Drugs & Alcohol

John Pinette -- best known for his role as the fat guy who got mugged in the "Seinfeld" finale -- has checked himself into rehab after becoming addicted to prescription medication ... TMZ has learned.

A rep for the venue in Canada where John was set to perform in next month says Pinette had to postpone the gig because he was checking into a rehab facility for his addiction.

The rep says John -- who also had his own Comedy Central special in 2011 -- underwent surgery earlier this year and got hooked to the prescription medication he was taking.

John has since tweeted to his fans about the situation -- saying, "Thanks to everyone for your concern and well wishes.. Want to apologize for having missed shows last weekend, but I hope you understand!"

In case you're not a "Seinfeld" fan (WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?!?) ... Here's his famous scene from the super disappointing finale.

At least the reunion on "Curb Your Enthusiasm" kinda-sorta-not-really made up for it.

Too Short won't be locked away after trying to run from cops during his crazy DUI arrest ... after cutting the SWEETEST deal of all time, TMZ has learned.

TMZ broke the story ... Too Short was popped in L.A. back in March on suspicion of DUI -- but during the arrest stupidly fled from cops. He was chased down and taken to jail, where cops say they found Ecstasy in the back of the police cruiser. Short denied it was his.

The rapper was slapped with SEVEN different charges, including: resisting arrest, DUI with .08 BAC or higher and possession of MDMA (Ecstasy).

Tuesday, Short's lawyer Keith Davidson did the impossible ... Short pled no contest to driving with a BAC of .08 or higher and in exchange, all the other charges were DISMISSED. Yeah.

It's not uncommon for first time offenders to get off easy -- but Short's deal is really incredible because he has multiple prior DUI arrests.

As for punishment ... Short was sentenced to 3 years probation, fines and alcohol education classes.

Looks like someone's lawyer is getting a gift basket.

Khloe Kardashian hasn't given up on her marriage to Lamar Odom ... at least publicly ... because she's still wearing her wedding ring.

Khloe was on her way out of a medical building in L.A. Monday when the photo was taken -- and while it's obvious she was trying to hide her face, she was clearly NOT trying to hide her symbolic commitment to her husband.

Lamar Odom was deep into drugs while he was playing for the Dallas Mavericks and there is evidence he was doing the exact same thing while playing for the Lakers ... TMZ has learned.

Sources connected to a Westin hotel in Memphis tell TMZ ... in March of 2012, shortly before Lamar was cut from the Mavs, he stayed in one of the guest rooms while his team was in town playing the Grizzlies.

Our sources say when Lamar left, hotel employees found major carpet damage ... including quarter-sized burn marks. The damage was so bad, the hotel had to replace the carpeting in the room.

Our sources say hotel employees also found white powder on the desk blotter and the room reeked of noxious smoke. Our sources say it was obvious there was serious drug use going on in the hotel room.

The Westin is one of numerous hotels where NBA players stay when they're on the road. TMZ has contacted a number of these hotels in various cities. We've learned from several hotel employees ... they had complained about the state of the rooms when Lamar left -- similar to what happened in Memphis -- and this was while he was playing for the Lakers.

Our sources say no one on the Mavs knew Lamar was a substance abuser while he was on the team, but everyone knew something was seriously wrong with him.

We're told that during at least part of the time he was playing for the Mavs, Lamar was smoking Oxycontin and cocaine.

Odom's problems were so severe, he was cut from the Mavs mid-season and paid in full just so he would go away.

TMZ broke the story ... the drug use escalated to crack -- and we're told Lamar's level of crack use is now alarming and life-threatening.

NEWSFLASH: holding up a copy of the U.S. Constitution in a cop's face will NOT stop him from arresting you -- at least that's what one of 2 Chainz' entourage members learned last week, shortly before he and the rapper got busted.

As we reported, 2 Chainz and ten other people on his tour bus were all arrested last week following a concert in Oklahoma City ... after police accused them of smoking weed on board.

You'll recall, cops pulled over 2 Chainz' bus because of a busted taillight, but upon approaching the vehicle ... cops say they smelled pot and attempted to search the bus.

But the driver refused to let cops on board -- and according to the police affidavit which was just released, one of the bus' passengers actually held a physical copy of the U.S. Constitution against the bus window ... "as if challenging officers" with his civil rights.

