Legal

Aaron Carter is gearing up to take his girlfriend to court, and he thinks it could be as monumental as Johnny Depp vs. Amber Heard -- which might explain his shout-out to a certain attorney.

The singer was talking Sunday in L.A. about the recent turmoil with on-again, off-again GF Melanie Martin, and he thinks suing her for defamation is the only way to go at this point.

He claims his career was almost ruined earlier this year over her claim he broke her ribs -- something that he completely denies.

Aaron's actually comparing his legal issues to Johnny and Amber's, and he's making a personal plea to Camille Vasquez ... clearly hoping she can also get him a 'W.'

On top of the alleged defamation, things reached an all-time high for Aaron Thursday night when police showed up at his Lancaster home ... after he accused Melanie of stealing some of his luxury goods.

She was reportedly removed from his property, but not arrested.

Aaron's now saying she refused to leave his pad and was trying to get a rise out of him by saying nasty things. He clarifies their kid was not present during the incident.

August Alsina isn't denying he left Tory Lanez hanging during an attempted handshake -- but this new video shows the diss happening, and Tory's immediate and angry reaction.

You can see August strolling through a backstage hallway in the Chicago venue ... when Tory extends his hand out for a shake, AA hit him with a fierce side step to avoid all contact.

A perplexed Tory was left standing in the hallway with his hand out ... until an onlooking fan dapped him up. After shaking off the embarrassment, Tory and his security team regrouped before squaring up with August again where the alleged assault took place.

As he's prancing through the hall, you can hear a woman pleading for Tory not to "do it" because of his pending case against Megan Thee Stallion.

According to August, Tory "did it" anyway ... as the video shows his security rushing him from the area and later on, giving high fives as the cameraman talks about him knocking out AA.

As we reported, August later hit social media to post pics of his bloody mouth and scraped skin, accusing Tory and his team of the brutal beatdown while also daring them to release footage he says they have of the whole thing.

Justin and Hailey Bieber's home had an unwanted visitor ... the security team spotted a guy who broke into the backyard and it ended in a mad foot chase.

LAPD sources tell TMZ ... cops were called to the couple's home in an exclusive gated Los Angeles community last Saturday ... after Justin's security said they saw a guy in the backyard, hanging out by the couple's BBQ.

We're told when security approached the man, he took off running ... jumping over one of the walls and into the neighborhood. Security gave chase but the guy disappeared.

Justin and Hailey were not home ... they were away on vacation.

Once police arrived, they searched the area, but came up empty-handed.

It's unclear how the guy got into the gated community, but it's not the first time this has happened. Tim McGraw and Faith Hill previously had their home burglarized and Lisa Vanderpump's car was stolen a few years back.

This also is not the first time Justin has had to deal with unwanted visitors either. He's had some really disturbing run-ins in the past with folks showing up to his property ... like the time a lady got into his hotel room.

Model Danii Banks didn't have a good time at a party ... she told cops she was intoxicated and some really bad people stole her luxury watch and cash.

According to the police report, obtained by TMZ, Danii told Vegas cops she had a Cartier watch stolen from her home and had $5,000 taken from her bank account after going to a party.

Cops say Danii told them she thinks she was drugged at the party ... because she was not in her right mind. She told police a man drove her home in her car ... and she says two other men followed in another car to pick up the man who dropped her off.

According to the report, Danii says when she came to, she discovered her Cartier watch was missing. She also told cops she found her bank accounts were overdrawn, and believes someone got into her phone and was able to transfer two Zelle payments from her Chase Bank accounts, totaling $5,000. Danii also claims her American Express credit card is missing.

She says security footage from her condo complex shows three men with her at the front gate ... but she says she would not be able to identify them. The surveillance footage shows the men driving away in a blue Chevy Impala.

TMZ broke the story ... Danii confronted an intruder in her Georgia home back in 2019, literally coming face-to-face with him while she was naked.

PnB Rock's body is ready to be released to his family, but the process behind the scenes has been drama-filled between them and officials ... and actually required police intervention.

Sources tell TMZ ... PnB Rock's mother wanted her son's body right away because of religious reasons, but the medical examiner wouldn't give it up because his death's part of a larger homicide investigation. PnB's brother, PnB Meen, alluded to this online -- saying the family was having issues with the M.E. -- making him question how PnB's Janazah would go.

