Celebrity News

Carrot Top was handed a $2 million demand just days before his attempted suicide ... and within hours, his lawyer was telling the court the comedian was being extorted ... TMZ has learned.

TMZ obtained a pair of emails laying out the heated legal battle that unfolded last Monday -- four days before Carrot Top was hospitalized.

In the first message, Brian Evans -- whom Carrot Top's team has accused of extortion -- proposed a $2 million deal to end the legal fight involving himself, Carrot Top -- real name Scott Thompson -- and several others.

Ed Sheeran's concert in Philadelphia brought out protesters last weekend ... though that may be small potatoes when compared to the protest that's scheduled near the stadium on Saturday.

Another demonstration is set for this weekend outside one of Ed's concerts at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough ... the very stadium billionaire Robert Kraft -- who allegedly spearheaded an effort among other stadium owners to get Macklemore removed from the tour.

The Massachusetts Peace Action -- an advocacy group focused on ending the Israel-Palestinian conflict -- is sponsoring the demonstration around the corner from Gillette before Ed's second show at the location this weekend. He's set to play the venue Friday as well.

Dolly Parton's nephew, who announced her death, has been fired from his longtime role protecting the country legend's properties ... and the abrupt security shake-up is fueling an escalating war over her estate.

TMZ obtained a termination notice sent to Bryan Seaver -- Dolly's nephew and former head of security -- informing him that he and his security companies were immediately dismissed from every Dolly property.

Sources tell TMZ ... the notice landed Wednesday, just as replacement guards descended on Dolly's main home in Nashville. Her museum, downtown residence and warehouse were also taken over by the new security team.

Bobb'e J. Thompson's headed to prison for a couple years ... but he won't be abandoned by his longtime friends on the outside ... 'cause Kyle Massey says he's got the dude's back.

We caught up with Kyle -- who starred with Bobb'e J. on the beloved Disney Channel show "That's So Raven" -- at LAX on Monday ... and our photog asked about Bobby recently being sentenced to 30 months in federal prison.

Kyle immediately sends love to Bobb'e ... adding "Free Bobb'e J" and calling him his brother. He says he and others support Bobb'e, and they're always going to have his back.

Carrot Top's Las Vegas shows at the Luxor have been canceled through next Monday as the comedian remains hospitalized following a suspected overdose involving prescription pills ... TMZ has learned.

The 61-year-old's performances through Sept. 28 have been called off while he continues receiving medical care.

As we first reported Carrot Top, whose real name is Scott Thompson, took prescription pills Friday before suffering the suspected overdose.

Hayden Panettiere's celebration of life brought out some major stars ... and more than a dozen people took the stage to pay tribute to the late legend.

TMZ has obtained the memorial program ... which provides more detail about what actually went down behind closed doors.

According to the program -- which featured a black-and-white headshot of the late star looking over her shoulder -- there were many more speakers than the ones we previously told you about.

Police investigating Presley Gerber's suspected overdose interviewed other people living at the rehab facility where he died as they try to find the source of the alleged drugs that potentially killed him ... TMZ has learned.

Sources close to the investigation tell TMZ ... the probe is in its early stages, but one of the first orders of business is finding out if Presley took drugs, and where he got them.

We're told authorities are looking into whether or not Presley was prescribed the drugs he allegedly took or if he got them from a dealer or friend ... and finding the potential source is key.

Our sources say cops have already conducted interviews with folks who were at the rehab facility when he died.

Presley Gerber was living at a rehab facility in Santa Monica before his death Sunday ... and TMZ has details of the recovery program offered at the facility.

The rehab website describes its Santa Monica operation as a "structured recovery residence," rather than a traditional hospital or detox center.

According to the company's website, the program is designed for people transitioning out of more intensive treatment and trying to rebuild their lives in a supervised, sober environment.

The program specifically works with people dealing with substance abuse issues, mental-health conditions, trauma, eating disorders, and co-occurring disorders.

Carrot Top was hospitalized following a suspected overdose from prescription pills ... TMZ has learned.

A rep for the Clark County Fire Department tells TMZ ... crews responded to the comedian's Las Vegas home around 4:20 PM Friday after receiving a call about a 61-year-old male who was "not alert."

We're told a City of Las Vegas ambulance and a private ambulance responded. Carrot Top's condition was unknown at the scene, and he was transported to a hospital by the private ambulance.

Sources familiar with the investigation tell TMZ ... Carrot Top took prescription medication before suffering the suspected overdose.

Tony Rock is sending love to Carrot Top following his recent suicide attempt ... while reminding people there is often pain behind a comedian's smile.

We got Tony at LAX Monday, and he offered prayers for Carrot Top and his family ... saying a crisis like this affects far more than one person.

Tony says comedians still deal with real stress, trauma and drama offstage -- something audiences can lose sight of while watching them perform.

Presley Gerber may have hoped to fend off his addiction issues with ibogaine, but one expert says it's not as simple as taking a magic pill ... diving into the realities of the treatment.

Bryan Hubbard, the CEO of Americans for Ibogaine, joined "TMZ Live" Monday to discuss the psychoactive drug that Presley took a few months before his death.

Bryan described the substance for us in detail ... explaining how it's known to rewrite neural pathways -- and give people with addiction a fighting chance against their demons. He also notes a major risk with ibogaine.

Presley Gerber suffered cardiac arrest before he died at a Santa Monica rehab facility ... with emergency dispatch recordings also pointing to an apparent overdose.

People reports dispatch recordings show a call went out at 9:35 AM Sunday for a cardiac arrest at the facility. A separate dispatch alerted first responders to an overdose at the same address.

As TMZ previously reported, Santa Monica police officers found Presley unresponsive and provided life-saving measures. He was pronounced dead just 10 minutes after the initial call, at 9:45 AM.

Presley Gerber checked into rehab the night before he was pronounced dead from a suspected drug overdose ... TMZ has learned.

Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ ... the 27-year-old model entered the Santa Monica luxury rehab facility on Saturday night ... only hours before police found him unresponsive on the property.

The facility provides treatment for people dealing with substance-abuse issues, mental-health problems, trauma, and other medical issues. 

Brian Evans -- the man accused of allegedly trying to extort money from Carrot Top before the comedian's shocking suicide attempt -- says the public has the wrong idea about their legal case ... claiming there are more gray areas than the media coverage would lead one to believe.

Evans posted a video to YouTube responding to common reporting on the case ... blaming a judge for branding him "vexatious" ... he says he was just following the judge's orders.

He says, "It's not as black and white as people try to make it" ... before issuing a challenge ... claiming he'll do any live interview at any time to clarify what's really going on.

Presley Gerber and his famous parents were all smiles in what turned out to be his final public appearance ... and he looked happy, sandwiched between Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber.

Cindy and Rande posed for pics with their only son at the We Are ENOUGH x Aviator Nation launch event in Malibu on June 11 ... a little over three months before Presley died in a Santa Monica rehab facility.

Presley's parents were there to show full support for their son, who was on a panel with others talking about mental health.

Presley, who started modeling as a teen, discussed his addiction to various medications and said he finally realized at age 23 he had "enough." 

The 911 call for Presley Gerber came in as a suspected overdose at a luxury rehab in Santa Monica ... TMZ has learned. 

A spokesperson for the Santa Monica Police Department tells TMZ ... the initial call came in at 9:35 AM on Sunday. We're told officers located an unresponsive individual at the location and provided life-saving measures. 

The model was pronounced dead at 9:45 AM.