Ben Gordon Punched 10-Year-Old Son In Face For Dropping Book ... Witness Told Cops

Published

Former NBA star Ben Gordon allegedly punched his son in the face multiple times at an NYC airport after the 10-year-old boy dropped a book, a witness told police.

As we previously reported ... the 39-year-old former 3rd overall draft pick (2004) was taken into custody Monday night around 9 PM, and now we've learned more about the retired hoopers' alleged actions.

A witness -- an American Airlines employee -- told Port Authority PD they watched Gordon strike his minor son in the "face multiple times."

Police responded to the area ... and when they arrived, Gordon told them the boy was his son. The child was taken to a local hospital where he was examined. It's unclear if he sustained any injuries.

Cops say they attempted to put the 6'3" former professional athlete in handcuffs, but he refused, flailing his arms and twisting his body in an attempt to not be handcuffed. Gordon allegedly said, "I am not going with you guys."

In the struggle, two cops say they were hurt ... one sustained a knee injury, and the other an injury to their arm and wrist. Both officers were treated at the hospital.

To make matters worse for Gordon, he wasn't even supposed to be with his son in a different state ... 'cause there was a restraining order put in place by an Illinois judge in May 2018.

According to police, Ben was prohibited from "committing physical abuse" against his son, as well as from taking him out of the state.

The alleged incident happened in Queens, New York.

Gordon was hit with 9 charges.

- Assault in 2nd degree (2 counts)
- Criminal contempt
- Assault in 3rd degree
- Resisting Arrest
- Criminal Contempt in 2nd degree
- Endangering the welfare of a child
- Attempted assault in 3rd degree

It's not the first time the former NBA player, who also won an NCAA championship with Jim Calhoun at UCONN in 2004, has been in trouble with the law ... but Ben had seemingly kept his nose clean the last few years until the alleged airport incident with his son.

Gordon was arraigned Tuesday night in the Queens County Criminal Court ... he's due back in a New York City courtroom later this month.

If ultimately convicted, Ben is facing serious prison time.

'RHOBH' Lisa Rinna Slammed by Cancer Institute ... Stop Using Cancer As Emotional Blackmail!!!

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Lisa Rinna is catching heat for some controversial comments she made on the 'RHOBH' finale -- her take on cancer is pissing off folks who research the disease.

Here's the deal ... during the finale, Lisa justified sharing secrets Kathy Hilton told her by claiming she would "get sick and get cancer" if she didn't get it off her chest.

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THE ILL COMMENT
BRAVO

That flip remark isn't sitting well with the American Institute for Cancer Research ... a rep tells us Lisa is "just using the specter of cancer as emotional blackmail to justify airing her grievance."

Setting the morality of Lisa's comments aside, the institute says Lisa is totally wrong about how cancer enters the body ... they say there is no strong evidence to support stress being the cause of cancer.

What's more, AICR says wherever Lisa is getting her information on cancer development is "certainly not based on reputable research."

Bottom-line for the cancer researchers ... Lisa "has taken a popular (but likely false) concept" and spewed it to the masses -- just to rationalize stirring up drama.

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"EMOTIONAL BLACKMAIL"
TMZ.com

Just another group turning on Lisa after this past season.

Eric Andre Sues Clayton County, Police ... Over Alleged Racial Profiling At Airport

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Comedian Eric Andre certainly isn't in a laughing mood ... taking an entire county to court after allegedly getting racially profiled at an airport last year.

According to the docs, obtained by TMZ, Eric and fellow comedian Clayton English are suing Clayton County, its police chief, and several individual officers ... claiming they both were singled out -- at separate times -- at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport while boarding their flights.

Eric says he was stopped in the jet bridge -- that narrow tunnel that connects a gate to the plane itself -- long after he went through his ticket check and TSA screenings.

Andre and Clayton claim the "target selections are unsupported by any legitimate cause or suspicion. There are no written policies or procedures governing the jet bridge program."

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HERE'S THE RUNDOWN ...
BACKGRID

As we previously reported, Eric said he did not consent to the search and says he did not see any other Black passengers boarding with his group in the priority line. He believes the incident was a classic case of racial profiling in the so-called war on drugs.

Clayton County PD responded at the time, calling it a "consensual encounter" ... and saying Eric volunteered his travel plans and also offered officers the chance to search his luggage, but they did not.

