Johnny Manziel I Planned To Kill Myself, Bought Gun ... After Hitting Rock Bottom
Johnny Manziel is opening up on his serious mental health battles following his NFL career ... revealing he purchased a gun and intended to use it on himself.
The former Heisman Trophy winner addressed his suicidal thoughts in Netflix's "Untold: Johnny Football" documentary, which drops next week ... saying he had his demise all mapped out -- he would blow all his money, and then take his own life.
"I think I was just running from problems," Manziel said. "It was probably a $5 million bender. Direct self-sabotage, trying to burn this thing down."
Manziel's issues on and off the field were well-documented at the time ... and he said he burned so many bridges that he felt "the ride was over."
"I had planned to do everything that I wanted to do at that point in my life. Spend as much money as I possibly could and then my plan was to take my life. Months prior, I went and bought a gun I knew I was going to use. I wanted to get as bad as humanly possible to where it made sense and it made it seem like an excuse and an out for me."
It's unclear if Manziel actually attempted suicide ... but he said "the gun just clicked on me."
Johnny appears to be doing much better now ... and he's even opening his own bar near his old college campus at Texas A&M this fall.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.
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TV Reality Stars Declaring War on NBC, Bravo Allege Sexual, Mental Health Exploitation
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12:03 PM PT -- Attorney Bryan Freedman joined us on "TMZ Live" Friday, breaking down the allegations being made against the studios ... and while he has about 15 people interested in the case, he says hundreds will come forward.
He says tons of folks have been exploited for many different reasons, with mental illness being a big one -- and it's an alleged tactic Bryan thinks is "disgusting."
Bryan claims these reality stars have laws that protect them from things like this, but something shady's been going down. BTW, he also talked to us about an alleged "slave contract" that he says was utilized for production.
Some reality stars have gone scorched earth against NBC and, it appears, in particular, Bravo ... claiming its reality stars have been subjected to "grotesque and depraved mistreatment."
TMZ has obtained a letter sent by attorneys Bryan Freedman and Mark Geragos to NBC, claiming current and former cast and crew members of its reality shows have been tormented. Among the allegations:
-- Deliberate attempts to manufacture mental instability by plying cast members with alcohol while depriving them of food and sleep
-- Denying mental health treatment to cast members displaying obvious and alarming signs of mental deterioration
-- Exploiting minors for uncompensated and sometimes long-term appearances on NBC reality TV shows
-- Distributing and/or condoning the distribution of non-consensual pornography
-- Covering up acts of sexual violence
-- Refusing to allow cast members the freedom to leave their shows, even under dire circumstances
The pornography claim is interesting ... in the letter, the lawyers mention "distribution of revenge porn," though they do not elaborate.
The letter demands that NBC retain a slew of information, including "nonconsensual pornography in connection with cast members ... [and] alleged sexual violence perpetrated by or against cast members ..."
The lawyers claim NBC has "threatened [cast members] with ruin should they decide to speak out about their mistreatment."
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This aligns with Bethenny Frankel's call to unionize reality stars.
We reached out to NBC for comment ... so far, no word back.
Originally Published -- 6:39 AM PT
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Brooks Koepka, Jena Sims Baby Boy Is Here!!! ... 'I Love My Crew'
Congratulations are in order for Brooks Koepka and Jena Sims -- the golf star and his model wife just welcomed a baby boy!!
The married couple shared the exciting news on Thursday ... posting a pic with their new bundle of joy -- Crew Sims Koepka, who was born last week.
"I love my Crew," Brooks captioned his announcement on Instagram ... which shows the first-time parents smiling from ear to ear.
Jena detailed the whole experience ... saying, "Crew Sims Koepka was ready for the world because he decided to break my water just 2 minutes after Brooks walked inside the house from the gym on Thursday, July 27th at 5:50 PM."
Brooks Koepka's Wife, Jena Sims, Flaunts Baby Bump During Miami Swim Week Show
Jena added the arrival was six weeks ahead of schedule ... joking Crew is "Already showing us who's boss."
"My incredible team had him out in a matter of 3 hours after going into active labor."
