Family

Tyrese looks like he's having a mental breakdown and his friends are worried sick, but the actor tells us his behavior is that of a desperate father who has been bled dry by an angry ex-wife.

Tyrese has posted a gut-wrenching, almost hysterical video where he dissolves into tears at times and other times shows bursts of anger. He tells TMZ he is no different than an everyday Joe in Chicago who is fighting for his child.

He vehemently denies physically abusing 10-year-old Shayla and strongly believes Norma Gibson is motivated by spite and is making up claims to drive a wedge between father and daughter.

Tyrese also says he's going broke defending himself in court, paying huge legal bills. He says that's why he's so angry at The Rock, who's doing a spinoff of 'Fast & Furious' that is delaying the 9th installment of the franchise by a year. Tyrese says he desperately needs the paycheck.

The actor says Norma's claims have made him virtually unemployable ... essentially ruining his life, but he's determined to fight on so he can regain some form of custody.

Tyrese is coming apart at the seams over his legal battle to see his daughter, and he recorded an emotional breakdown hours before heading to court.

Tyrese posted this video where he just loses it, saying he's been away from 10-year-old Shayla for too long -- 2 months -- and begging his ex-wife, Norma Gibson, to drop her fight for a restraining order against him.

He also said he has millionaire and billionaire friends who just aren't showing up to help him in his time of need. Tyrese references the fact that much of the court proceedings have been sealed from the public. He says no one is hearing his pleas to see his daughter because they're not in court.

Shayla's nanny is expected to wrap up testifying Wednesday afternoon when the restraining order hearing resumes.

Katherine Jackson is bowing out of the guardian biz when it comes to Michael Jackson's youngest child, Blanket.

According to docs filed by Katherine ... there's no longer any need for her to be the 15-year-old's guardian. Katherine had been appointed joint guardian -- along with TJ Jackson -- of all 3 of Michael's kids in 2012.

Both Paris and Prince are adults now, but Katherine says because Blanket has reached his adolescence ... TJ can handle guardianship on his own. She also points to her own age, 87, as a reason she's stepping down.

Worth noting ... Katherine had not seen her grandchildren for several months earlier this year. It's still unclear how much contact she's had with MJ's children.

A judge still needs to approve Grandma Jackson's request.

Welcome to the Lonzo Ball 6-game rookie season breakdown with your host ... LaVar Ball!

So, LaVar ... the Lakers are 2-4, but how do you think Lonzo looks so far?

"How would I rate his first few weeks? Good!"

He took responsibility for that loss to the Jazz ...

"Hey, that ain't nothing new to me. He knows what he's supposed to do. He do it right."

But it's a team sport. It was a team effort, right?

"It can be a team effort, it's all on him. He already know. We built that way. My boy built that way."

So, what happens next for Lonzo? How does LaVar feel about Metta World Peace saying he can't tell if Lonzo will be a star until 3 years into his pro career?

Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber are now in regular contact, and it has royally pissed off members of her family.

A member of Selena's family tells us many of them have never forgiven Justin for what they claim was extremely bad conduct during their long on-again-off-again relationship.

One family member says, "Justin is a vile human and will never be accepted by us. As long as she is even speaking to him in any way, it is not only disrespectful to everyone around her, it is disrespectful to herself."

Some members of Selena's family believe she went to rehab for depression because of the way Justin treated her.

As for Selena ... she's not taking her cue from her family, because she's been around Justin at least 3 times in the last week.

Tyrese's first visit with his daughter in 2 months was pretty short ... so he took her to a place that's just as quick with grub that made both daddy and daughter smile.

Tyrese got to see 10-year-old Shayla Sunday for a monitored visit in a Van Nuys office building. They capped off the visit by going across the street for burgers and fries at In-N-Out.

From the looks of the photos, Shayla and dad were definitely enjoying each other's company.

We broke the story ... Tyrese and his ex-wife, Norma, will be in court this week in what has become a marathon hearing in which she's trying to get a permanent restraining order.

Months before John Lennon told The Beatles he wanted out, he was so focused on Yoko Ono ... he hand wrote a Christmas card to her ex-husband, which is now available for wealthy collectors.

Lennon penned the card to music producer Tony Cox in December 1968. Cox and Ono were married from 1962-69 ... so they weren't officially divorced yet when Lennon wrote to him.

The card ain't exactly full of holiday cheer, instead it's all about Yoko moving out -- "We took most of the stuff I think - we're gradually going through it."

John also asks Tony to fork over 2 of Yoko's short films and master tapes from a February 1968 concert she'd performed. The card, and enclosed letter, is being sold on MomentsInTime.com. They're asking $15k for it ... which is kind of a steal considering a lock of John's hair went for $35k.

The tactics Stephen Paddock's brother used to avoid authorities are being described as "evil smart" ... and have disturbing connections to the Vegas shooting.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Bruce Paddock has been on the run for more than 2 years prior to his arrest this week for child porn. We're told he changed his appearance and moved often to keep cops off his tail ... and took drastic measures to avoid getting nabbed.

Our sources say Bruce rigged up places he was living with booby traps that included propane tanks tied to doors ... and used cameras to create homemade surveillance systems around his properties.