Janazah is a Muslim funeral ceremony ... and there are certain rules that come with conducting one -- including getting a burial started within 72 hours.

We're told PnB Rock's mom flew from Philadelphia to Los Angeles after being notified her son had been shot and killed Monday, and she went straight to the medical examiner's office to ID the body and try to get it released to the fam.

Our sources say Rock's mom was adamant the body needed to be released ASAP because their customs. We're told things got heated when the family was informed their request for immediate release could not be met and that LAPD was called to the L.A. County Coroner's office to help calm things down.

Our sources say PnB's mom also didn't want an autopsy performed, because it goes against their religion ... but we're told the M.E.'s office told her they had to conduct an autopsy by law.

TMZ broke the story ... PnB Rock was shot and killed Monday while dining at a Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles restaurant in South Los Angeles.

The M.E. released the autopsy findings Friday, saying PnB Rock died from a gunshot wound to his back/chest, classifying his death as a homicide.

With PnB Rock's body finally getting the green light to be released into his family's possession -- after tons of back-and-forth between his loved ones, legal team, LAPD and the M.E. -- we're told the plan is for his family to take the body back to his Philly hometown for a funeral.

Kanye West has tipped his hand in his divorce case -- how custody is going to work.

Ye jumped on the 'Alo Mind' podcast Friday and said, "Even to this day, I'll still give Kim advice on things that can help, because that's gonna go to the kids. She's still got [them] 80% of the time -- raise those children."

The reason that's significant ... sources connected to the former couple tell TMZ, Kanye hasn't engaged with his lawyer -- whoever that is now, because he's gone through 5 already -- about the remaining issues in the divorce ... custody and property settlement.

There's a trial set for December if Kanye stays radio silent, and so far his side hasn't engaged Kim Kardashian's team about all this. But, saying Kim gets 80% is the first time we've heard any sort of structure, which is the first step in hashing out an agreement.

Rajon Rondo has settled a lawsuit in Los Angeles, according to court filings ... stemming from a 2020 incident where the NBA star was accused of assaulting a woman in a parking lot.

In docs obtained by TMZ Sports, the attorney for the plaintiff, Toktam Jorshari -- who sued Rondo for assault and battery -- filed a notice in an L.A. court, indicating the parties had reached a settlement.

Now, a judge must dismiss the case ... which should be a formality.

We broke the story ... Jorshari sued Rondo after claiming she was injured during an altercation with the hooper and his GF outside an apartment complex in July 2020.

In the suit, Jorshari alleged the former Clippers PG was upset about how close her car was parked to his pricey, $300k Rolls-Royce ... which she says led to Rondo's GF attacking her.

TMZ Sports obtained video of the incident (which didn't have audio) ... and Rondo appears to nudge the woman with his elbow, causing Jorshari to confront his GF.

Jorshari claimed she suffered injuries from the confrontation ... after being punched in the face and head multiple times by Rondo's GF

At the time, Jorshari's attorneys said of the incident ... "no man should ever put their hands on a woman."

"Especially an NBA basketball player with superior height and strength. The video speaks for itself," they continued.

Memphis rapper EBG Ejizzle is screwing up a sweet plea deal that kept him outta jail ... according to prosecutors who say he's gone on a mini crime spree while on probation.

According to court docs obtained by TMZ Hip Hop, EBG got locked up on September 11, just a few months after he narrowly avoided that very fate. In May, he agreed to plead guilty to aggravated assault -- a downgrade from his original charge of attempted murder -- and he got 3 years of probation instead of prison time.

Like we said ... sweet deal. However, prosecutors say things went south quickly ... as EBG failed a drug test less than 2 weeks after starting probation. They say he tested positive for marijuana, opiates, benzodiazepines and oxycodone.

To make matters worse, the 22-year-old was then accused of posting images on Facebook of a black firearm with an extended magazine, and a semi-automatic rifle.

Several days later, he allegedly shot up a parked car, and brandished the weapon in a threatening manner. According to the docs, EBG also has an active warrant for his arrest on charges of vandalism and reckless endangerment.

Ya get the point ... prosecutors are now asking the court to revoke Ejizzle's original sentence of probation, and he's currently being held without bail.

'Real Housewives of OC' star Shannon Beador's ex-husband is waving the white flag on another marriage ... because he just filed to divorce his new wife.

David Beador booked it to court Thursday and filed to divorce Lesley Beador after only 23 months of marriage.