Jena praised her husband for his support throughout the process ... saying, "He made me laugh when I needed to, cried with me, held me, did everything possible he could to help my healing in the hospital, and I'm just so grateful."
Crew is currently in the NICU with an undisclosed health complication, but Jena explained things are going in the right direction ... as he is off oxygen, breathing on his own and "meeting tiny milestones every day!"
The new mother shared her agony over leaving the hospital without her son ... but said they have been visiting their little boy as much as they can.
Brooks and Jena went public with their romance at the U.S. Open in 2017 ... and they tied the knot in 2022.
Congrats, mom and dad!!
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Big Pokey Cause Of Death Revealed ... Massive Heart Attack
Houston rapper Big Pokey collapsed mid-performance back in June ... an unfortunate result of a heart attack, his autopsy has revealed.
Tom Gillam III, Justice of the Peace for Jefferson County, Texas, signed Pokey's death certificate this week ... highlighting the medical condition.
"The cause of death, in layman's terms, 'Big Pokey' had a massive heart attack ... He had hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease," Gilliam said in a statement.
Pokey collapsed while performing at a bar in Beaumont, TX on June 18 and died shortly after being rushed to a nearby hospital.
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He was 45 years old and left behind a pioneering hip hop legacy for the Lone Star State as a member of the DJ Screw's "Screwed Up Click" ... counting the likes of Slim Thug, Paul Wall and BFF Lil Keke as mourners.
The bar he died at also hosted a memorial event in honor shortly after his passing.
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Angus Cloud Flooding Friends With Support Days Before His Death
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Angus Cloud may have been struggling ahead of his surprising death, but it didn't affect his mood while with his closest friends ... and he was actually offering them support before he passed.
The "Euphoria" star was outwardly celebratory and uplifting to his pals at the MacArthur Maze album release party 3 days before his death, according to group members D.Bledsoe and Champ Green.
As we reported, Angus seemed to be in great spirits at the event, and the rappers tell us he was congratulating everyone involved in the album. We're told Angus was getting a lot of attention from partygoers ... but he wasn't there for attention, he just wanted to show love.
D.Bledose says Angus had to soothe his lips with lip balm mid-conversation that night at the party, and Angus laughed and apologized for making things awkward. It was a funny interaction, and one D is remembering fondly today.
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A few weeks ago, Angus gave the rap group a big endorsement by sharing one of their music videos on his IG page. We're told Angus slid into the group's DMs and offered to shoot a music video for them -- alongside MacArthur Maze's videographer, who was close friends with Angus.
Of course, everyone involved with the group is now just in complete shock about his death.
TMZ broke the story, Angus died Monday morning at his family's Oakland home after his mom called 911 to report a "possible overdose."
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Boston Police Officer Injured Going Down Kiddie Slide
A police officer in Boston was no match for a children's playground ... the cop got busted up while hurtling down a slide, and it's all on video.
As you can see, the video starts with some metallic banging noises as the camera focuses on the bottom of the kiddie slide ... and then all of a sudden a uniformed police officer comes flying out of the chute.
The officer is face down as he zips out of the slide feet first, and almost flies over the edge. Folks behind the camera are laughing as the cop skids across the ground, then he drops an F-bomb as he stands up.
It's unclear if the cop had his gun on him when he went down the slide -- which is in City Hall Plaza -- but he's at least wearing a utility belt and some of his gear goes flying off on his way down.
Boston Police told WBZ News the officer in the video was injured on the slide, but has not missed work as a result.
The video is going viral on TikTok, racking up a million views and counting.
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Logan Paul I Feared Jake Would Kill Himself ... Over Internet Hate
Logan Paul says he was terrified his brother, Jake, would end his life over the incessant hate he got on the internet early in his career ... admitting he and his father were "both legitimately concerned" he was going to die by suicide.
The older Paul bro detailed his fear in the new Netflix doc, "Untold: Jake Paul the Problem Child" ... where he explained the backlash Jake faced after a multitude of controversies had him at an all-time low.
"I mean, both my dad and I felt worried for my brother's life," Logan said. "Jake's always been pretty emotionally unpredictable, and volatile."
