Exclusive

The men allegedly involved in the brutal beatdown of Tekashi 6ix9ine appeared to have had a plan in place to get to the rapper ... as evidenced in new surveillance footage from the gym.

Check out the video, obtained by TMZ, showing one man already inside the South FL LA Fitness location chatting on his cell phone. The man approaches the front door of the gym to let another man in, and after a brief convo with the front desk employee, they beeline it to the gym's restroom and sauna area joined by a third man.

It certainly looks like the two men were in on some sort of plan ... but it's still unclear if they knew Tekashi was going to be at the gym all along, or if one man possibly saw 6ix9ine and called his buddy to help.

TMZ broke the story, Tekashi was rushed to a hospital Tuesday night after the attack, suffering from injuries to his face, back, ribs and jaw. Sources close to Tekashi tell us he's still receiving treatment in the hospital.

Video from inside the gym's sauna area shows a group of men punching, kicking and cussing out the rapper for being a snitch.

Freddie Gibbs is still going full steam ahead with his "SSS" album ... with plans to roll out the track "Zipper Bagz" as the next music video.

TMZ Hip Hop obtained stills of Gangsta Gibbs we're told are from the upcoming visual, which we're hearing could drop sometime this week.

The video's plotline is still under wraps but the Grammy-nominated rapper appears to be having a terse conversation with a woman in one scene ... while another shot features Freddie in front of a motel sign — and later suspiciously peering out of the window!!!

"SSS" marked Freddie's major label album debut and he's been pretty visible since its release ... most recently, rocking "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" with Anderson .Paak and The Roots.

The criminal case that put "Rick and Morty" co-creator Justin Roiland out of a job has just been dismissed.

The domestic violence case against Roiland was dismissed Wednesday morning in Orange County. A spokesperson for the District Attorney tells us it was dismissed because there was insufficient evidence to prove beyond reasonable doubt.

Justin says, "I have always known that these claims were false – and I never had any doubt that this day would come. I’m thankful that this case has been dismissed but, at the same time, I’m still deeply shaken by the horrible lies that were reported about me during this process."

He continues, "Most of all, I’m disappointed that so many people were so quick to judge without knowing the facts, based solely on the word of an embittered ex trying to bypass due process and have me “canceled.” That it may have succeeded, even partially, is shameful. However, now that the legal case has ended, I’m determined to move forward and focus both on my creative projects and restoring my good name.”

Roiland's attorney T. Edward Welbourn tells TMZ ... "I commend the Orange County District Attorney’s Office for conducting a thorough review of the facts and deciding to dismiss the case against Justin. I’m thankful justice has prevailed."

For those unaware, Roiland got in hot water earlier this year after NBC News revealed he was arrested and charged back in 2020 ... although the details leading to his arrest are unknown. Officials only noted there was an incident with an unnamed woman he was dating at the time.

Netflix straight up jacked the characters and plot for its hit show "Outer Banks" from an already published book ... at least according to the author of a novel, who's now out for some legal revenge.

The streaming giant is being sued by Jeff Wilson, who claims there are way too many similarities between a book he wrote, "Queen Anne's Revenge," and 'OB' for it to be pure coincidence.

According to the lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, Wilson says in 2013 he published his novel, which follows 4 friends on a treasure hunt from a famous shipwreck near the outer banks of North Carolina.

Wilson says his book was even promoted by Discovery and History Channel, and he claims the 'OB' creators have even confessed ... they relied on other books and authors for inspiration to write the scripted series.

The author claims his book was drawn from heavily ... he says the main cast and their character arcs are almost identical to his novel ... and he says the plot points and settings are eerily similar, too.

Wilson is suing Netflix for copyright infringement ... and he wants the streaming giant to fork over any profits they've made from infringing on his novel and an injunction stopping Netflix from distributing or advertising "Outer Banks."

It's worth noting ... another novelist, Kevin Wooten, previously sued Netflix and the 'OB' creators, claiming they ripped off his 2016 book ... but the suit was dismissed after a judge didn't find sufficient similarities between the two.

Amanda Bynes will likely spend an extended period of time getting the psychiatric care she needs, and we've learned more about the days leading up to her walking naked through L.A. streets.

