Celebrity News

Sandra Lee's getting real about the end of her engagement ... showing love for her ex while adding she's looking forward to embracing singlehood for the first time.

The TV chef and author dropped a statement on Instagram Thursday morning ... telling fans the end of her relationship with Ben Youcef wasn't an easy decision.

Lee writes she's spent most of her life committed to relationships and family ... and to the responsibilities of both. However, in this moment, she's had to look at her life differently -- and she's moving forward with a new sense of clarity and intention.

Things might be a bit unwell in Alex Cooper's world ... she and her husband, Matt Kaplan, reportedly skipped an all-hands meeting at their company Unwell following recent gripes about his behavior, employee turnover, and more.

Unwell's chief marketing officer, T.J. Marchetti, hosted the meeting and "discussed the continued expansion of the company’s leadership team as well as plans to grow the business" ... but nothing about Kaplan's behavior, Bloomberg reports. Marchetti did reportedly acknowledge the employee turnover, but seemed optimistic, reportedly assuring staff their employee departure rate is lower than other startups.

TMZ has reached out to Alex's rep for comment ... so far, no word back.

Jada Pinkett Smith is asking a court to order Will Smith's former friend to pay the $49K tab from her attorneys ... TMZ has learned.

According to court docs obtained by TMZ, Jada believes she is owed the 5-figure sum from Bilaal Salaam, after she convinced a judge to toss the emotional distress claims from his lawsuit.

Jada said she racked up the big legal bill defending herself in the case, and now she wants Bilaal on the hook because she got some of his claims tossed.

Gigi Hadid is ringing in 31 today ... and she’s bringing plenty of heat to match!

Since bursting onto the fashion scene in 2014, Gigi’s been owning runways worldwide and proving those good genes she got from her mama, Yolanda Hadid, definitely did their job ... but while the high-fashion shots are flawless, it’s her off-duty thirst traps that really stop traffic.

Whether she's soaking up the sun in a barely-there bikini, or making “fresh out of the shower” look ridiculously hot ... Gigi knows exactly how to keep fans double-tapping.

And when she’s not busy being a supermom to daughter Khai, she’s still finding time to drop jaw-dropping pics that belong in a magazine spread.

Darrell Sheets looked happy and in good spirits just hours before his shocking and sudden death.

TMZ has obtained a photo of the fan favorite from "Storage Wars," who was photographed Tuesday around 5 PM at his antique shop in Lake Havasu, AZ ... a place he'd been running since stepping away from reality TV.

A witness tells us Darrell was upbeat and friendly during the encounter ... making the news of his death all the more shocking.

Police in Arizona are investigating claims "Storage Wars" star Darrell Sheets was being bullied online before he committed suicide.

The Lake Havasu Police Department tells TMZ ... "We are aware of these cyberbullying accusations and that is a part of the active investigation."

We broke the story ... Darrell was found dead in his Lake Havasu home Tuesday morning and police say it appears he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner is speaking out about being muzzled for months in the Celeste Rivas murder case, TMZ has learned.

The M.E. says Celeste's cause and manner of death was determined way back on Dec. 9 but the information was only made public on Wednesday because there was a prior court order initiated by the LAPD that had been preventing them from releasing their findings.

In a statement, Dr. Odey Ukpo, says ... "After several months, I am grateful this information can now be released, not only to the public, but also to the grieving family enduring loss. It is unfathomable they have had to wait this long to learn what happened to their daughter."

"The transparency of the information contained in our findings and reports is essential for empowering the community to make informed changes to affectively reduce fear and allowing the community to take informed action," he added. "Making the Department’s information publicly available is not just about accountability, it is about social justice and prevention."

Jax Taylor is opening up about his sobriety journey ... and he says the work is far from over.

TMZ caught up with the former "Vanderpump Rules" star at LAX on Wednesday ... and while he wasn’t exactly eager to dive into reality TV drama, he did get candid about hitting a major personal milestone.

Check out the clip ... Jax tells us he’s about a year and a half sober, but made it clear the journey hasn’t been easy.

"I needed a lot of help," he said. "And I still need help. And it's just addiction is a really serious thing. Mental health, men's mental health is a really big deal, and it's just constant work."