Eric was quick to respond to Clayton County PD's statement, saying, "I did NOT volunteer to a search and I did not volunteer to talk. You guys flashed your badge and detained me with no probable cause except for racism. This is JIM CROW RACISM."

Eric and Clayton say the numbers don't lie and insist that people of color are disproportionately subjected to these kinds of screenings, adding the odds of it randomly occurring this way are "significantly less than one in one hundred trillion."

They are seeking damages for what they insist was a violation of their constitutional rights and a declaration that the screening program is unconstitutional.

G Herbo Mental Health Is About Accountability ... As For Kanye 🤷🏽‍♂️

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INDUSTRY LEADER
TMZ.com

G Herbo is feeling great these days … partly due to the release of his new album, but also because he keeps his mental health in good standing!!!

We recently caught the Chicago rapper out in NYC, promoting his new 'Survivor’s Remorse' projects, which are layered with references to mental health.

Herbo tells us everyone needs to be responsible for their own well being, and that includes seeking treatment when necessary.

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The guy's fully aware he has a spotlight, and says he knows showing vulnerability could help fans who might be going through a rough time. Like his album title suggests, Herbo is living proof of recovery ... using therapy to help himself out of depression, and heavy drinking after the 2021 murder of a loved one.

We also got Herbo’s perspective, as a fellow Chicago rapper, on Kanye West’s recent string of outbursts -- which have pissed off Black and Jewish people ... and the folks running Twitter and Instagram.

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NO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
TMZ.com

You can hear Herbo’s crew attempt to sway him from answering the Kanye question ... but Herb made sure to note Ye's genius above all.

There's still that little accountability thing, though.

Angela Bassett Hush On New 'Black Panther' Theory ... But Our Fans Are Smart!!!

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FOLLOW THE SIGNS
TMZ.com

Angela Bassett simply won't crack -- and trust us, we tried -- on the new 'Black Panther' buzz surrounding Letitia Wright, but she is tipping her hat to Marvel's "smart" fans, and Disney ... for not recasting Chadwick Boseman's character.

We got Angela at Wally's in L.A. ... and she knows fans are excited to see the sequel, but she's sticking to an apparent code of silence about who's slipping into the super suit seen in the flick's new trailer.

She does admit the fans are smart, though -- saying Letitia's tech-savvy scientist character, Shuri, would be great to take the reins. Still, no confirmation from AB.

She gives us one interesting hint, saying the keen-eyed can "follow the signs and symbols."

Many have noted, for example, the white dot pattern on the mystery Panther's face to bear some serious resemblance to Shuri's.

Whether she's referring to metaphorical "signs and symbols" is unclear.

As for Chadwick's character, Angela got a little choked up telling us Marvel's decision to not recast the role was the right thing to do ... even though a solid percentage of fans were hoping a change would be made.

Fans will find out who's really behind that suit in less than a month ... 👀

Elvira Not Shocked If Madonna Is Gay ... She Hit On My GF Before!!!

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NEVER TOO LATE
TMZ.com

Cassandra Peterson -- AKA Elvira -- is not at all surprised by Madonna seemingly coming out as gay, attributing it to history the pop star has with her current girlfriend.

We got a dressed-down version of the Mistress of the Dark Tuesday, who shared her thoughts about Madonna's latest TikTok, hinting she was gay. Elvira wasn't shocked, telling us the pop star has always painted herself as sexually fluid.

What's more, Elvira says Madonna actually hit on her girlfriend in the past!

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ICYMI, Madonna posted a Tiktok Sunday that shows her throwing some panties at a trash can. The caption reads, "If I miss, I'm Gay!" ... she misses the bin before shrugging and walking away.

Cassandra acknowledged the fact it might've taken Madonna a while to come out, but says folks should come out whenever is comfortable for them.

One thing is for certain ... she says, it's a huge relief whenever it does happen. You'll recall, Peterson revealed she had been dating a woman for nearly 2 decades back in 2021 ... in her book "Yours Cruelly, Elvira: Memoirs of the Mistress of the Dark".

She says life has been fantastic since and she's encouraging others to live in their truth ... when that timing is right.

LeGarrette Blount Cops Wrap Probe Into Punches ... Hand Over To Prosecutors

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BEEF TO BEATDOWN
TMZSports.com

Police have finished their investigation into the youth football game fight where LeGarrette Blount threw punches at a man ... and they've now kicked over the case to prosecutors, who will decide if the ex-NFL player will face criminal charges.

