Family

Ben Affleck has had a rough time, and not just for a few weeks or months ... and the only thing that has spared him from a complete crash and burn is his children.

Sources directly connected to Ben tell us he has been fighting a losing battle with booze for 18 months. He's had periods of sobriety and then lapsed back deep into the bottle. TMZ broke the story ... it came to a head Wednesday when Jennifer Garner staged an intervention and drove him to a rehab facility.

We're told when Ben has been at his lowest over the last 18 months -- and there have been multiple times during that period when he hit bottom -- it seemed hopeless, and the only way he was able to pull himself out of the spiral was the love for his children and the realization of the consequences if something truly tragic happened to him.

Ben has had sporadic contact with the kids. Jen has been careful to protect the 3 children when Ben was in free fall, so there were periods when he regularly saw children and periods when he didn't.

The sad story ... his alcohol issues have consumed his life for the last year and a half, but hopefully this stint in rehab will get him back on track.

Kimberly Guilfoyle was once married to a major Democratic politician and now she's hooked up with a Trump ... so which party is more entertaining at a party?

We got the former FOX News anchor -- and Donald Trump Jr.'s gf -- in NYC Friday ... and it was all table talk. You may remember, she was once married to then-San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, who's now the Democratic nominee for California Governor.

She used to spend Thanksgiving with some major Dems, including San Francisco Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, and that's why we wanted to dish on which family is the funnest when it comes to breaking bread.

Kimberly's answer -- well ... no surprise, it's political.

As for Kimberly and Trump Jr. ... the two have been tight lately, posing for Metropolitan Magazine. Kimberly got this month's cover.

We're told Guilfoyle was draped in close to $1 million in jewelry for the shoot, provided by jeweler David Birnbaum of Rare 1.

If you're wondering how Kendall Jenner gets her kicks ... well, we just might have your answer.

Kendall channels her inner Bruce Lee as she karate kicks an empty glass bottle off the top of a friend's head ... talk about flexibility!!!

The ninja move went down Thursday night on the beaches of Los Angeles ... and you have to give dude props for standing tall and letting Kendall take a crack at his head.

Kendall gets mobbed by her pals after pulling off the daring move ... 'cause it's all fun and games when no one gets kicked in the face!!!

Looks like Kendall might have a future in kung fu movies.

Ben Affleck wanted to get back on the sober train -- badly -- days before his estranged wife staged an intervention and drove him to a rehab facility ... TMZ has learned.

Turns out, Ben had been attending wellness classes at a Los Angeles wellness center as recently as a week before checking into a live-in facility.

The center specializes in "Buddhist ethics" ... meaning meditation with a focus on a healthy body, mind and spirit. Our sources say Ben went on his own accord several times last week ... well aware he had fallen off the wagon and into a downward spiral.

We broke the story ... Ben's estranged wife, Jennifer Garner, staged an intervention Wednesday at his Pacific Palisades home and drove him to an L.A. County rehab facility where he will live for at least 30 days. We're told Ben didn't need much convincing because he knew he was in desperate straits.

We're told the trigger for Jen was on Monday, when she saw this pic (below) of Ben accepting delivery of a box full of beer and hard liquor.

The actor has been open about his struggles with sobriety over the years. After Ben completed his second stint at a rehab facility last year, he said, "I want to live life to the fullest and be the best father I can be. I want my kids to know there is no shame in getting help when you need it, and to be a source of strength for anyone out there who needs help but is afraid to take the first step."

He continued, "I'm lucky to have the love of my family and friends, including my co-parent, Jen, who has supported me and cared for our kids as I've done the work I set out to do."

Here's the reality ... most addicts relapse. It doesn't mean they can't eventually stay sober, but it's a long, difficult road and falling off the wagon is not necessarily game over. The most important thing ... it's clear Ben realized he had a problem and sought help, even before Jen staged the intervention.

Mike Trout is opening up on the passing of his brother-in-law ... saying, "You brought so much happiness and joy to my life every time I was with you."