"The Real Housewives of Atlanta" alum Kim Zolciak’s estranged husband, Kroy Biermann, is accusing her of neglecting their children, as part of his renewed plea for primary custody, TMZ has learned. Kim’s legal team adamantly denied the claims. 

According to court docs obtained by TMZ, Kroy is asking the judge presiding over their never-ending divorce to grant him permanent physical and legal custody of their 4 minor children. 

The current custody agreement allows 2 kids to be with Kim and 2 to be with Kroy – and then they swap and spend time with the other 2. “The children were rarely together as a group under this parenting plan,” Kroy said. 

He claimed Kim “acts in ways that are harmful to the children and contrary to their best interests.” 

It's Earth Day y'all, and these Hollywood hotties are keepin' it green and keepin' it clean in their green bikinis ... Be a force of nature with the ladies who are cleaning up their acts!

Leaf your worries behind with Elsa Hosk, who shined in a metallic green bikini ... and check out the strapless swimwear on Saweetie -- you grow, girl!

And you wont be-leaf how gorgeous Emily Ratajkowski looks in green!

David Del Rio is a long way from Hollywood ... he's now living it up in Paris with his wife after his dramatic departure from "Matlock" amid unwanted sexual contact allegations.

TMZ has obtained the first photos and video of David and his wife in the City of Light ... and it looks like Katherine Del Rio is sticking firmly by his side following his exit from the hit CBS series.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... David and Katherine have temporarily relocated to Paris with their children, where she's currently enrolled in culinary school.

We're told David continues to deny the sex assault allegations as the situation plays out in arbitration ... and the couple is focused on staying grounded and united.

Brian McKnight says his ex-wife, one of his sons, some bloggers, and a newspaper rolled out a coordinated assault on his reputation to make money from "malicious character assassination" ... at least according to a new lawsuit.

The legendary singer filed a lawsuit claiming he's the victim of a "shockingly dishonest" and "sensational but false narrative" alleging he abandoned his kids and refused to tell his dying son Niko he loved him.

In the lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, Brian says the false narrative was cooked up by his ex-wife, Julie McKnight, and he says it's been peddled by his son Brian Jr., bloggers Marc Lamont Hill and Tasha K, and the New York Post.

"Storage Wars" star Darrell Sheets is dead, TMZ has confirmed.

Lake Havasu Police in Arizona tell TMZ ... Sheets apparently died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

Officers responded to a report of a deceased individual at his house at about 2 AM Wednesday, police say. He was pronounced dead at the scene ... his body has been transferred to the Mohave County Medical Examiner's Office.

It’s no longer a question of “Who’s the baby daddy?” … because Paul Pierce is admitting he fathered Princess Santiago’s child.

According to court docs obtained by TMZ, the NBA legend told the court he was the biological dad to 2-month-old King Rafael Santiago Pierce. He asked for joint legal and physical custody.

As we’ve previously reported, she’s asking for sole legal and physical custody -- plus a hefty $29,811 per month in child support, $100K in legal fees, and nearly $19K in pregnancy-related expenses. Santiago filed a paternity suit in California back in January.

She’s also made sure to highlight Pierce’s massive NBA earnings -- claiming he pulled in close to $200 million during his career -- as justification for the sizable monthly ask.

Taylor Frankie Paul was not booked for "Dancing With the Stars," despite reports ... and now we know what is likely causing the confusion.

A source close to 'DWTS' tells TMZ ... "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" and 'Bachelorette' star was involved with the dance competition show -- but what she did is being blown out of proportion.

From what we're told ... on her season of "The Bachelorette" -- which was shelved -- one date was a crossover with 'DWTS' ... and it seems that ballroom scene is being conflated into something more.

Russell Brand says he did sleep with a 16-year-old ... but, he's clear that's the age of consent in the United Kingdom -- and he never sexually assaulted anyone.

The actor opened up about the charges he's facing in his home country during an interview with Megyn Kelly published Wednesday ... claiming he had consensual sex with the teen when he was 30 years old.

Brand admits he wasn't kind to women back in the day ... using fame, money and charisma to have sex with a ton of ladies -- and not applying any consideration to their feelings.