According to the docs, obtained by TMZ, David's going with irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split ... and he lists the date of separation as Sept. 15, the same day he filed for divorce. Dude wastes no time.

David and Lesley have a 19-month-old daughter together, Anna Love Beador, and he's seeking joint physical and legal custody.

As for spousal support -- he doesn't wanna pay her any. He also says they have a prenup.

David and Lesley got married in October 2020, and Anna was born less than 4 months later.

"Welcome to Sweetie Pie's" star, James "Tim" Norman is guilty of setting up his nephew's murder ... according to a Missouri jury.

The former reality TV star was convicted of three counts -- murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, and conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud -- after the jury deliberated for 3 days.

As we've reported, Norman was busted by feds who accused him of orchestrating the killing of Andre Montgomery, his nephew. Prosecutors said Norman masterminded the 21-year-old's slaying. Andrew was shot and killed on March 14, 2016.

Prosecutors said Norman -- who owns Sweetie Pie's restaurant -- tried to cash a $450K life insurance policy taken out on his nephew after working with a woman named Terica Ellis to pull off the murder.

Ellis was also charged with conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and has pled guilty. She'll be sentenced next month.

Tim and Andre both starred on the OWN network show "Welcome to Sweetie Pie's", which is about the popular soul food biz in St. Louis. They starred alongside Miss Robbie -- Andre's grandmother and Tim's mom.

Zoe Lister-Jones is pulling the plug on her marriage ... because she just filed for divorce from her director husband.

The "New Girl" star beelined it to court Thursday and filed to divorce Daryl Wein after 17 years together, including 9 years of marriage.

According to the docs, obtained by TMZ, Zoe is citing the usual irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split.

Zoe revealed last year she had separated from Daryl, explaining how they were going in and out of an open relationship. Now, she's made the first move to get a divorce, listing Feb. 1, 2021 as the date of separation.

ZLJ and DW did not have any minor children ... and she wants to end the court's ability to award spousal support. As for their property, Zoe is asking the judge to keep things simple and confirm the judgment for legal separation filed back in May 2021.

Hear ye, hear ye ... royal subjects shall not drop trou to honor Her Majesty the Queen.

Ya wouldn't think it was necessary to make such a decree, but it is after the wild scene that went down in the hours-long line to see Queen Elizabeth II's coffin.

As you know, QE2 has been lying in State this week in London's Westminster Abbey, and according to cops one mourner who showed up Wednesday got way outta line. The man was reportedly arrested for exposing himself to mourners who'd come to pay their respects to Queen.

Some people have been waiting as long as 12 hours, slowly and patiently waiting their turn to walk past Queen Elizabeth II's coffin -- but this yahoo created even more of a spectacle when he attempted to escape cops by jumping into the River Thames. It was not a successful getaway.

Law enforcement says ... the 19-year-old guy flashed 2 women while he was also in line. One of the alleged victims is said to have noticed him inching closer to her before feeling something touch her -- she then turned around and caught him in the act.

When cops fished him outta the river, he was charged with 2 counts of sexual assault and 2 counts of breaching a sexual harm prevention order. He's already pled not guilty.

A$AP Rocky is clear ... he did NOT shoot A$AP Relli ... pushing back against his accuser, whom Rocky says is simply trying to make a cash grab.

The rapper's acclaimed lawyer, Joe Tacopina, tells TMZ ... "Rocky didn't commit a crime. It was an extortion attempt by a former associate, who threatened to make false criminal accusations if Rocky didn't pay him."

Remember ... A$AP is accused of firing shots at A$AP Relli during a dispute in Hollywood back in November, with Relli claiming bullet fragments caused a hand injury. Relli is suing Rocky over the alleged incident, and Rocky is also facing felony firearms charges.

Tacopina tells us he has 2 eyewitnesses who back Rocky's story ... not only that Relli wasn't hit by bullet fragments, but that no shot was even fired. In other words, Tacopina says Relli has made up the story in a "get-rich-quick scheme."

Rocky hired Joe because a couple of his friends -- YG and Meek Mill -- were also successfully repped by Tacopina.

Tacopina says both the civil and criminal cases against his client are slam dunks ... "What will become abundantly clear in the upcoming months, based on facts and evidence, is that Rocky is innocent of these charges."

Lawyers for Britney Spears and Jamie Spears are in talks to end their contentious legal battle ... sources with direct knowledge on both sides tell TMZ.