The best player in baseball stepped away from the Angels a week and a half ago to mourn the loss of his wife's 24-year-old brother, Aaron Cox -- who was a former baseball player himself.

No details on the death have been given ... but Trout's message Thursday emphasized how much Aaron meant to the two-time MVP.

"Aaron, words can’t describe the emotions that I’ve been feeling the past week and a half. You were more than just my brother-in-law... you were my best friend," Trout wrote.

"You made such an impact on my life since the day I first met you. You were an amazing person inside & out that showed us all how to live life to the fullest. Seeing and hearing about your impact on other people are all things that made me a better person every single day."

Trout says the two shared plenty of memories together ... including hunting, golfing and fishing trips.

"You were a great kid and it kills me to know that you are gone... I can’t thank you enough for what you have meant to me over these last 11 years. I know you will be watching over me now that you are gone, I promise to take care of your sister and watch over your whole family."

"Heaven got a great one and I know I will see you again someday... I love you bro!!!!"

Is that Gina Gershon or Melania Trump???

Gina gave us a spot-on impression of the First Lady in NYC Tuesday during a preview of The 1st Annual Trump Family Special.

And, you gotta see the video!!!

Not only does Gina LOOK like Melania, she's also nailed the accent ... and it seems she's totally channeled into the mind of Donald Trump's 3rd wife.

Melania, excuse us, Gina expects YUGE ratings for the special -- a satirical musical comedy playing Thursday nights at the Triad Theatre beginning September 13 and running through December 6.

Gina is truly a Trumper ... 'cause she takes shots at the fake news media.

Gina has played Melania before -- on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" -- and she seems completely at ease in the role.

8/23 -- The photo above is Affleck at Jack in the Box, where he stopped before arriving at the rehab center.

8/22 7:20 PM PT -- We've learned Ben has arrived at a live-in rehab facility and will check in for an extended period of time.

Jennifer Garner has staged an intervention to help Ben Affleck, and TMZ has learned Ben wanted the help and agreed to go to rehab.

Jennifer went to Ben's Pacific Palisades home Wednesday afternoon to sit down with her estranged husband, begging him to get help. We've learned Ben didn't need begging ... he knows he needs help and was receptive.

Jen and Ben drove off at around 6 PM PT from the house ... and sources say the destination is a rehab facility. Our sources say Ben will enter a facility in L.A. County. We just found out they stopped at a Jack in the Box en route to the rehab place.

We're told Ben fell off the wagon a while ago, and has gotten progressively worse.

Our sources say the tipping point came 2 days ago when Jen saw a pic of Ben grabbing a box from a delivery man ... a box filled with beer and liquor.

Ben has been to rehab before ... back in 2001 for alcohol abuse. He also went back to rehab last December.

Jen filed for divorce in April, 2017 ... 2 years after they announced their split. The former couple remained close -- partly for their 3 kids -- and they are still not officially divorced.

Ben showed signs of excessive drinking when he took his date Playboy Playmate Shauna Sexton to Nobu in Malibu last week. His face was blotchy and he looked disheveled.

Kathy Hilton says her daughter pushing back her wedding date is no cause for alarm ... and guess what -- when it goes down it ain't happening at a Hilton.

We got Paris' mom at LAX Wednesday afternoon ... she tells us Paris has been swamped promoting her new fragrance and skincare line, so she's got no time at all right now to tie the knot with Chris Zylka.

Kathy assures us she was with the couple recently and all's well -- no cold feet or prenup issues. Then again ... we're still not entirely sure Kathy knows what a prenuptial agreement is all about.

As we reported ... Paris and Chris got engaged at the beginning of the year, when he put a monstrous $2 million ring on her finger.

The couple's been open about some of their wedding plans -- including Chris revealing they have a prenup ... and Paris telling us who is and isn't on her guest list.

According to Kathy, whoever makes the final cut is just going to have to wait for the official invite ... when Paris gets more free time.

Richie Incognito's father's death was unexpected -- and the Pro Bowl lineman took it extremely hard in the time leading up to his arrest at an Arizona funeral home ... TMZ Sports has learned.

