There's a whole lot of legal drama in Dwight Howard's life these days ... we've learned the former NBA superstar is being sued for emotional distress and unpaid wages by someone claiming to be a former assistant ... in the midst of recently filing for divorce from his estranged wife, Amber Howard.
Here's the deets -- Terrence Hudson says he worked for the former NBA pro and Amber as a home security guard, domestic manager, and Dwight's personal assistant, from June 25, 2025 to October 8, 2025 ... this according to court documents obtained by TMZ.
Terrence says in the docs -- filed in December 2025 -- he agreed to $2,000 per week in pay, but claims he only received "inconsistent payments totaling $8,137.54" throughout his employment.
Rapper 42 Dugg is off the hook after he was charged with making malicious threats to a woman in Michigan ... TMZ has learned.
According to court docs, the “Grace” rapper -- real name Dion Hayes -- sent messages to the unnamed individual between November 12, 2024 and March 11, 2025 with intent to "terrorize, frighten, intimidate, threaten, harass, molest, annoy, or disturb" the individual.
Prosecutors say the alleged victim was pregnant with his child when the threats were made ... and claim he sent such messages with the intent of coercing her to get an abortion. It's unclear if any baby was brought to term.
Hayes was also accused of threatening physical harm against her family.
He pleaded not guilty during his January court appearance, according to court docs. Hayes faced 6 months in the clink and a $1,000 fine if found guilty.
TMZ’s new Comedy Crawl, now happening every Friday, made headlines over the weekend ... not only for being hosted by star comedians Mateen Stewart and Martin Morrow, who had Comedy Crawl passengers near tears as they turned the bus into a rolling comedy stage ... but also for a surprise run-in with their friend Donnell Rawlings!!!
Our new bus tour stops at some famous comedy clubs in Hollywood, and when we pulled up to the Hollywood Improv, folks on our bus got treated to free drinks and a comedic lesson from Donnell.
We asked Donnell how PC culture has affected comedy over the years, and he tells us good comedians stay true to their guns and don't shy away from controversy ... telling us a good comic can say whatever the hell they want. Not so for weak comedians, Donnell says.
Ray J says Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner are totally lying about having no involvement with the release of the infamous sex tape ... and they should be prosecuted for it.
The rapper tells TMZ ... Kim and Kris "completely lied about everything" in their declarations yesterday -- calling lying to the world, as he alleges they did, "the worst thing you can do."
Ray J claims he sat in a room with Kris and Kim, as well as executives from the company Vivid -- the sex tape's distributor -- to discuss a deal. Vivid has always maintained that it obtained the sex tape from a third party.
"The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" star Miranda McWhorter’s ex-husbandChase McWhorter is ready to fight prosecutors in court over accusations he drove on a suspended license months after being locked up for a DUI ... TMZ has learned.
According to court docs, obtained by TMZ, Chase entered a plea of not guilty to one misdemeanor charge of operating a vehicle without insurance, and one infraction for driving without a license, after being pulled over by police in Utah on January 25, 2026.
As part of his plea, Chase requested that prosecutors produce copies of all 911 calls related to the matter and any communications between officers about the incident.
A couple of days before Chase entered his plea, the court issued a bench warrant for failing to show up for court.
Dwight Howard called the cops on his wife, Amber Howard, claiming she took off with several of his prized personal belongings ... including jewelry, his wedding ring, and even his phone.
In new 911 audio -- obtained by TMZ -- Howard is heard telling a dispatcher about an apparent theft at his Georgia mansion ... saying a "female" left the home with the items "in a gray Camaro."
Boy George has some advice for Chappell Roan-- relax and enjoy the fame while it lasts ... because one day, all that attention might just vanish.
The British icon weighed in after Chappell’s viral run-in with paparazzi in Paris, saying in a lengthy X post Tuesday she might want to rethink how she handles the spotlight -- especially since the world is basically at her feet right now.
George admits when he saw the clip of Chappell clashing with photogs, he says it made him laugh ... 'cause it reminded him of his own days going off on paps ... before realizing the real trick is owning the whole fame game.
Dwight Howard's wife Amber Howard brutally ripped into him during a recent 911 call -- claiming he locked her out of their Georgia mansion ... and telling the dispatcher the home is packed with weapons.
In new 911 audio -- obtained by TMZ -- Amber says she's standing outside in the rain after Dwight locked the gate entrance of their 35,000-square-foot home ... something she claims he frequently does when he gets "upset" following their arguments.
She also name-drops him ... telling the operator her hubby is "Dwight Howard from the Lakers."
Amber also alleges Dwight lost custody of his daughter the night before -- something she also claimed on Instagram, but we have not confirmed -- and says he "took it out on me."
