Legal

Tia Mowry addressed the divorce via Instagram, thanking her fans and saying she'll maintain a friendship with Cory.

Tia Mowry is pulling the plug on her marriage ... filing for divorce from her husband of 14 years, Cory Hardrict.

According to legal docs obtained by TMZ -- The "Sister, Sister" star filed docs in Los Angeles on Tuesday -- citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for the end.

Tia -- who is being repped by Disso Queen Laura Wasser - didn't specify a date of separation, but she's asking a judge for joint physical and legal custody of their two children. She's also asking the judge to terminate the court's ability to give spousal support to either ... and notes the couple has a prenup.

Tia and Cory tied the knot back in 2008 and they currently have 11-year-old Cree and 4-year-old Cairo together.

She took to Instagram Tuesday and shared a cryptic message, which seemingly had something to do with the divorce. It reads, "Letting go can be painful. But it won't hurt as much holding on to an illusion."

Elon Musk has a great way to end his legal war with Twitter ... he's finally ready to close his OG $44B offer to purchase the company.

According to multiple reports, Elon's lawyers sent his proposal in a letter Sunday ... saying he "intends to proceed to closing of the transaction contemplated by the April 25, 2022 Merger Agreement" -- meaning he's looking to wrap up the deal at the original price of $54.20 per share.

Twitter responded to the news ... saying, "The intention of the Company is to close the transaction at $54.20 per share."

Sounds like a done deal, especially because shareholders had already put their stamp on the deal, and so did government regulators. As we reported, Elon proposed his big-ticket offer back in April ... only to reverse course a month later and attempt to torpedo the deal.

He claimed the company had not complied with its contractual obligation to hand over business info he'd requested, and complained that Twitter grossly understated the number of spam bots on its platform.

Twitter, of course, wanted to hold him to the deal, and filed a lawsuit hoping to force him to do so.

The scales of justice may collide with a different set of scales, because 2 fishermen who were caught red-handed cheating to win nearly 29k in a fishing competition are now in the crosshairs of the law.

Chase Cominski and Jake Runyan -- who allegedly stuffed their winning catch with weights  -- are in big trouble. The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office in Ohio tells TMZ, "My staff will be meeting with officers from the Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources today regarding the matter. I take all crime seriously, including attempted felony theft at a fishing tournament."

Prosecutor Michael O'Malley added, "These individuals will be held accountable."

Cominski and Runyan seemingly won Friday's competition with 2, 7-pound walleyes ... but there were suspicions, so the fish was cut open. That's when everyone saw the fish were stuffed with lead weights and fish fillets ... nearly doubling their actual weight.

These guys had a history of winning these competitions, and their competitors were pissed. You hear the outrage from the crowd.

Runyan was asked on camera if he had anything to say for himself, but he was mum.

Even if love is blind, that doesn't mean it'll last ... that's the case for "Love Is Blind" costars Iyanna McNeely and Jarrette Jones, who are -- you guessed it -- getting divorced.

The couple was one of just 2 pairings to get hitched on the latest season of Netflix's hit dating show ... but alas, Iyanna's filed for divorce in Illinois.

According to her docs, obtained by TMZ, she's citing irreconcilable differences ... and their divorce is playing out in Cook County -- both of them live in the Chicago area.

In the docs, Iyanna says she and Jarrette have already agreed to a "global settlement" that addresses support and asset allocation issues, so she's looking for the judge to enforce that deal.

While this might be a surprise for some ... Iyanna had already telegraphed this was coming earlier in the summer. Back in August, she announced she and Jarrette were calling it quits ... saying they were at different places in their lives post-'LIB.'

Iyanna actually took Jarrette's last name, so it's possible she'll be looking to reclaim her maiden name after the divorce.

Their journey on the show was, at times, filled with suggestions that their lifestyles simply didn't mesh. Jarrette was depicted as a bit of a party boy who loved his video games and the bachelor life -- while Iyanna was more of a homebody.

They worked it out in the end and said "I Do" on camera -- but just like their costars/fellow contestants Danielle Ruhl and Nick Thompson ... this thing ain't actually going the distance.