Fact is: the police DID have probable cause to enter the bus because they smelled pot and saw smoke inside ... but the rapper and his entourage decided to assert their non-existent civil liberties anyway.

In the end, officers towed 2 Chainz' bus and its passengers to a police lot -- where it sat for hours while cops obtained a search warrant -- and everyone was eventually arrested, 2 Chainz included.

The United States Constitution ... it doesn't work that way.

Lamar Odom is wearing the stress of his marriage -- and possibly his NBA career -- falling apart as he battles addiction to hardcore drugs ... and TMZ has the first photos of him in several days.

Lamar's face looked gaunt when he was spotted Monday afternoon driving his SUV around the San Fernando Valley ... not far from his home with Khloe Kardashian.

As TMZ first reported ...Khloe kicked Odom out of the house last Wednesday when he rejected her attempt to stage an intervention -- hoping to convince him to get treatment for his addiction to crack cocaine.

But 2 interesting signs from Lamar's outing Monday -- he was still wearing his wedding ring ... and he was spotted driving into the gated community where he and Khloe live.

Lamar Odom will remain a free agent -- at least for now -- because the L.A. Clippers refused to re-sign him in light of his abuse of drugs, including crack cocaine ... TMZ has learned.

NBA sources tell TMZ, team officials really wanted to re-sign Lamar over the summer after he performed well last season, but he was nearly impossible to reach ... and they couldn't make progress on contract discussions.

We're told the Clippers were STILL interested despite Lamar's flaky behavior, but after news broke about the NBA star's issues with drug addiction ... the team closed the book on a new deal, permanently.

Khloe Kardashian has met with Lamar Odom ... and she is desperately trying to save his life -- TMZ has learned.

Sources familiar with the situation tell us, Khloe found Lamar and drove to see him at an undisclosed location.

As TMZ first reported ... Lamar has plunged into the dark world of crack cocaine and Khloe effectively separated from him after throwing him out of the house last Wednesday when he rejected a family intervention.

We're told Khloe has not given up on Lamar although she says she will never get back with him until he's clean. On the other hand, we've learned she has taken no steps to file for divorce because she believes there's still a chance Lamar can be saved.

We do not know how Lamar has received Khloe's latest plea.

Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom are separated, but neither has taken any step toward divorce ... sources tell TMZ.

Multiple sources familar with the situation tell us Khloe "effectively" declared separation when she threw Lamar out of the house Wednesday, after he refused her attempt at an intervention. TMZ broke the story ... Lamar has had a crack addiction problem for at least 2 years, and Khloe simply couldn't take it anymore.

We're told Khloe made it clear if Lamar did not get help -- the point of the intervention -- she wanted nothing to do with him anymore.

But we are also told neither Khloe nor Lamar has consulted a divorce lawyer ... at least not yet.

If and when they do file for divorce -- which we're told is likely -- there won't be much to fight over. Sources connected with the Kardashians tell us the couple signed a hard-fought prenup before they married.

We're told Kris Jenner was right in the middle of the prenup battle because she wanted to protect her daughter -- who tied the knot after a 4-week courtship.

Short story ... the fat lady hasn't sung yet, but she's warming up.

Khloe Kardashian kept Lamar Odom's crack addiction secret from her entire family for most of her marriage ... TMZ has learned.

Sources connected to the family tell us ... Khloe did not want to burden her family and jeopardize the Kardashian machine by telling the brood about Lamar's drug issues. We're told Kourtney and Kim Kardashian learned of Lamar's addiction "very recently."

We're told Kris Jenner has known about it for a longer period of time, but was still kept in the dark for many months.

Our sources say even when Khloe reached out for professional help -- for example hiring private investigators to follow Lamar -- she lied about the extent of the addiction. Our sources say Khloe told private investigators Lamar was addicted to "performance enhancing drugs" and that's why she needed their help. She never played the crack card.

When stories started to surface about Lamar sleeping with other women ... and the family started asking questions ... Khloe felt she needed to reveal the real issue. As one source put it, "Khloe was a real trooper. She's been living a nightmare."

The NBA is a "brotherhood" ... and its members will rally to support players like Lamar Odom through good times and bad ... so says Kevin Durant.

Durant was leaving DeMatha High School in Maryland after playing in a Goodman League charity game (he dropped 40 btw) ... when we asked about Odom, who's currently struggling with issues stemming from an addiction to crack cocaine.