A spokesperson for the Gilbert Police Dept. tells TMZ Sports ... cops turned the case over to the Town of Gilbert Prosecutor's Office for review in the last few days.

It's unclear if the GPD recommended any charges in that handoff.

Prosecutors now have a choice -- file criminal charges against Blount ... or let him off. We've reached out for comment, but so far, we haven't heard back yet.

As we reported, cops initially began their investigation into Blount on Oct. 1, after he was involved in a huge fracas following the conclusion of a 12-year-old-and-under football game in Gilbert, Arizona.

Video, obtained by TMZ Sports, appears to show the three-time Super Bowl winner -- a coach for one of the teams involved in the game -- getting ticked off by something someone said in the postgame handshake line.

In the footage, Blount appears to sprint after somebody -- before throwing two punches at a man.

Cops say they were called to the scene, but the fight had concluded once they arrived. They said no injuries were reported.

Blount eventually apologized for his role in the incident, saying in a statement, "As a leader, coach, father and a role model I understand my actions are unacceptable. I hope and pray for your understanding and forgiveness and plan to continue to be a positive impact in the lives of our youth."

He added that he believes there's more to the story than what the video showed ... but he explained, "Regardless of that, I take full responsibility for my part in it and for putting myself in this situation."

John Stamos I Miss Everything About Bob Saget

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MISS HIM EVERYDAY
TMZ.com

John Stamos says it's not just one thing he misses about the late Bob Saget ... it's everything, and even 9 months after his death, his friends still can't believe it.

We got John in Times Square on Tuesday and our photog asked him about his former "Full House" costar and close friend.

John says the thing that stuck out about Bob was how he was so "bombastic" with his love and never left anything on the table ... in other words, everyone knew how they stood in Bob's book, especially his friends.

Interestingly enough, John says he's got a tribute coming for Bob ... telling us how he's giving a subtle nod to Bob in his Disney+ series "Big Shot."

TMZ broke the story ... Bob was found dead back in January in his Orlando hotel room, where he fell and hit his head, resulting in a fatal brain bleed.

John and Bob were super close over the years ... first meeting on the "Full House" set back in the 1980s and developing a friendship. John's been at a bunch of Bob tributes, including a fundraiser for scleroderma research, a cause near and dear to Bob's heart.

'Days of Our Lives' Actor James Lastovic Found!!! After Going Missing in Hawaii with Friend

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UPDATE

11:47 AM PT -- Some good news ... Nevin's sister just posted, saying, "My sister and James are okay, they got lost on their hike but made it back to their car and are on their way back to the resort now. Thank you everyone for reposting and helping us reach Nevin."

UPDATE

11:23 AM PT -- A source involved in the investigation tells us the vehicle has not yet been located.

"Days of Our Lives" actor James Lastovic and his roommate have gone missing in Hawaii, according to his mother, who's pleading for help.

James' mom, Lucienne, says her son and Nevin Dizdari were vacationing at a resort in Kauai. On Sunday they told someone on the staff at the Hanalei Bay Resort they were headed for Kokee State Park where they were going to take a long trail hike. They also asked for directions to Shipwreck Beach ... specifically around the cliff diving area.

According to Lucienne, they never returned to the resort Sunday night and haven't been seen since. They left all their belongings in the room, which are now in the possession of the police.

They were driving a black Nissan, which also hasn't reappeared. Lucienne says there's a tracking device on the car, but no word from cops if they've been able to locate it.

We spoke with Lucienne, who's flying from San Diego to Kauai to help search for her son and his roommate. She believes they're in Kokee State Park.

Fans of the soap remember James playing Joey Johnson -- a recurring character that was on the show for 5 years, starting back in 2015.

His mom is asking for anyone with info to come forward and help.

Originally Published -- 10:34 AM PT

OhGeesy Cleared by D.A. in Gun, Drug Case ... Time For 'Geezyworld 2'!!!

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Shoreline rapper OhGeesy is free to go chase the bands again -- the Burbank prosecutor declined the gun and drug case he caught in September ... due to a lack of evidence.

TMZ Hip Hop broke the story ... OhGeesy was a passenger in a car leaving a close friend's funeral in the L.A. area when cops pulled them over, and ended up arresting him and 3 others for a gun found in the vehicle.

The prosector's office tells us the 28-year-old is now in the clear.