Sources close to Amanda tell us they're still putting the pieces together, but at this point believe she could've been living on the streets for several days. We're told Amanda's car was towed on March 15 in Long Beach, about 40 miles from her home ... and 25 miles from downtown L.A., where she popped up Sunday.

From Long Beach, our sources believe Amanda hitchhiked or took public transport to get around. She was spotted in Hollywood on March 18, appearing out of it but still clothed.

At one point, we're told, Amanda got a ride to Beverly Hills from a stranger but then asked to return to Hollywood.

We're also told since she was first brought to a mental health hospital early Sunday morning, she's started to make improvements ... but the expectation is she will likely be committed at least another week before she'll be well enough for discharge.

As we told you, it was early morning March 19 when Bynes was spotted wandering the streets near Downtown Los Angeles -- waving a car down for help and calling 911.

Bynes was placed on an involuntary psychiatric hold, which typically lasts at least 72 hours.

Tekashi 6ix9ine was savagely beaten by a group of men inside a South Florida gym ... with injuries so bad the controversial rapper was rushed to a hospital by ambulance.

6ix9ine's attorney, Lance Lazzaro, tells TMZ ... the rapper was inside the sauna Tuesday at an LA Fitness when all of the sudden he was attacked by several guys without warning.

Lazzaro says 6ix9ine tried to fight off the combatants, but there were too many of them, beating him to a pulp before fleeing. Lance notes 6ix9ine did not have security with him at the time of the attack.

Gym staff heard the commotion and immediately notified a manager. Police and EMS were then called to the scene, and he was transported to a hospital by ambulance.

We've obtained a photo of Tekashi taken from the hospital where you can see the damage to his face -- with gashes and swelling. We're told he also suffered injuries to his jaw, ribs and his back.

The next step, Lazzaro says, is he plans to call the Feds to make sure 6ix9ine gets the protection he clearly needs. Remember, he was granted early release from federal prison after cooperating with authorities to land several of his gang member cohorts behind bars.

It's currently unclear if the gym attack had anything to do with Tekashi's cooperation.

Gene Simmons can officially close a very expensive chapter in his Las Vegas life ... finally closing the deal on his massive Las Vegas home.

Real estate sources tell us the KISS rocker sold the glass palace Tuesday for $11M, a discount from the $15 million he originally listed it for in 2021.

As for what $11 million gets you in the desert, the 11,000 sq ft. home comes with a ton of cool features and amenities -- including 6 bedrooms, 8 bathrooms, retractable glass walls, a koi pond and more.

There's also plenty of views of the Strip ... and he even snagged the property next door and planted 137 trees on the land. Of course, the home wouldn't be complete without a gorgeous pool.

If the new homeowner is into cars, they'll have an 11-space garage to fill up.

Ivan Sher and Evangelina Duke-Petroni of IS LUXURY held the listing.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta says artificial intelligence is going to have an effect on health care one way or another ... and while he thinks it'll be mostly positive, there are also downsides.

CNN's go-to medical expert was at LAX Tuesday, where we talked to him about AI. Our photog actually got his first question by asking ChatGPT what to ask the good doctor.

Turns out, the machine was on point ... What does Sanjay think will be the most significant impact AI has in his field?

DSG breaks it down for us ... he believes AI is going to make things much easier for everyone -- practitioners and patients. He explains currently, we have a bit of a one-size-fits-all approach to medicine ... but he thinks AI will change that.

It's pretty fascinating ... Gupta thinks these programs are going to make diagnoses and treatments much more personalized, adding that's ultimately a great thing, 'cause it'll help more people get the best care.

The potential flip side ... algorithms being used to exploit or harm folks, which Dr. Gupta believes could happen if humans allow it. In other words, bad actors could make AI go south ... but he doesn't suspect it'll be the machine's fault -- it'll be our own.

Dick Van Dyke got into a car crash in Malibu ... though he managed to avoid serious injury.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... police responded to a call of a single-car accident last Wednesday morning, and when deputies arrived they found Dick behind the wheel of a 2018 Lexus LS 500 which he'd crashed into a gate.