"There was a point where we were both legitimately concerned that Jake was going to kill himself."
Jake was low-hanging fruit for internet trolls during the start of his YouTube fame ... getting backlash for wild pranks and outrageous stunts that led to pissed off neighbors and losing his role on Disney's "Bizaardvark," as well as lucrative endorsement deals.
"It was easy to rip me apart," Jake said. "It became a thing to hate Jake Paul."
"It's not easy to be hated by the whole entire world and it creates a very dark mental place."
But Jake found a new purpose through boxing ... which has led to increased popularity and respect from legends in the sport like Mike Tyson.
Jake has since racked up wins over former UFC stars like Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley and Anderson Silva ... and will enter the ring against Nate Diaz this weekend, where he looks to bounce back from the first loss of his career.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.
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Method Man Stop Calling Me Sex Symbol ... WTF Does That Even Mean???
Method Man is perfectly comfortable hanging up his microphone in exchange for acting these days, and loves the newfound attention he's getting from the ladies for his work on-screen.
What the Wu-Tang Clan legend doesn't love, however, is being referred to as a sex symbol ... as the inner MC in him says the words just don't make a bit of sense!!!
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The 52-year-old railed against the term in his "Men's Health" cover story, where he declared, "I’m not a sex symbol. That’s the whole f**king point, man. Put the words together. Sex and symbol. What’s the symbol? I’m not doing anything. So what’s the symbol?"
Meth has been going viral on social media for his role as Davis MacLean on 50 Cent's "Power II" TV series.
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M-E-T-H-O-D Man joined 50 Cent, Wiz Khalifa, Common, Ludacris, and Busta Rhymes on the health mag's special edition cover to celebrate Hip Hop's 50th anniversary ... a vital turning point as Meth says he's no longer in the business of selling records.
He thinks hip-hop lost its balance years back ... but is at the age where he only cares about being healthy. And sexy, but just on his own terms!!!
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Pete Davidson Back on the Road, Sold Out Shows!!!
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Pete Davidson is back on the road doing what he does best ... making people laugh, something his fans are clearly anxious to see, considering he's got back-to-back sold-out shows.
Sources connected to Pete tell TMZ he's out of rehab, and doing some standup gigs this week. We're told he has 2 shows Tuesday at the Improv in Dania, FL ... in the Fort Lauderdale area. If ya don't have tickets already, sorry, they're all gone.
It's unclear when Pete left the medical facility that he checked into back in late June for mental health reasons -- but, he's obviously feeling well enough at this point to get back to performing.
It's been a bumpy time for PD ... he's juggling movies, TV, sponsorships, a new GF, and lots of other stuff in the wake of leaving 'SNL.'
And, don't forget, he just sorted out his legal issues for ramming his car into a Beverly Hills home earlier this year.
As we reported, he's doing a diversion program -- which requires him to do 50 hours of community service -- and, if he completes that the incident will be expunged from his record.
On top of all that, he had a contentious, and very public, face-off with PETA over a puppy he bought for his mother.
We'll know soon enough if he's up for discussing any of these recent trials and tribulations in standup routine ... but ya gotta figure some of it's gonna get a mention.
No word on whether he plans to add more shows in the near future.
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Tori Kelly Released From Hospital ... After Blood Clot Treatment
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Singer Tori Kelly is on the road to recovery after being hospitalized with serious blood clots around her vital organs ... TMZ has learned she's now back at home.
Sources close to the Grammy-winning singer tell us, Tori was discharged Monday from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in L.A. and she's going home to rest.
We're told doctors still don't know what caused the blood clots in Tori's legs and lungs ... but, for now, she's feeling better.
Our sources say Tori will continue to be monitored with regular checkups, but leaving the hospital and the intensive care unit is a big step.
TMZ broke the story ... Tori was rushed to Cedars -- one of the country's premier hospitals -- last Sunday night after passing out while at dinner with friends in downtown L.A., and she was in and out of consciousness while in the hospital.
Tori previously wrote a letter to her fans while she was hospitalized, saying she was initially scared and heartbroken, but was getting better and feeling a lot stronger and hopeful.