Donald Trump is going after CNN in court -- alleging the network defamed him out of fear that he'll run for president again ... and he's asking for a boatload of cash over it.

The ex-prez just filed a federal lawsuit against the network, claiming it's been pushing a lot of slanderous rhetoric about him these past couple years -- and he says it's all an effort to paint him in the worst possible light in anticipation of a 2024 run.

According to the docs, obtained by TMZ, Trump is pissed about certain labels he says CNN has used to describe him -- including "racist," "Russian lackey," "insurrectionist" and even comparisons to "Hitler." Those words simply go too far in Trump's mind, and he believes they constitute defamation.

We should note ... Trump's attorneys make a point about the alleged Hitler jabs, arguing CNN's repeated use of the phrase "The Big Lie" when referencing Trump contesting the 2020 election results is actually a direct reference to a term used by Hitler to incite hated of Jews and justify the genocide of the Holocaust.

So, in their minds, they see this as CNN associating Trump with Hitler by using the same term.

There's also this quote that spells out his beef ... "Beyond simply highlighting any negative information about the plaintiff and ignoring all positive information about him, CNN has sought to use its massive influence -- purportedly as a 'trusted' news source -- to defame the plaintiff in the minds of its viewers and readers for the purpose of defeating him politically."

Trump's team says CNN has blurred the line between opinion and news ... alleging it's now reporting these things about him as outright fact, which he says is a legal no-no. DT is seeking damages north of $475,000,000.

Amber Heard's got her hands full in Spain -- as it seems most of her days, lately, are spent playing with her daughter.

The actress was out at a playground in Palma de Mallorca this weekend ... where she and her 1-year-old, Oonagh Paige Heard, were horsing around with AH right in the thick of the action.

She guided the kid down a slide and accompanied her on other recreation equipment -- even carrying her child at one point ... similar to what she did earlier last week when she first surfaced there.

The little girl is already walking on her own, and it seems she brings a lot of joy to Amber -- because mama bear was all smiles for this outing.

Looks like Amber was rolling solo here -- last time, she had a friend on hand for company ... but this was a strictly mommy-daughter day Sunday. There isn't much publicly known about Oonagh, other than the fact that Amber's been raising her in private and occasionally post shots on social media showing her in parent mode.

Like we said last time ... Amber may be vacationing here in Europe, or she may well have moved permanently. We don't really know where she's living these days ... as she's remained very low-key since taking the big L in her defamation trial against Johnny Depp in June.

Kim Kardashian failed to tell her followers she was paid to promote a crypto asset -- a mistake that's now cost her $1.26 million and charges from the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The SEC made the announcement Monday ... Kardashian was allegedly paid $250,000 to post about EMAX tokens on Instagram, a crypto asset offered by EthereumMax. Kim's post also included a link to the EthereumMax website where her followers could buy the tokens.

Kim has already paid $1.26 million in penalties, disgorgement and interest to the SEC ... and has cooperated in the SEC's ongoing investigation.

SEC Chair Gary Gensler says, "Ms. Kardashian's case also serves as a reminder to celebrities and others that the law requires them to disclose to the public when and how much they are paid to promote investing in securities."

Tory Lanez allegedly ran into a woman's car -- and the driver was pregnant -- and then took off ... that is, if you believe a lawsuit she's now filed against him.

The rapper is being sued by a couple named Krisha and Jesse Grullon, who claim he sideswiped them with his luxury vehicle in Miami during New Year's Day 2021 ... only to then allegedly flee the scene without even checking on them.

According to the docs, obtained by TMZ, the Grullons allege they exited a highway and stopped at a red light at the end of the off-ramp. Moments later, they claim, Tory came out of nowhere and struck their car from the rear left side with a green Bentley SUV.

The Grullons insist Tory never exited his ride, but instead ... claim he took off without a second thought. The worst part, they say Krisha was 4 months pregnant at the time.

The couple is gunning to have him sit for a deposition, which they're requesting be conducted early in 2023. They're also denying Tory responded to their claims in 45 days' time ... either admitting or denying each specific part of their claim.

