Famous Food

Mary J. Blige says she never signed off on the controversial fried chicken ad that she shot for Burger King -- at least not the version that was blasted on the Internet.

Mary J. tells TMZ, “I agreed to be a part of a fun and creative campaign that was supposed to feature a dream sequence. Unfortunately, that's not what was happening in that clip."

Mary also says, "I understand my fans being upset by what they saw. But, if you’re a Mary fan, you have to know I would never allow an unfinished spot like the one you saw go out."

The spot -- which Burger King has since yanked from its YouTube site -- features Mary singing about a new crispy chicken wrap. The ad drew tons of criticism on Twitter for playing off a stereotype about African-Americans and chicken.

Burger King confirms the ad was released prematurely "before all of the licensing and final approvals were obtained." The fast food giant also says, "We would like to apologize to Mary J. and all of her fans for airing an ad that was not final."

Chef Graham Elliot -- a world-class culinary god who starred as a judge on "MasterChef" -- is being sued by an extremely bitter ex-waiter at his famous Chicago restaurant ... who claims Graham conspired to cheat certain staff members out of their tips.

According to a lawsuit filed in Illinois, Gregory Curtis claims he was a waiter for Graham Elliot at a place called Graham Elliot (yes, he named the restaurant after himself).

Curtis claims the restaurant forced him to partake in a tip pool -- where all tips are pooled and then distributed out to various staffers ... including bartenders, bussers, food runners and cooks.

But Curtis is pissed -- claiming the food runners and cooks had NO RIGHT to his tip money ... because they "do not customarily and regularly receive tips."

According to the suit, Curtis claims his hourly pay should have been higher as a result of the B.S. tip pool ... so he's suing for the lost wages for himself and anyone else who was affected.

Kristin Cavallari is now eating for 2 ... or maybe 3 or 4 -- because she spent FIVE grueling hours at a Cheesecake Factory last night! Then again, she could just be working.

A cancer-stricken woman on TLC's "My Strange Addiction" swears by the healing properties of her own urine -- drinking it, rubbing it on her skin, even BATHING in it -- and the footage is stomach-turning.

53-year-old Carrie has been drinking her own urine for 4 years -- downing about 80 ounces of the yellow stuff a day -- and despite a total absence of medical proof, she believes it's helped control her cancer. Carrie says in the show finale (which airs Sunday at 10 PM) ... she hasn't seen a doctor in 6 years.

Carrie doesn't just drink her pee -- she brushes her teeth with it, uses it as lotion, pours it in her hair, bathes in it ... even rinses out her eyeballs with it.

Although Carrie insists her obsession is life-saving -- she says she's noticed a strange mole on her back that changes daily from dark to light.

Former Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker is raising his kids vegan -- inexplicably depriving them of delicious chemicals, pesticides and hormones! Oh, the horror.

With his future on the Patriots in question, Chad Ochocinco is trying to do good by anyone he can -- in this case NYC -- dropping nearly $8,000 on a massive fried chicken dinner last night ... for 200 local fans.

In case you don't follow him on Twitter -- the football stud sent an open invite to anyone in the New York area ... offering a free dinner to the first 200 people to show up at the famous Sylvia's soul food restaurant in Harlem.

Needless to say, hordes of people came -- just check our video for proof -- and sources tell us, Ocho treated the hungry mob to a full array of Southern-style deliciousness ... including BBQ ribs, fried chicken, mac & cheese, and red velvet cupcakes.

Sources at the restaurant tell TMZ, Ocho spent $7,914 on grub altogether -- but they wouldn't specify how much he tipped.

Paula Deen claims the ex-general manager of her restaurant who is suing for sexual harassment tried to extort her by demanding more than a million bucks ... or face "ruin."

TMZ has obtained Paula's response to the lawsuit filed against her and her brother Bubba by Lisa Jackson, the former General Manager of Uncle Bubba's Seafood and Oyster House in Savannah, Georgia.

In the response, Paula included a letter from Lisa's lawyer, who wrote bluntly, Lisa would not file the lawsuit and keep everything secret if Paula forked over $1.25 million.

Lisa's lawyer adds, "If we are unable to settle, the complaint will not be quietly filed. I am making arrangements for a press conference on the day of filing."

Paula is asking for a gag order, prohibiting everyone in the case from blabbing to the media. In her motion for a gag order, Paula's lawyer says Lisa's strategy has been clear -- "Pay or I will ruin you."

Lisa claims Bubba engaged in a campaign of terror, subjecting her to porn, kissing and spitting on her, making racist and sexist jokes, and on and on.

Paula denies all of Lisa's allegations. As TMZ first reported, Lisa sent Paula a letter 3 months before she quit, praising Bubba and telling Paula how much he helped her become an independent woman.

The woman suing Paula Deen and her brother Bubba for sexual harassment sent Paula a letter 3 months before she quit, praising Bubba for supporting her as a woman, giving him full credit for her success.

Lisa Jackson -- the former General Manager of Uncle Bubba's Seafood and Oyster House in Savannah, Georgia -- claims in her lawsuit Bubba was a monster, subjecting her to endless pornography, making horrible sexist jokes, kissing and spitting on her, and being extremely racist.

But Lisa says in her letter to Paula, "When I started working for Bubba, he gave me an opportunity that allowed me, over time, a freedom I have never experienced." Lisa adds, "He allowed me, for once in my life, to take care of myself, and for once, have faith in myself as a person and as a woman to know that I could do it on my own."