Tori's husband, retired basketball player André Murillo, has said they were waiting on a few more answers ... but it sounds like doctors don't have any yet.
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Adrian Street Wrestling Legend Dead At 82
Former wrestling superstar Adrian Street -- known for his flamboyant persona -- died last week after complications following a stroke. He was 82 years old.
Street's wife, Linda, shared the tragic news on Monday ... revealing Adrian suffered the medical emergency earlier this month, which led to a number of issues, including a bleed on the brain.
"He was recovering from that at home when he developed colitis -- a chronic inflammatory bowel disease -- which later turned into sepsis," Linda told BBC. "That's what killed him."
"It all came about so quick. I've still not come to terms with it yet."
Street began his wrestling career in London during the late 1950s ... eventually becoming a character who wore extravagant outfits and reveled in response to cheers and jeers from the audience.
In the '80s, Street moved to North America alongside his manager and future wife ... where he would continue wrestling through different promotions as a heel.
"The Exotic One" survived throat cancer in 2001 ... after being told by a doctor to prepare for the worst, according to the outlet.
Street retired in 2014 ... capping off a career that spanned more than half a century.
Tributes from across the sports entertainment world poured in Monday morning ... with WWE CCO Triple H writing, "A genre-bending pioneer whose larger-than-life presence and ruthlessness between the ropes changed the wrestling world forever. Honored to have called Adrian Street a friend."
Scottish superstar Drew McIntyre also wrote about Street's passing, saying ... "Adrian Street was before his time, a genuine trailblazer and one of the toughest men you could wish to meet. My thoughts go out to his wife Linda & the rest of his family and friends. RIP"
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Madonna 'I'm Lucky to Be Alive' ... After Major Health Scare
Madonna is counting her lucky stars, thanking the people closest to her for pulling her through what appears to have been a critical illness that threatened her life.
The legendary pop star posted a lengthy statement on Instagram, reflecting on a severe bacterial infection that landed her in ICU. She posted photos of her with two of her six children: David and Lourdes. (Her 4 other kids are Rocco, Mercy, Estere and Stella.)
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Madonna wrote, "Love from family and friends is the best Medicine" ... "As a Mother you can really get caught up In the needs Of your children and the seemingly endless giving."
She went on ... "But when the chips were down my children really showed up for me. I saw a side to them I had never seen before. It made all the difference."
The singer also expressed gratitude for her manager, Guy Oseary, who gave her a touching gift after her medical emergency -- a Polaroid of Keith Haring sporting a jacket emblazoned with the face of Michael Jackson.
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The picture, Madonna says, was snapped by Andy Warhol and it made her realize how "lucky I am to be alive" and "how fortunate I am to have known these people and so many others who are also gone."
About two weeks ago, Madonna broke her silence about the frightening incident after being released from a New York City hospital. In her IG message, Madonna recalled her first thought was about her children when she woke up in the intensive care unit. She said her second thought was about her fans while announcing she was postponing her "Celebration" tour until October as she recovers.
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Amanda Bynes Checks Into New Inpatient Mental Health Center ... Work On Herself Continues
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Amanda Bynes is ditching outpatient care and going back to inpatient ... and this time she's trying a new mental health treatment center as she continues to work on her illness.
Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... Amanda checked herself into an intensive inpatient mental health treatment center in Orange County at the beginning of July, nearly a week after checking out of a Los Angeles area mental health facility for outpatient treatment
We're told Amanda wanted more of a therapeutic place to live rather than living by herself at her L.A. apartment ... and felt she needed more help than the outpatient treatment was providing.
Our sources say Amanda was introduced to this center in Orange County through her last treatment center, and she likes how she's able to be around a medical team, therapists and other patients, because it provides social interaction and company ... as opposed to being on her own.
Plus, we're told Amanda's receiving a higher level of care at the inpatient center than she was in an outpatient setting ... she's in residential treatment getting 24/7 care, while also taking part in daily therapy sessions and activities to help her develop skills to use when she leaves the center.
Our sources insist it was Amanda's decision to check into this new facility ... which is a running theme with her.