As we previously reported, Incognito was taken into custody Monday after officials say he went off the rails at a mortuary following the death of his father. He was released from jail 24 hours later.

Now, Richie's Las Vegas attorney, Joseph Ganley, has issued a statement on Richie's behalf.

"Richie Incognito would like to thank everyone who has reached out to express their condolences and concern over the last several days. Richie had a tremendous relationship with his father; he admired him, he emulated him, and he loved him."

"His father, Richard D. Incognito, Sr., served this country bravely and honorably during the Vietnam War in the United States Army, which made his sons extremely proud. Mr. Incognito’s unexpected death this past weekend was traumatic for the entire Incognito family."

"Richie’s lawyers are investigating the complete circumstances surrounding his misdemeanor arrest on Monday by the Scottsdale Police Department, and may have more to report when that investigation is concluded."

Cardi B and Offset just gave us a first glimpse of their newborn after keeping her under wraps for a little more than a month -- keep in mind though ... it's literally just a glimpse.

The new parents posted a sliver of a photo of baby Kulture Wednesday -- the first time we're seeing her in any capacity -- with Cardi captioning the pic "KultureK."

It's definitely more of Kulture than we saw Monday night when Cardi pretended to be holding the kid in her arms as she opened the VMAs ... only to reveal it was a Moonman statue. We already knew she wasn't bringing Kulture though ... so no big surprises there.

Gotta say -- Cardi and Offset are definitely keeping their cards close to the vest. If Cardi holds out long enough ... she might beat all the newest Kardashian kids' debuts. Khloe's baby, True, currently holds the title at 2 months and change.

Stefan Karl Stefansson -- the actor who played Robbie Rotten on the popular children's show "LazyTown" -- will have a performing arts academy built in his honor ... TMZ has learned.

The Stefan Karl Academy & Center for the Performing Arts will be constructed and launched next year in Switzerland. It's the actor's dream project.

Stefansson died Tuesday after a long battle with cancer ... and we're told he was hammering away at curriculum details for the academy during his final hours.

The project will be a celebration of Stefan's life and contributions to the world of humor and human expression. The academy will focus on training young people in the history and skills of expression across multiple genres. The campus will include a theater, which will host live performances.

Stefan dreamed of opening a performing arts center for years. He envisioned humor as the center piece of the academy's mission.

Stefan's wife, Steinunn Olina, will provide creative leadership in opening the academy.

Aretha Franklin shockingly left no will behind ... which is surprising given her circumstances.

According to court documents obtained by TMZ, the singer died "intestate" -- meaning she had no will at the time of death.

It's especially surprising given that she has a special needs son named Clarence who needs financial and other forms of support for his entire life.

Aretha was ill for several years, but apparently did not see the end coming ... or possibly a will was low on the priority list.

According to Michigan law, Aretha's 4 kids will share equally in her estate.

Aretha died on August 16 at her Detroit home surrounded by friends and family after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. The Queen of Soul's death occurred on the same calendar day as "The King" Elvis Presley's ... albeit 41 years later.

As expected, Franklin's passing sparked an outpouring of emotion, sympathy, tributes and love from countless celebs ... including the Obamas, who said of Aretha -- "every time she sang, we were all graced with a glimpse of the divine."

Aretha's family has scheduled a multiple-day celebration of her life next week, beginning with an open casket memorial at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit. Her funeral will then be held August 31 at the Greater Grace Temple -- just for close friends and family.

1:00 PM PT -- Richie is out of jail. A source close to Richie tells us he was bonded out by family members who love and support him.

Ex-NFL star Richie Incognito was arrested in Arizona on Monday after allegedly going berserk in a funeral home following the death of his father ... TMZ Sports has learned.

We're told ... the 35-year-old offensive lineman was talking with staffers at the funeral home when he suddenly exploded and began yelling at various people.

Sources say Incognito allegedly told people he had guns in his Ford Raptor and would shoot people. We're told he also threatened to damage property at the funeral home.