Our sources tell TMZ ... Britney's attorney, Mathew Rosengart, has reached out to both Jamie's lawyer and lawyers for Tri Star Sports & Entertainment Group to settle up. As you know, Rosengart has accused both Jamie and Tri Star of misappropriating massive amounts of money from Britney ... an allegation they have strongly denied.

Our sources say a few months after the conservatorship ended last November, lawyers for Jamie and Tri Star approached Rosengart to settle their differences, but Britney's lawyer was having none of it and was going full steam ahead.

We're told Rosengart had a change of heart roughly a month ago and offered to end the legal fight for a price ... around $7 million. Sources tell us lawyers for Tri Star and Jamie wanted to know how he reached that figure, but they say Rosengart didn't offer specifics, so there was an impasse.

Our sources say both sides are still open to settling and, a source with direct knowledge tells TMZ ... as recently as this week Rosengart contacted Tri Star to forge ahead with a possible settlement.

This is not to say everyone's on the same page. Sources with direct knowledge of Tri Star and Jamie tell TMZ ...  Rosengart is "scrambling" to settle the case. A source with direct knowledge in Britney's camp, however, tells TMZ ... Rosengart is not scrambling at all, and general settlement talks are simply standard operating procedure in any legal dispute.

​Some parents whose kids are enrolled in Kanye West's Donda Academy claim they're being forced to sign non-disclosure agreements ... but Ye says that's all just hype, this according to a new report.

Two families sat down with Rolling Stone and spilled the beans about the non-disclosures, which are apparently in place to keep a tight lid on things that go on at the school. In the RS article, the families were unnamed and did not provide details on the hush-hush agreements.

But, one of Kanye's consultants, Tamar Andrews, reportedly fired back, saying only parents put their sigs on the forms and insisted the entire process was informal ... whatever that means.

"Honestly, we don't care if people know about the school," Andrews told RS.

He goes on ... "The people that want to come to the school are looking for a good Christian school in that area and they know that we're there ... there is also a certain notoriety that comes with being affiliated with Donda. So, I don't know that we have to advertise, which is a blessing and a curse."

Ye launched the private Christian school in 2022, catering to pre-K to 12th-grade students. Only about 100 students attend Donda Academy, which is not accredited.

Who are these students? Well, that's still a mystery. And, it's hard to piece together who the teachers are. According to the Donda site ... the mission is to motivate its students to "grow in their faith and community through daily all-school worship and celebration at Sunday Service."

Kanye's had a lot of drama in his life lately. He'd been beefing with Kim Kardashian about her choice of schools for their kids. And, as we reported, Ye's been battling with Gap and Adidas over his sneaker and clothing line partnerships. He recently took to social media to blast the companies, culminating on Thursday with Ye spiking his deal with Gap.

Kim Kardashian and Scott Disick are being sued for allegedly hawking a lottery but not coughing up any prizes, but the company behind the lottery is calling BS.

According to the class action lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, Kim and Scott created a lottery where the winner would get $100,000 and 2, first class tickets to L.A. But wait, there's more ... the winner would also get a 3-night stay in Bev Hills and they could "shop like Kim Kardashian."

The lawsuit claims the 2020 lottery was a sham ... the real purpose of the so-called lottery was for the celebrities to work with an Australian company -- Curated -- which is also being sued, to sell personal information to advertisers.

The suit claims winners were announced but the "winners" Instagram accounts were quickly made private and the plaintiffs are doubtful that everything's on the up and up.

Sources directly connected to Curated tell TMZ, every winner is legitimate, have been awarded their prizes and the company has appropriate paperwork to prove that.

The suit claims the people who entered the contest are getting "invaded by hundreds of advertisers, some of which are soliciting the Plaintiffs with potentially offensive and unwanted content."

The suit claims the lottery was organized by Scott on his IG and various influencers promoted it, including Kim, Kendall Jenner, Kris Jenner, Kylie Jenner, Khloe Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian, Sofia Richie, Gretchen Christine Rossi and Christine Quinn.

The suit drags the fam ... "Just a short 20 years ago, Oprah was giving away cars and cash. But today's entertainment tycoons seem to only care about becoming richer and living an even more opulent lifestyle, while duping their fans and followers."

The suit is asking for more than $20 million from each defendant, though the only 2 specifically named are Kim and Scott, along with the Australian company.