Our sources say the 97-year-old film and TV legend told cops his car slid and he lost control before slamming into the gate. The streets were wet from the nonstop rain L.A.'s been getting.

As for Dick's injuries ... we're told he was bleeding from the nose and mouth and might have suffered a concussion. Paramedics treated him at the scene, and he had no interest in going to a hospital.

Dick's taken a beating onscreen during his seven decades in Hollywood ... so we're guessing a few minor bumps and bruises don't faze him much.

Our sources say drugs and alcohol were NOT involved ... though cops have submitted paperwork to the DMV requesting a driving retest for Dick, with one of the factors being his age.

Afroman is being dragged to court by the same Ohio sheriff's deputies who searched his home ... because the deputies are pissed the rapper's using footage from the raid to make money.

Several deputies and sergeants are suing Afroman, claiming he's using videos and pictures from the August raid at his Ohio home in music videos, and selling merchandise with their images.

According to the lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, the deputies claim Afroman was not home at the time of the raid, but his wife was in the home and she whipped out a cell phone and recorded the search. The officers also claim Afroman's home was full of security cameras, which also recorded deputies during the raid.

Their main gripe is this ... deputies didn't give Afroman permission to use the footage in music videos, or to slap their faces on merch ... and he's profiting off their images and likenesses.

In the suit, the officers say Afroman's music videos, social media posts and merchandise related to the raid amount to an invasion of privacy and misappropriation of their likenesses ... and they say it's causing them emotional distress, ridicule, humiliation, loss of reputation and embarrassment.

For his part, Afroman says deputies raided his home in search of narcotics but came up empty ... and he claims deputies ended up seizing cash during the search, $400 of which wasn't returned. The Clermont County Sheriff's Office investigated and found that the Adams County sheriffs had miscounted the money seized and the correct amount had been returned.

Latto can see daylight in her airport loaded gun arrest ... it's been a lengthy process, but we've learned she's nearing the finish line to finally getting the charges dropped.

Records show Latto was busted in May 2021 at LAX and charged with carrying a loaded firearm and carrying a concealed weapon. She subsequently entered a year-long diversion program which started in April 2022.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... the program required Latto to complete a gun safety course, perform 120 hours of community service and avoid all firearms.

We're told if she completes all the requirements, both charges will be dismissed -- and there's a hearing set for late April to see if she's satisfied all the conditions.

If ya missed it, Latto made a pretty public confession when she featured on Mello Buckzz's new track, "Boom Pt. 2" ... rapping the lyric, "I got locked up in the airport, goddamn forgot the gun."

Marvin Gaye III is waving the white flag on his marriage ... filing for divorce just two months after he was arrested for allegedly pointing a gun at his wife.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Marvin Gaye's son beelined it to court Wednesday and filed to divorce his wife Wendy Gaye.

Marvin III lists the date of separation as Jan. 12, which is interesting ... because it's the same date as his domestic violence arrest.

TMZ broke the story ... Marvin III allegedly physically assaulted his wife and cousin during a Jan. 12 argument inside his Calabasas home.

Remember ... Wendy later got a restraining order against her husband after claiming he grabbed her by the neck and lifted her off the ground before her cousin intervened, only for Marvin III to begin physically attacking both women. Wendy also says Marvin III pointed a gun at them.

A day later, MG3 turned himself in and was booked on two charges ... felony assault with a deadly weapon and misdemeanor domestic violence. He posted a $50,000 bond and was released.

In the docs, Marvin III is going with the usual "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for the split ... and he's asking to block the court's ability to award Wendy spousal support. They did not have any children, so no issues there.

It's worth noting, Marvin III doesn't specify the date of marriage ... in the docs, he just put TBD. 🤷🏽‍♂️

Willis Reed will be honored by the NBA tonight ... with the Association holding a leaguewide moment of silence for the late Knicks legend, TMZ Sports has learned.

Our sources tell us there will be a pause to reflect on the Hall of Famer's passing prior to the tipoff of all six scheduled games Tuesday night.

Some of the games on tonight's slate include the Celtics vs. Kings and Cavaliers vs. Nets.