TMZ Sports obtained the emergency dispatch audio in which you can hear the operator say Richie was "mad at employees and wants to kill someone."

Cops were called to the scene to respond to an "out of control" Incognito. He was ultimately arrested for disorderly conduct and taken to a nearby station where he was booked and posed for a mug shot.

We're told cops got a search warrant on the Ford -- and did find guns inside the vehicle. The vehicle and the weapons were impounded.

We're told he's still in custody at the time of this post.

Incognito had tweeted that his father passed away over the weekend. Richie had been in Arizona to move out of his longtime home.

As we previously reported, Incognito was taken into custody at a gym in Florida back in May after he allegedly attacked another patron while cussing the guy out.

Cops said Incognito appeared to be in an "altered paranoid state" during the incident. He was placed on an involuntary psychiatric hold. He was released a few days later.

Incognito had announced he had retired from pro football after the 2017 season -- but told TMZ Sports he was open to signing with a team in 2018 if the money was right.

We've reached out to Richie and his attorney for comment -- so far, no word back.

Incognito was a helluva player during his 13 seasons in the NFL -- making the Pro Bowl 4 times and reportedly earning more than $25 million dollars in contract money.

Incognito was infamously linked to the Miami Dolphins bullying scandal back in 2013 -- when he was suspended for misconduct for hazing teammate Jonathan Martin.

Years later, Martin threatened Incognito on social media -- and was apprehended by police a short time later. Cops found guns and knives on Martin at the time of his arrest.

Incognito told TMZ Sports he had no hard feelings for Martin and was praying for him.

Madonna tried (and failed) to adequately pay tribute to Aretha Franklin at the VMAs this week -- and while many of Aretha's fans are pissed ... the woman's own kin isn't.

We spoke with one of Aretha's nephews, Tim Franklin, who says the family was not upset over Madonna's awkward VMAs speech about how Aretha led her to who she is today. It was long-winded and rambling ... but more importantly, all about herself and not Aretha.

Tim tells us not only are the Franklins not mad, but they believe Aretha herself would not have been upset either. While they didn't catch Madonna's misfire, their point is this ... Aretha's far bigger than any kind of tribute, and her fans shouldn't be so sensitive. She wouldn't have been, according to Tim.

Madge herself addressed the controversy Tuesday, saying her "tribute" was never meant to be a full-blown thing or production. She says she was instructed to share a personal anecdote about Aretha, and that's exactly what she did. Considering the tight restraints of a televised award show, Madonna says ... "I could never do her justice in this context or environment."

As we reported ... Aretha died last Thursday from advanced pancreatic cancer. Tributes of all forms have been coming in from across the country since she passed.

Pat Houston says she and her family have no animus toward Max Lomas, a close friend of Bobbi Kristina's who himself died of a drug overdose last week.

We got Pat Monday on her way into LAX ... and Bobbi's aunt was remorseful and saddened by Max's passing -- last week he was found unresponsive on a bathroom floor with a syringe near his body.

As we reported ... Max played a big role in the mystery surrounding Bobbi Kristina's death. Lomas found Whitney Houston's daughter in her bathtub on the verge of death, and was often seen with Bobbi and her BF, Nick Gordon, in the days leading up to the incident.

Former 'Bachelorette' star Jordan Rodgers had a big bash for his 30th birthday over the weekend -- featuring friends and family ... but NOT his famous brother, Aaron Rodgers.

The family beef is well known -- hell, they even played it up during Jordan's season on "The Bachelorette" -- but people in Aaron's life had been trying to convince him to reconcile.

Doesn't seem like it worked ... because when Jordan posted pics from his birthday bash in Bowling Green, Kentucky on Saturday -- we saw brother Luke and dad Edward but no Aaron.

One source who was there confirms to TMZ Sports Aaron did not attend.

JoJo Fletcher -- the woman Jordan proposed to on "The Bachelorette" -- was there (she's in the gold wig). So was Luke's fiancee, Aimee.

If you're wondering, the Packers had a preseason game on Thursday ... so, it would have been theoretically possible for the QB to make it.