TMZ broke the story ... Amanda called cops June 17 to report she was in distress and felt she could harm herself. Police responded with a mental health specialist who determined Amanda needed to be placed on a psych hold ... and she spent time in a psychiatric facility before briefly moving to outpatient care.
Our sources say there's no time frame on how long Amanda will be in this new facility ... it's dependent on when she feels ready to leave and be on her own again.
We're told Amanda's parents know where she is ... and they're supportive of her decisions, and she knows her parents are there for her if she needs them.
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NBA's Patrick Williams Lovin' My Workouts W/ Demar DeRozan ... Even At 5 AM!!!
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Working out at 5 AM sounds like torture, but Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams tells TMZ Sports he's actually loving his early sweat sessions with DeMar DeRozan ... praising his teammate for being a great mentor!!
The 14-year vet has enlisted his younger teammates to join him in the gym before the crack of dawn this offseason ... with the 2020 fourth-overall pick being one of those guys.
We caught up with Williams in L.A. this week ... and he said the workouts are going "real well," and he's improving all aspects of his game.
The former Florida State star praised DeRozan as a player and a mentor ... saying, "[There aren't] a lot of guys like him, for sure."
"He doesn't get half of the credit he deserves."
As for his expectations for the upcoming season, Williams has only one thing on his mind.
"Win. That's always the goal. That's the main focus coming in. Obviously, everybody kind of has their personal accolades of what they wanna see but winning takes care of everything. That's always been mine."
Chicago fans gotta be hoping it happens ... 'cause the Bulls missed the playoffs last season.
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Lisa Vanderpump Keeps Quiet About Rachel Leviss' 'VPR' Return ... Sorry, Gotta Run!
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Rachel Leviss' big return to "Vanderpump Rules" has been mostly shrouded in mystery ... but surely Lisa Vanderpump would help give some answers, right? Think again.
We got Lisa on the TMZ Celebrity Tour in WeHo Thursday ... and as we chatted at a red light about her recent Emmy nominations, we asked her the million-dollar question -- is RL comin' back or not??
Of course, Lisa's keeping a tight lip on the whole situation ... playfully making her big escape thanks to a perfectly-timed green light.
Jokes aside, the 'VPR' matriarch has gotta know something about Rachel's return, but she ain't spilling the tea any time soon. TMZ broke the story, Rachel's actually bound by her contract with Bravo to join the cast for season 11, but she's still in negotiations -- possibly for a higher rate.
Remember, Rachel left her mental health facility earlier this month after checking herself in back in April ... and has been MIA while production picked back up for 'VPR.' Nothing's been said about how she was doing while away -- even Tom Sandoval wouldn't blab.
If we were betting, it seems increasingly unlikely Rachel will return to the show ... they're halfway through shooting Season 11, and it's gonna be hard to integrate her into the storylines.
Ya can't run away from us forever, Lisa ... especially with that crappy L.A. traffic!
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'Benson' Star Inga Swenson Dead at 90
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Inga Swenson, famous for her work in the early 1980s ABC sitcom "Benson," is dead.
The actress died Sunday night in Los Angeles as a result of natural causes ... her son, Mark, tells TMZ.
Inga's son says her husband, Lowell Harris, was with her when she died at a board and care facility. We're told Inga's heath had been in decline for the past 6 months, so her death did not come as a shock to the family.
Inga famously played German cook Gretchen Kraus on "Benson" ... appearing in over 150 episodes over seven years and earning three Emmy nominations for her work.
"Benson" was a spin-off of another TV sitcom, "Soap," where Inga had a multi-episode role as Ingrid Svenson.
In addition to "Benson," Inga also starred on Broadway ... and her performances as Lizzie Curry in "110 in the Shade" and Irene Adler in "Baker Street" resulted in two nominations for the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. She's a trained lyrical soprano.
Inga acted in two movies in 1962 ... with a pair of supporting roles in "Advise and Consent" and "The Miracle Worker," where she plays Helen Keller's mother.
She married Lowell, a sound engineer, in February 1953, and the couple had two children, one of whom already passed away ... and in 1998 she retired from Hollywood.
We're told she wanted to be cremated and have her ashes buried with her late son in San Rafael, CA.
Inga was 90.
RIP