Tom Brady doesn't have to worry about the so-called "bro code" when it comes to hooking up with Yael Cohen Braun, the ex-wife of one Scooter Braun ... TMZ has learned.
A source connected to all of the involved parties tells us ... Scooter has no issue with the news Tom and Yael got cozy at a recent Hollywood bash -- and eventually left together -- even though Scooter and Tom have become pretty good friends.
We're told Scooter's totally "unbothered" and considers Tom a good guy.
"The Real Housewives of Pretoria" star Melany Viljoen is in a bit of hot water after she was arrested Wednesday for allegedly stealing from a Florida supermarket.
Boca Raton police say the South African reality star and her husband Petrus "Peet" Viljoen swiped more than $5K worth of groceries from a local Publix.
According to local outlets, the couple was booked after a traffic stop involving their black Range Rover -- which cops say was seen on surveillance video driving near the store.
Cops say Melany and Peet were caught on camera doing something called "ticket switching" ... meaning they would scan the barcodes of cheap groceries but bag the more expensive stuff.
The pair allegedly hit that one Publix location dozens of times since August 2025, failing to properly scan around 392 items -- things like wine, toilet paper and sparkling water -- according to police.
Police docs allege Melany swiped items at the self-checkout while her husband distracted the employees.
They were both charged with aggravated grand retail theft over $3,000 ... and arrest records say they're each being held on a $10K bond.
Melany allegedly copped to the theft when pressed by authorities ... and insisted she acted alone. But investigators aren't buying it ... saying the evidence indicates Peet was clearly involved.
Mia Goth looked cool, calm and totally unbothered while out shopping in an equestrian shop in L.A. ... even as her estranged husband Shia LaBeouf remains tangled in a whirlwind of legal drama on the other side of the country.
The "Frankenstein" actress swung by a horse-riding supply shop in Los Angeles Wednesday ... looking in the zone as she tried on a new belt.
Mia didn’t show a hint of stress ... enjoying some quiet solo time ahead of the glam-packed Oscars weekend, where she’s expected to make appearances.
Did someone say, "polar bare?!" These cheeks were meant for flaunting, that's just what they'll do ... Can you guess the sexy star before she walks all over you?!
This ain't her first rodeo as TMZ's "Cheek of the Week." Think social media star turned sexy deejay!
Gambino family crime boss John Gotti’s daughter Victoriais making a desperate plea to a New York judge to keep her fraudster son out of the clink ... 'cause he's planning to donate one of his kidneys to her.
In a lengthy letter submitted Wednesday to U.S. District Court Judge Nusrat Choudhury, obtained by TMZ, the “Growing Up Gotti” star said her "Miracle Child" Carmine Agnello has stepped up to donate a kidney after she learned she has chronic kidney disease ... and she argues that undergoing such a procedure while in prison would be a major risk to his health.
Therefore, she is begging the judge to give Carmine probation for the $1.1 million COVID fraud he pleaded guilty to in 2024. ICYMI, Gotti's grandson admitted to fraudulently applying for three COVID relief loans for his business, Crown Auto Parts ... and the feds say he used $420,000 of the loan money to invest in a cryptocurrency business.
Tom Brady might be looking to score a touchdown in the dating department ... 'cause he was spotted getting close with Scooter Braun’s ex-wife at NFL star Tony Gonzalez's birthday bash in Los Angeles recently.
An insider tells Page Six the 48-year-old NFL commentator and Yael Cohen Braun, 39, were "huddled up at the bar together" and left the party together. The party was reportedly at Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos' pad -- Tony is Lauren's ex, and they welcomed a kid together in 2001. A source at the party confirmed to TMZ that Tom and Yael were hanging out and getting close at the event.
TMZ has reached out for comment ... so far, no word back.
Valerie Bertinelli is angry and disappointed by the overall response to the Epstein Files ... and she says "idiots in Congress" are protecting pedophiles.
The famous chef was on "The View" Wednesday, plugging her new memoir, "Getting Naked," where she talks about being sexually abused at the age of 11 ... and the conversation made its way to current events ... namely, the Epstein Files.
Valeria told the panel she's pissed because "pedophiles aren't being held accountable" and she ripped Congress for sitting on their hands.
She also lamented the way sexual abuse survivors are being treated in this country ... going beyond the Epstein Files.
Valerie says she's furious with it all, and she called on Americans to vote out politicians who aren't brave enough to go after the powerful people in the files.
Mama June is making one thing crystal clear about daughter Pumpkin's OnlyFans hustle ... that spicy side gig belongs to Pumpkin, not Mama.
Pumpkin cranked up promotion of her adult subscription page Wednesday ... flashing a red lace bodysuit in her cover shot and inviting fans to "Come enjoy the spicy side of me" -- so we had to ask June what she really thinks about it.