Prosecutors also declined to move forward with charging OhGeesy for a bottle of codeine they claim was in his pocket. We're told the DA is still pursuing charges against some of the other individuals in the vehicle.

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OhGeesy's attorney, Michael A. Goldstein, welcomed the change of fortune, telling TMZ Hip Hop ... “As stated previously, we were looking forward to OhGeesy’s day in court. I have an innocent client and the Prosecutor made the right call dismissing the case.”

OhGeesy just wrapped up his nationwide tour with fellow Cali rappers BlueBucksClan and we're told he's now laying out the blueprint for his next project, "Geezyworld 2."

He's wasting no time getting back to the music ... his new single "Knock Knock" dropped a little over a week ago.

Lindsay Lohan I'm Game For 'Freaky Friday' Sequel ... Ball In Disney's Court?!?

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Lindsay Lohan is down to film a sequel to "Freaky Friday" with Jamie Lee Curtis ... which means both the OG stars are on board if Disney wants to make a second movie.

Sources close to Lindsay tell TMZ … she'd be interested in a 'FF' sequel, but she hasn't heard anything from the Mouse House, at least not yet.

Jamie's been vocal recently about potentially making a sequel to her 2003 film with Lindsay ... she's mentioned the possibility at least twice during her media blitz for her new 'Halloween' movie.

JLC was on "The View" Monday and she gave her pitch to Disney ... she wants to be a grandma who switches places with Lindsay's parent character.

Our sources say Lindsay hasn't spoken to Jamie about doing a sequel ... but we're told she's heard rumblings about another installment of not only "Freaky Friday," but also "Mean Girls."

The ideas are being kicked around ... and Lindsay's game.

Stay tuned ...

Jidenna Polyamory Isn't New, Monogamous People Have Been Doing It Wrong For YEARS!!!

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PERSONALIZED RELATIONSHIPS
TMZ.com

"Classic Man" rapper Jidenna isn't here for critics who speak down on open relationships and polyamory, mainly because he says they're probably doing the same thing ... just not in the open.

We got the hip hop nomad outside LAX Tuesday, and he says people are only talking about polyamory -- the act of having multiple sexual partners -- because the conversation has become more frequent on social media.

Jidenna says he's not against either lifestyle and has experience in both, but thinks most monogamous relationships are often rooted in deception!!!

He then notes a painfully obvious scenario in many relationships today: people get married and then have multiple affairs... thus making them both polyamorous and a cheater!!!

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Jidenna says in 2022, the status quo on non-monogamy has changed and people are free to choose the type of relationship to their liking. Basically, whatever floats your boat without sinking it.

With several high-profile breakups this year -- Tia Mowry and Cory Hardrict, Fabolous and Emily B, Kanye West and multiple people -- maybe Jidenna is on to something here.

Bobby Wagner 'MNF' Tackle Protester Suffered Concussion In Hit ... Cops Say

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The man who was leveled by Bobby Wagner after running on to the field during "Monday Night Football" last week suffered a concussion from the tackle ... this according to a police report obtained by TMZ Sports.

The Santa Clara Police Dept. says Alexander Taylor came to cops at around 1:45 p.m. on Oct. 4 -- nearly 24 hours after he was hit by Wagner during the Rams vs. 49ers game at Levi's Stadium.

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BOBBLED BY BOBBY
Courtesy of NFL

He told them, according to the report, that he sustained multiple injuries after the Los Angeles linebacker drove his helmet and shoulder into him as he was streaking across the field with a smoke bomb.

"Mr. Taylor had a headache," cops said in the report, "a concussion without loss of consciousness, and a burn on his inner right bicep."

It's unclear if the burn was caused by his own smoke device. Cops say they are still investigating the incident.

As we reported, animal rights org. Direct Action Everywhere said Taylor -- along with a woman -- ran onto the field during the second quarter of the game to raise awareness for a trial involving the alleged theft of pigs from a factory farm.

A spokesperson for the group said Taylor -- who was cited over the field invasion -- filed the report because he believes a "blatant assault" took place.

Wagner said last week he took down the fan for safety reasons.

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ACTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES
Los Angeles Rams

Rams head coach Sean McVay said he was unbothered by his player's actions in the incident ... telling reporters, "We all know where Bobby's intentions were, and I support Bobby Wagner."

