Hayden Panettiere's Los Angeles home was searched by federal drug agents shortly after her death ... and we're told investigators were looking for evidence that could link the fatal pill to her drug dealer.
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... DEA agents executed a search warrant at Hayden's L.A. residence August 25th -- 9 days after her death -- looking for evidence related to black market controlled substances.
We're told investigators were interested in various drugs Hayden may have been taking ... testing them to see if any were laced with fentanyl.
Sen. John Kennedy still seems shocked that the FBI is willing to take a second look at candidates who admit to bestiality ... because chicken fornicators aren't getting a job offer from him.
Charlie caught up with the Senator from Louisiana on Capitol Hill after Tuesday's bizarre exchange between him and FBI Director Kash Patel ... and he said he still doesn't totally understand why the agency had to get into bestiality in the first place.
Sen. Kennedy says it should be obvious ... if a candidate shows up to a job interview with his office and says they're into legs and breasts AND wings -- then they're not getting a position from him, regardless of whether his bylaws specifically state it or not.
The girl who authorities say was killed by her mother in a hotel room at a cheerleading competition had numerous drugs in her system before the apparent murder-suicide ... TMZ has learned.
TMZ obtained the Clark County Medical Examiner report for 11-year-old Addi Smith, who was allegedly killed by her mom, Tawnia McGeehan, inside their Vegas hotel room in February 2026 ... and it says Addi had a smorgasbord of substances in her system.
The medical report said Addi was found in her pajamas with a pillow covering her face. Officers believed Addi was "very medicated" before being shot by her mom. The report notes a suicide note was found at the scene.
Porn star Christian Styles' death was caused by heavy drinking and kratom use ... which is called "gas station heroin" ... TMZ has learned.
According to Michigan’s Wayne County Medical Examiner … Christian died due to alcohol and mitragynine toxicity. Mitragynine is the active ingredient in Kratom, which is a product sold without a prescription for pain relief and energy.
The report says Christian had a 0.168 BAC, mitragynine, and several of its breakdown products in his blood. The porn star was found dead inside a bedroom in his home when his parents came to check on him.
Chuck Norris' former costar is calling out the Emmys for failing to include the late TV star in the In Memoriam segment ... telling us it was a "tragic mistake" and calling on producers to do better.
Judson Mills worked closely with Chuck during the final 3 seasons of the 9-season hit television series "Walker, Texas Ranger." He says of Chuck's snub ... "Tragic mistake. And I have to assume it was just a terrible mistake. But my first thought was Gena and the family. And his fans."
Judson cuts the Emmys some slack .... "I'm confident Chuck would encourage forgiveness. He was an 'it's not all about me' kind of guy."
Still, he adds ... "But for an icon of his stature who impacted not only Hollywood, but the entire world, to see him not receive recognition at all and to see the family not receive that recognition was disappointing."
Tom Kane's exclusion from the In Memoriam at this year's Emmys is a massive miss, and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences needs to right the wrong ... so says his former costar.
E.G. Daily -- who voiced Buttercup in "The Powerpuff Girls" animated series, which featured Tom as Professor Utonium and several other popular characters -- says it was a pretty big oversight on the Academy's part to leave Tom out of the televised In Memoriam.
That said ... E.G. basically says she's not too shocked -- actors and crew in the voiceover community are commonly overlooked despite all the work they do.
Kanye West's former employee, Benjamin Provo, is laying out his case against the musician as he seeks an 8-figure sum ... claiming he was discriminated against because of his hairstyle.
In new court docs, obtained by TMZ, Benjamin says he believes he's owed up to around $23 million in damages from Kanye and his Donda Academy ... claiming he was fired for refusing to cut off his dreads.
Benjamin, a Black man, claims he faced discrimination while working at Kanye's Donda Academy in 2022 ... and alleges Kanye also removed all books by prominent Black leaders.
Rep. Rashida Tlaib is raking Ed Sheeran and Robert Kraft over the coals after Macklemore was kicked off Ed's tour for his pro-Palestine rhetoric ... telling us she has no respect for Ed or Kraft.
Charlie caught up with the Representative from Michigan on Tuesday ... and she says she instantly lost respect for Ed when he dropped Macklemore from his remaining tour dates amid mounting pressure.
Rep. Tlaib says it always feels like Palestinians are always an exception ... claiming other groups get full-throated support during humanitarian crises -- but not Palestinians.
Hayden Panettiere and her drug dealer engaged in numerous text conversations for years -- right up until the week she died -- and the DEA is now laser-focused on the thread of incriminating evidence ... sources tell TMZ.
Sources involved in the investigation with direct knowledge tell us ... Hayden and her dealer were very specific about purchasing black market pills. As one source put it, "There are a slew of messages about drugs." We're told the text messages are now a centerpiece of the investigation.
TMZ broke the story ... the DEA believes Hayden died after taking an oxy pill laced with fentanyl. Our sources say Hayden took various pills with her on the flight from L.A. to South Carolina, the night before she died. Her boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, gave police a bag of Hayden's meds, which could reveal other pills laced with the deadly drug.
Former Florida gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum is making progress in his criminal case after completing a stint in a treatment center following his Alabama drug bust ... TMZ has learned.
According to court docs obtained by TMZ, Andrew will be allowed to leave the Tennessee area, where his rehab was located, and go back home to Florida, where he lives with his wife and kids.
The paperwork said Andrew will wear a GPS ankle monitor and continue to follow all other laws while out on bond in his criminal case.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman is taking the death penalty off the table in Nick Reiner’s criminal case ... and it is partly due to his slain parents’ view on executing criminals ... TMZ has learned.
Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... Hochman and his team decided to remove the death penalty for several reasons -- in no small part because Rob and Michele were against the death penalty.
Before his death, Rob, who was a Democrat and outspoken about his views on politics, praised Erika Kirk for forgiving Tyler Robinson, the man who allegedly killed her husband, Charlie Kirk.
Jean Smart was riding high after her big Emmys win ... until the conversation turned to A.I. and Donald Trump.
We caught up with the acclaimed actress in L.A. after Monday night's awards show, and she admitted she's stressed about the emerging technology ... not just for acting, but for the state of the world.
Jean's got some strong words for the President ... namely, his position that there doesn't need to be any guardrails for A.I.
Rep. Haley Stevens' congressional career is coming to an end ... but her personal life's clearly making her feel groovy -- because she busted a move while giving deets on her engagement!
Jacob caught up with the Michigan Rep Tuesday ... and she's obviously feeling herself on the Hill these days -- busting a couple dance moves when Jacob's ringtone started playing.
Then, she dove into gossip ... laying out the romantic-comedy saga surrounding her relationship with Jason Turkish -- a disability rights lawyer based in the Great Lakes State.
The folks who call the shots for the Super Bowl halftime show have two megastars at the top of their list for the 2027 event ... Justin Bieber and Harry Styles.
Sources tell us both singers are high on Roc Nation's short list. Jay-Z and his company are partnered with the NFL, and as the league's "live music entertainment strategist," Jay has final say on the halftime performer.
We're told Justin and Harry have not been approached about the show yet ... and sources tell us Justin and Harry are both unlikely to take the gig if they are finally approached.
Rep. Nancy Mace is calling for Lindsay Clancy to be publicly executed ... saying the Massachusetts mom accused of killing her three children "should be dead too."
The South Carolina congresswoman made the explosive comments while discussing Clancy's case and her attorney's recent push to have the charges resolved without another trial.
Jacobcaught up with Mace who argues Clancy should face the ultimate punishment and says she should be publicly executed ... saying "Her children are dead, she should be dead too."