Lisa goes on, "I have been given opportunities that I never thought possible, all because of you and Bubba."

It's ironic -- Paula Deen fired an allegedly philandering general manager of one of her restaurants because, as she put it, "If you think I have worked this hard to lose everything because of a piece of p**sy, you better think again." So Paula replaced the G.M. with a woman, and now she's suing Paula and her brother for ... sexual harassment.

Lisa Jackson worked as the G.M. for Uncle Bubba's Seafood and Oyster House in Savannah, Georgia from 2005 - 2010. Paula's brother, Bubba Hiers, is part owner along with Paula. Lisa claims Bubba brought "inescapable pornography" to the workplace all the time, often visiting XXX websites on the kitchen computer and failing to log off.

According to the suit, Bubba allegedly asked Lisa to bring pics of herself to work -- pics of her when she was younger -- telling her, "You have nice legs."

Bubba also told Lisa two women at the restaurant were "fat girls" and shouldn't be wearing capri pants or skirts.

And get this ... Lisa says Bubba once told another female employee who had just received dentures, "I bet your husband is going to like that."

And there's more ... Lisa says Bubba once told a joke to the staff that described why men should have sex with women who had flat heads ... "because you can sit your beer on top of her head while she is giving you a b**w job."

And Lisa says Bubba is racist, using the N word a lot and making horrible racist jokes.

There's a lot more, including alleged violent behavior on Bubba's part and an incident where he allegedly kissed Lisa on the face and spit on her.

Lisa, who says she was forced to quit because of intolerable working conditions, is suing for unspecified damages.

TMZ has obtained photographic evidence that food, or rather a bag containing food, touched the hands of Angelina Jolie today in Los Angeles.

It is unclear whether or not this constitutes "eating."

According to our sources, she would have to consume the food inside the bag for it to constitute "a meal."

Jolie was the passenger in a car driven by Brad Pitt as they made their way through a McDonald's drive-thru.

Calls to a rep for Angelina's right leg were not returned.

It's the first time in four years Ja Rule can celebrate his real birthday -- February 29th -- but despite being stuck behind bars, Ja won't go hungry ... and we got the rapper's 2,500-calorie prison birthday menu to prove it.

According to the "heart healthy menu" at the NY State prison where Ja is currently serving a two-year sentence for gun possession -- JR can look forward to some delicious corn flakes in the morning, Jamaican patties for lunch, and turkey stew for dinner.

According to the menu, the entire day's worth of food totals between 2,500-2,800 calories -- significantly more than the USDA 2,000 calorie guidelines.

Typically known for chowing down on everything from hot dogs and hamburgers to wings and Twinkies, competitive food eating champ Takeru Kobayashi set his sights on the holy grail of pastries and took a bite out of a massive Hamantashen -- a dessert usually consumed during the Jewish holiday of Purim.

Kobayashi kept it kosher while speaking at Yeshiva University in NYC on Thursday.

The New England Patriots are one of the most disciplined team in football -- and that has even carried over to their eating regimen leading up to the Super Bowl ... TMZ has learned.

According to our sources, the team has been on serious lockdown this week when it came to meals. We're told in Indianapolis ... the players HAD to eat what was put on the table.

Our sources say team cooks came to the hotel and prepared the grub. Dinner last night was a choice of chicken, steak or fish ... with a side of vegetables.

Takeru Kobayashi is gearing up to poop out the remains of 168-and-a-half chickens ... after putting on one of the GREATEST competitive eating displays of all time.

Kobayashi WOLFED DOWN 337 chicken wings at Wing Bowl 20 in Philadelphia ... defeating Jonathan "Super" Squibb and Bill "El Wingador" Simmons.

After the competition, Kobayashi told reporters he could probably take down another 100 wings.

Takeru -- the former world hot dog eating champ -- walked away with the new Wing Bowl record and a check for $20,000 (that's $59 per wing).

Battling rumors she's a pretentious jerk, Madonna went out and purchased the least pretentious thing on the planet for her Super Bowl entourage Wednesday night -- pizzas ... FIFTY delicious pizzas.

Sources tell TMZ, someone in Madonna's camp placed the massive order at a local Papa John's ... and Madonna covered the tab.

According to sources, Madge -- who's currently holed up in a swanky Indy hotel -- ordered a mixture of pepperoni, veggie, and cheese. She ordered so many, we're told the pizza place gave her a discount ... with the total coming to just $467.

When an assistant came to pick them up, we're told he left a "very decent" tip.

Of course, Madonna couldn't be completely unpretentious -- so for herself, we're told Mo ordered a medium veggie ... with NO CHEESE.

Typical.

Celebs piling into Super Bowl XLVI (46 to non-Romans) luxury suites better bring their own grub if they want fancy finger foods ... because TMZ has learned this year's stadium menu is loaded with home-style comforts.

While the Giants and Patriots do battle at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis -- Centerplate catering will dish up some Midwest favorites:

-- Braised Buffalo Short Ribs featuring natural buffalo in a classic French braise
-- Heartland Farm Table platter with local veggie selections
-- Chef designed Chicken Pot Pie

Basically ... sushi lovers stay home.

However, average joes in run-of-the-mill super expensive SB seats can get Indianapolis Shrimp Cocktails ... which we're told is legendary -- despite Indy being landlocked.

Oh, and there's a sweet consolation for the NFL teams that didn't make it to the big game. All team owners get a giant jar of mixed M&Ms in their team's colors.