit documentary, "Wild Wild Country."

Osho International Foundation claims in a new lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, the documentary stole "substantial portion" of Osho's copyrighted works. For instance, the lawsuit claims the first episode alone includes 88 discreet instances of appropriation.

The Netflix documentary chronicles the Rajneeshpuram takeover of a small town in Oregon in the 1980s. The production was a massive hit for the streaming service ... earning 5 nominations for Primetime Emmys, and winning for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series.

The suit claims Osho International gave Netflix a heads up in 2018 of the infringement, but got no response back.

3:04 PM PT -- A rep for FIJI tells TMZ, "This lawsuit is frivolous and entirely without merit. After the Golden Globes social media moment, we negotiated a generous agreement with Ms. Cuthbert that she blatantly violated. We are confident that we will prevail in court. Throughout our history, we have had a sterling reputation working with talent."

The viral sensation that was the "Fiji Water Girl" photobombing every celeb at the Golden Globes is back -- just not in the flesh ... which is why she's suing the water company.

Kelly Steinbach -- who goes by her modeling name, Kelleth Cutbert -- is suing Fiji Water over a cardboard cutout campaign that she says the company launched without her permission. Steinbach claims Fiji used her unauthorized image holding the tray of Fiji water bottles at the award show.

She says they tried coaxing her into signing away her rights, and even though she did a mock video that appeared to be doing just that ... Steinbach claims she never actually put ink to paper on a real deal. It was all for show. Nonetheless, she claims Fiji moved forward.

Steinbach says that cardboard cutouts of herself started to pop up all over L.A., and one of those is pictured in a photo with John Legend from earlier this month.

She says the "Fiji Water Girl" viral moment generated upwards of $12 million in brand exposure, and now she's asking a judge to give her a piece of the pie.

Kanye West says his contract with EMI amounts to servitude and claims he's entitled "to be set free from its bonds."

Kanye has just filed new legal docs in his lawsuit against EMI and Roc-A-Fella Records. He says the deal he signed with EMI effectively has no time limit ... it could last the rest of his natural life.

He notes in California, personal services contracts cannot last longer than 7 years because they amount to "servitude."

According to the deal, he's required to deliver a certain number of songs and, until they are delivered, the contract remains in full force and effect. Problem is ... that could last 1 year or 80 years.

Kanye wants a judge to cut off the EMI contract as of 2010, which would revert all of the rights of his songs back to him. The year 2010 is important because that's the 7-year mark of his deal.

Some songs of note Ye released in 2010 and after include megahit "All of the Lights," along with "Power" and "Monster" from his "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" album, "Otis" and "Ni**as in Paris" from the "Watch the Throne" album, "Bound 2" from Yeezus and "Famous" from "The Life of Pablo."

President Trump has been keeping up on the news about the Jussie Smollett attack, and says it's horrible.

The President spoke Thursday morning from the Oval Office and when a reporter asked him about the "Empire" star's case, he replied, "That I can tell you is horrible. I've seen it ... last night. It doesn't get worse, as far as I'm concerned."

It was a pretty brief response ... he didn't elaborate on any details of the case.

Remember, Jussie says his attackers yelled, "MAGA country" as they fled after beating him, pouring bleach on him and putting a rope around his neck.

Unfortunately, Trump was not asked specifically about the MAGA remark.

Meek Mill has a VERY different relationship with law enforcement in Jamaica, 'cause when they stop him there ... all they wanna do is fanboy out and get a photo op.

This is a great story ... Meek was partying down in Kingston this week, where he was enjoying some grub and, of course, the local strip clubs. Basically, soaking in island life.

The Philly MC posted tons of video on his IG story -- most of which is hilarious -- and, apparently, as Meek and co. were leaving Kingston ... they got stopped by officers there. Meek starts recording here, and it quickly becomes clear that no one was in trouble.

Turns out, the cops literally just wanted a picture with Meek! Check out his reaction ... he seems dumbfounded they pulled the car over just for that, but ya gotta imagine he was also relieved.

You'll recall ... Meek had a very rough 2018 while trying to get himself out of prison, which he eventually succeeded in. Now, he's in full-on activist mode ... recently having teamed up with Jay-Z and a bunch of powerful people to launch a criminal justice reform org.

9:45 AM PT -- Police confirm to TMZ they have video of Jussie with rope draped around his neck as he walks through the lobby of his building. That video was captured by a building surveillance camera.

A woman who lives in Jussie Smollett's apartment building told cops she saw a suspicious man -- whom she said looked like a "redneck" -- loitering just outside the entrance to the building an hour and a half before Jussie says he was attacked.

The woman -- who asked us not to use her name -- tells TMZ, she walked out of the building at 12:30 AM Tuesday to take her dogs out and saw the man near the door, pacing between the parking garage and entrance, looking agitated and smoking a cigarette. She says, "He looked out of place." He was a white man with scruff on his face wearing a blue winter beanie, a blue zip-up sweatshirt with a hood and blue jeans that were too short, exposing "thick, grey hunting socks" with camel-colored dress shoes.

She says she noticed what looked like a rope, or a clothesline, protruding from the bottom of his sweatshirt, made of white and blue material.

She says he was staring at another man about 300 feet away, who was standing near another entrance to the building.

She says she got "creeped out" by the man, and after 5 minutes she retreated back into the building.

The woman says she went to sleep and woke up at 4 AM to go to the gym, and noticed a lot of security. She says the concierge told her Jussie was attacked, and when she told him what she saw, the concierge implored her to call a detective and gave her two phone numbers. She made contact that afternoon and downloaded a detective.

As we reported, cops have released photos of 2 persons of interest. We do not know if one of them is the person the woman saw.

Chicago PD sources tell us they have looked at numerous videos in the area in question, but have not seen any footage of an altercation.