Kanye West Kim's Paying for Extra Security at Kids' School After His Online Attacks

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Kim Kardashian is opening her wallet to pay for heightened security at her kids' private school ... all because Kanye West has blasted the name of the school to the world, creating a heightened security risk.

Ye has been on a tear, trying to get their 4 kids to enroll at his Donda Academy. He's been Instagramming the name of the school where the kids are currently enrolled, and that means any random person now knows exactly where the school is located.

And there's more ... Kanye's made a lot of people angry over the last week, wearing his "White Lives Matter" shirt. Kanye even made an incendiary comment about school shootings, attacking Boosie Badazz who called him out over the shirt.

Ye wrote on Insta, "DON'T SPEAK ON ME LIL BOOSIE SPEAK TO ME YEAH LITTLE NERD ASS ME COME SMACK ME OR COME SHOOT ME IM THE ONE THAT GOT BULLIED BY THE ENTIRE BLACK CELEBRITY COMMUNITY NO IM BACK TO SHOOT THE SCHOOL UP."

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... the school recently hired additional security as an extra precaution, and Kim is footing the bill. We're told the increased security presence isn't because Kanye himself poses a threat, but there's concern someone could see his messages about the school and show up on campus ... posing a risk to students.

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BEEFING SECURITY
TMZ.com

Kanye has been putting a full-court press on Kim to enroll the kids at Donda. Kim has resisted, in no small part because it's not an accredited school. A recent Rolling Stone story said Donda offers, "Parkour classes, a cone of silence, and a principal with no apparent formal teaching experience."

As we reported, Kanye showed up at North's basketball game over the weekend wearing a "White Lives Matter" shirt and was followed by a photog. We're told Kim did not interact or even look at Kanye the entire game ... and even had her vehicle moved so she didn't have to walk out with him.

Post Malone Sorry For Canceling Last Time, Boston ... Here's a Free Shirt!!!

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POST SHOW HOOKUP
TMZ.com

Post Malone went out of his way to make things up to his fans in Boston ... giving out free shirts and a huge apology to folks at his show.

Post hit the stage Monday night, performing for fans in Bean Town after his recent rib injury forced him to cancel his concert there a few weeks ago.

He told the crowd, "I'm so f***ing sorry and I just wanted to say thank you for coming out tonight ladies and gentlemen. It means the f***ing world to me".

Besides putting on a great show, Post also let fans know they could grab a T-shirt on their way out. Talk about a sweet bonus -- that's legit official custom Boston merch, not some parking lot copycat gear!

As we reported ... PM pulled the plug on his Boston concert last month, just a few hours before showtime.

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NOT PART OF THE PLAN
TMZ.com

You'll recall, the singer had taken a huge fall onstage, a few nights prior during a show in St. Louis ... and he ended up fracturing a rib.

At the time, he said he was in too much pain to perform and was struggling with his breathing. He returned to the stage a week later in Cleveland.

Post's feeling a whole lot better now, and he was sure to let Boston fans know how much they mean to him.

WENDY'S Hometown Key for Worker With Down Syndrome ... Retirement Bash Planned!!!

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The longtime Wendy's employee with Down Syndrome -- who was recently fired -- is now getting a happy ending, complete with a huge party and a major key.

Here's the deal ... Dennis Peek was unceremoniously canned a few days back after working at a Wendy's in Stanley, North Carolina for 20 years. The news was particularly devastating for Dennis' family -- his sister and guardian, Cona Young Turner -- tells TMZ ... Dennis doesn't know he was terminated, and instead thinks he's retiring.

The family is being super sensitive about the situation, but we've learned the city of Stanley is kicking in to give him a proper retirement send-off. Cona says during the party, Dennis will be presented with a key to the city and a commemorative plaque.

She says the Carolina Restaurant Group -- which operates the Wendy's where Dennis worked -- offered Dennis his job back and the family at first agreed, but she says the family ultimately decided against it.

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We're told Dennis previously mentioned to his family he wanted to retire ... so his sister thinks it's best for him to move on from Wendy's.

Cona says Wendy's offered to cover costs for the retirement party, but as of now the city will foot the bill ... and folks in town are chipping in too.

The retirement bash is set for Nov. 5, and the family's also asking people to send Dennis "Happy Retirement" cards.

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While Cona was initially looking into filing a wrongful termination lawsuit of a special needs worker, she tells us ... the family will NOT pursue legal action.

Enjoy retired life, Dennis!!!