The Knicks don't play ... they're back in action on Wednesday, when they'll face the Heat.

Of course, Reed died at the age of 80 on Tuesday after battling health issues, including congestive heart failure.

Willis was a beloved figure, especially in New York, and news of his death rocked the league.

Commissioner Adam Silver released a statement addressing Reed's passing, calling him "the ultimate team player and consummate leader."

In fact, Silver said his first NBA memories were of watching Willis as a young boy.

"My earliest and fondest memories of NBA basketball are of watching Willis, who embodied the winning spirit that defined the New York Knicks’ championship teams in the early 1970s.  He played the game with remarkable passion and determination, and his inspiring comeback in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals remains one of the most iconic moments in all of sports," the statement read in part.

In addition to the moment of silence, it's all but guaranteed the Knicks will also honor their Captain.

The attorney for the family of the 19-year-old who was found dead years ago near Alex Murdaugh's home is telling us exactly why he won't accept the simple hit-and-run theory surrounding his death -- he believes it's cold-blooded murder.

Attorney Ronnie Richter joined us on "TMZ Live" Tuesday, making it clear Stephen Smith's mother is determined to get justice for her son, and the first step is exhuming Stephen's body for clues.

Ronnie ticked off a number of facts that clearly point to murder -- Stephen's body from the torso down had no injuries, there were no car parts found at the scene, his shoes were still on, he supposedly walked 3 miles in the dark without ever using his cell phone ... and there's a lot more.

As for looking into any possible Murdaugh connection, Ronnie isn't jumping to any conclusions the disgraced lawyer's family was involved ... although he's keenly aware the case was reopened as authorities were deep into the Murdaugh murder investigation. By the way, Stephen's body was found near the Murdaugh home.

Murdaugh's surviving son, Buster, knew Stephen and there have been rumblings in town the 2 had some sort of relationship. Buster released a statement Monday dismissing the rumblings and denying any involvement in Stephen's death.

Jonathan Bennett is offering up a slice of paradise ... he's selling his fun house in Palm Springs and he's looking to walk away with some change in his pocket.

The "Mean Girls" star listed the charming home, which he playfully calls Mai Tai Manor, for $1.15M ... after snagging it back in 2020 for $625K.

The 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom pad has a modern feel ... it comes with some nice touches, like french doors, bedrooms that open out to a colorful backyard with a pool ... and a patio area for sipping those mai tais!!!

Joe Chung of Compass holds the listing and tells us, Jonathan and his husband Jaymes Vaughan scooped up the 1970s-built ranch home a few years ago and even got engaged in the backyard.

They've since put a lot of work and money into the home since purchasing it, adding their own finishing touches on the getaway home.

Between TV gigs and expanding their LGBTQ+ cruise company OUTbound, we're told the couple will have less leisure time to spend at Mai Tai Manor -- hence they're putting it on the market.

Fun fact ... Mai Tai Manor has been featured in a ton of publications like Design Network, Celebrity Homes Unlocked, MTV and more.

Amanda Bynes' parents aren't viewing her recent psychotic episode as a reason to put her into another conservatorship ... but that doesn't mean her episode hasn't set off alarm bells.

A source with direct knowledge tells TMZ ... Amanda's parents, Lynn and Rick, are deeply concerned about their daughter's well-being and health after her latest ordeal -- but another conservatorship isn't on the table, at least for now.

Amanda had been living independently in her own house and taking cosmetology classes and until fairly recently seemed to be doing fine, so Sunday's episode seemed like an anomaly.

We're told her parents are also taking comfort in the fact Amanda was self-aware enough to recognize she was in trouble ... flagging down a car for help and calling 911 herself.

TMZ broke the story, Amanda was placed on a 5150 psychiatric hold after being spotted walking naked near Downtown L.A. Sunday morning.

She was taken to a nearby police station and a mental health team felt a psych hold was necessary. Typically, 5150 holds last only 72 hours, but they can be extended.

As you know, Amanda was in a conservatorship for almost a decade, starting back in 2013 while struggling with her mental health. The plug was pulled on her conservatorship a year ago tomorrow.