Durant made it clear L.O. can count on his fellow players to have his back.

NBA superstar John Wall was also in attendance (though he didn't play in the game) ... and told us he's also rooting for Lamar.

"I just hope he figures it out. That's it."

This is just beyond ... but turns out Reese Witherspoon's rant during her Atlanta arrest could have been an audition for "Breaking Bad" -- because it's a damn good imitation of a scene where Walter White gets busted.

Way back in Season 3 ... Bryan Cranston's meth-cooking chem teacher character got pulled over for a shattered windshield, and went off on the officer saying ... "This is America and I have rights," and ... "Pepper spray the man who's expressing his opinion under the 1st Amendment!!"

Sound familiar?

Watch the 'BB' scene and Reese's infamous verbal eruption where, for starters, she said, "I'm allowed to stand on American ground and ask any question I want to ask."

Lamar Odom has vanished and everyone in his life fears the worst -- that he's off somewhere on a drug binge ... TMZ has learned.

Sources connected to the NBA star tell us people on Lamar's side, and on the Kardashian side have not been able to find Lamar or contact him for nearly 72 hours -- and we're told the main concern is he's hiding out while doing crack cocaine.

As TMZ first reported ... Khloe Kardashian threw him out of the house Wednesday after attempting an intervention which Lamar squarely rejected.

We've already told you Lamar's been battling addiction for at least 2 years -- and even reluctantly agreed to go to rehab in San Diego a year ago ... although he bailed after 3 weeks.

Our sources tell us Lamar has gone off the hinges since basketball season ended and he became a free agent.

We're told his drug addiction is the core reason why his marriage to Khloe has fallen apart.

Short story ... everyone's worried.

3:00 PM PST: We spoke to a rep for Lamar who says Lamar is fine, however he would not say anything about his whereabouts.

Lamar Odom has been deep into crack cocaine for at least 2 years ... TMZ has learned.

TMZ broke the story ... Lamar has gone off the rails with drug use ... which is the principal cause of the crisis in his marriage to Khloe Kardashian. As we reported Lamar went to a rehab facility a year ago this month and stayed for 3 weeks before bailing -- and we're told the problem was crack.

Sources say Lamar's crack use was extreme before he went to rehab, but he cleaned up his act during the basketball season that just ended. Sources say shortly after he hung up his jersey, he started again with a bang.

As we reported ... Khloe threw Lamar out of the house a few days ago after he rejected an attempt at an intervention.

It's unclear how Lamar's problem will affect his basketball career.

R&B singer Anthony Hamilton was popped for a DWI early Sunday morning, TMZ has learned.

Cops pulled Anthony over around 2:30 am in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina for speeding -- but then suspected he was under the influence and arrested him on charges of driving while impaired.

He was released from jail later Sunday morning.

Anthony is famous for his 2003 hit "Comin from Where I'm From". Recently he wrote the song "Freedom" for "Django Unchained."

The marriage of Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom is in crisis, and TMZ has learned ... the core reason is hardcore drug abuse.

Multiple sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ ... Lamar has had a problem for 2 years. It got so bad, last August Khloe pressured Lamar to go to rehab. Lamar went to a facility in San Diego, but he was so resistant Khloe hired private investigators to secretly stand guard at the rehab place to make sure he didn't leave. The P.I.s stood guard 24/7.

Our sources say Lamar constantly threatened to leave and Khloe made several visits to prevail upon him to stay. We're told after 3 weeks, Lamar left for good.

We're told Lamar actually stayed clean once he left rehab and was able to play well for the Clippers this past season. But when the season was over, sources say Lamar slipped deep back into hardcore recreational drugs.

As for reports that Lamar was cheating recently, we're told Khloe is convinced it happened, and she feels she's been hit with a double whammy ... but drugs are the main problem.

As for divorce ... neither Khloe nor Lamar has contacted a lawyer. As one source put it, "Khloe is more concerned about saving Lamar than ending her marriage."

We're told the situation has become dire. Sources tell us ... within the last 2 days, the entire family staged an intervention, trying to convince Lamar to go back to rehab, but he wouldn't have any of it.

In fact, on Wednesday morning, right after the failed intervention, Khloe threw Lamar out of the house and as you see from the pic (above), one of Lamar's friends is loading Lamar's stuff in his car as Lamar watches.