As you'll recall ... Stephen had cameras set up in his Mandalay Bay hotel room to presumably alert him if someone was coming while he attacked the Vegas crowd from his window.

Brody Jenner bristled a bit when our photog incorrectly referred to Caitlyn Jenner as his "mom."

Brody was at LAX Friday when Charlie asked his opinion about the latest unveiling ... Caitlyn in a bathing suit.

Caitlyn's son was appropriately complimentary ... and explained the drill when a parent changes sex. Things change and remain the same.

And one more thing ... if you had any doubt Brody and his brothers are estranged from the Kardashians ... listen to what Brody says at the tail end.

Get ready ... Heidi and Spencer Pratt's photoshoot of their newborn son is cuteness overload.

Heidi and Spencer decked their son, Gunner, in some of the cutest outfits you'll ever see on a little one. Gunner -- captured by Oxana Alex Photography -- is a cub in one pic while holding a bear in another.

You've been warned ... these pics will seriously give you baby fever.

Tyrese will get some daddy time with his daughter, Shayla, after all, but the restraining order battle with his ex-wife is far from over ... TMZ has learned.

Sources connected with the case tell us both sides agreed, and the judge later ordered that Tyrese be allowed a monitored visit with his 10-year-old daughter on Sunday. We're told the existing restraining order was modified to allow for the 6-hour visit with a court-appointed monitor present.

However, Norma Gibson's effort to get a permanent restraining order against Tyrese will continue. In fact, the court has blocked off all next week for testimony.

Sunday will mark the first time in 2 months Tyrese has seen Shayla.

Chester Bennington's father is in a tough spot -- he won't be able to attend the big Hollywood Bowl tribute to his son due to a severe, and horribly timed, illness.

Family sources tell us Lee Bennington came down with laryngitis earlier this week. We're told he was holding out hope for a speedy recovery, but he can't speak right now ... and doctors have ordered him to stay put at home in Arizona.

The memorial concert -- "Linkin Park & Friends Celebrate Life in Honor of Chester Bennington" -- goes down Friday night at the Bowl. We're told Lee is especially bummed about missing it because he used to tour with Chester, and knew his bandmates and crew well.

Tyrese believes there was a death in the courtroom Thursday ... and a figurative funeral was held for all the accusations about him being a bad dad.

We got Tyrese leaving the L.A. courthouse with his wife, Samantha Lee, and asked him about his all-black wardrobe -- a stark contrast from his all-white getup Tuesday -- and he waxed poetic ... saying it represents the "death of a dialogue" of abuse allegations that have followed him for years.

As we reported ... his ex-wife, Norma Gibson, took the stand Thursday to try to get a permanent restraining order against him for her and their daughter Shayla ... and claimed she's afraid of him at times.

Tamar Braxton won't have to go through her divorce alone ... 'cause the cavalry has arrived.

We got the Braxton sisters, sans Toni, at LAX and it's clear they've got Tamar's back. In fact, it's no coincidence they arrived days after she filed to divorce Vincent Herbert.

The Braxton ladies hinted this is sort of a family tradition.

Towanda told us they all have experience, unfortunately, in dealing with this kinda thing -- so they're prepared to get Tamar through the tough times.

Odell Beckham's biological father -- Odell Beckham Sr. -- was arrested in Texas on Wednesday after officials in Texas say he was carrying weed and a gun ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Details surrounding the arrest are unclear -- but Odell was booked on 2 charges ... "unlawful carrying weapon" and "possession of marijuana under 2 ounces."

Beckham was taken to a nearby station where he was booked and posed for a mug shot. He has since been released on $5,000 bail.

Like his son, Odell Sr. played football at LSU -- and was the starting running back for the Tigers when Odell was born in 1992.

4:30 PM PT -- We're told during cross-examination, Tyrese's lawyer suggested Norma was dating a drug addict ... which is why Tyrese had a private investigator following her years ago. She denied it.

We're also told Tyrese began sobbing in the courtroom when he found out Norma wants to take their daughter to Israel for 3-4 days to meet Norma's grandma.

Tyrese's ex-wife says he has somebody following her and her friends to keep tabs on them ... and she's sometimes fearful of what he might do.

Norma Gibson's in court trying to get a permanent restraining order against Tyrese to keep him away from her and their 10-year-old daughter, Shayla. Norma took the stand Thursday and claimed Tyrese has been harassing her since 2014 after their custody evaluation by having someone tail her and her friends.

When Norma was asked if she's afraid of her ex, she replied ... "At times." She also brought up the 2007 incident where Tyrese allegedly punched her while she was pregnant, claiming 3 of Tyrese's people met with her afterward and got her to sign an agreement not to talk about it. She says she did it because she didn't want to ruin his career at the time.

Tyrese tells us this is all B.S., and the restraining order is sour grapes from him getting remarried. He claims he hasn't seen his daughter in over 60 days and just wants this resolved quickly so he can see her.

Norma has a temporary restraining order against Tyrese already, which she filed for claiming he abused their daughter. Norma claims he went into a rage, pushed Shayla to the ground, "grabbed her hands with one arm and beat her with the other" between 12 and 16 times. Norma says Tyrese hit Shayla so hard she couldn't sit. Tyrese says he only struck her once on her bottom.