As you know ... Tory's already embroiled in a legal case here in California over allegations he used a firearm to cause bodily injury to Megan Thee Stallion -- something that's going to trial next month. He was also recently accused of beating up August Alsina in Chicago ... but it doesn't appear the cops are involved in that one just yet.

We've reached out to Tory's camp ... so far, no word back.

Jack Johnson says he's being stalked and harassed by a woman who keeps popping up at his shows, trying to get close to him ... so now he's getting court-ordered protection.

The "Better Together" singer beelined it to court this week and got a temporary restraining order against a female fan he says recently confronted him at the hotel he was staying at.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Jack claims the woman traveled to Houston, Texas on Aug. 26 and got in his face at his hotel ... and the interaction was so frightening, not only for Jack but also for the bandmate who saw it all go down, Jack and his band bounced until cops came and detained the woman.

Jack had a show that night in the Houston area ... and he claims his alleged stalker often buys VIP packages to his shows in order to get close to him. JJ also says she emails him and his management, claiming she's been the victim of a long-term financial scheme ... conning her out of millions of dollars.

Jack says he's worried for his safety because it's easy for the woman to track his movements ... pointing out his tour dates and personal appearances are readily available online.

Jack claims the woman's been hounding him for several years ... and says his legal team's sent her cease and desist warnings, all to no avail.

Columbus Short is off the hook in his latest legal battle ... because prosecutors tell us they dropped the charges in his domestic violence case.

The L.A. City Attorney's Office tells TMZ ... prosecutors reviewed the case and decided not to pursue charges. They wouldn't comment on the specifics of their decision.

Columbus, however, tells TMZ ... "They dismissed the case from what I was told because the prosecutor felt there was no wrongdoing." He goes on to refer to the prosecutor as rational and fair.

He continues, "I knew when I was charged it was stupid but based on past allegations. They jump to the worst conclusion as does the media." He insists he's never abused a woman.

As we reported, Columbus, who's starring in Hulu's "Remember Me," was arrested in February after cops were called to his home over an argument he had with his wife -- one that allegedly got physical.

He was charged with 2 misdemeanor counts ... one for domestic violence and one for child endangerment. At the time, we were told the child endangerment charge was because the alleged incident took place in front of a child.

Gov. Gavin Newsom is making Cali the first state to block prosecutors from freely using rap lyrics as evidence in criminal cases -- and the move has some high-profile supporters.

Newsom looked like he was hosting a hip hop award show Friday as he put his John Hancock on Assembly Bill 2799. The signing went down in an online forum that included Too $hort, Meek Mill, Killer Mike, Tyga, YG, E-40, Ty Dolla $ign. and some other industry heavyweights.

The new CA law prevents prosecutors from using rappers' lyrics in court as circumstantial evidence ... unless a judge first reviews and approves it. Before the Gov. signed, several of the rappers talked about why the bill was so important.

Cali homegrown MCs E-40 and Too $hort, in particular, stressed the need for artists to have the freedom to creatively express themselves ... and said they hoped the Golden State would start a trend.

A similar bill in New York faltered earlier this year in that state's legislature.

Veteran rapper and former convict X-Raided told TMZ Hip Hop he always believed Newsom’s progressive politics would make the difference in California.

The Strange Music artist spent 26 years in prison for his role in a 1992 murder, but said he believes he would have been acquitted if prosecutors had been barred from referencing his lyrics.

Fat Joe is suing his Chicago-based accounting firm, claiming it was running a Ponzi scheme that misappropriated his funds and those of some MLB players, too.

According to legal documents, obtained by TMZ Hip Hop, Joe claims tax hub BDO, its longtime CPA Andre N. Chammas and his assistant Vanessa Rodriguez defrauded him in several ways.

According to the docs, Joe noticed some accounting irregularities after Rodriguez was fired in July ... and he says things really didn't add up when he started taking a closer look.

For starters, Joe says his wife Lorena's name was used to open AMEX accounts and make huge unauthorized purchases, including $40K in charges for Uber rides and UberEats deliveries, as well as tuition payments for Rodriguez's daughter.

Joe also claims he discovered one of his entities, Sneaker Addict Touring, was missing large deposits -- to the tune of more than $300K. He says there were similar irregularities with other entities.

As for the Ponzi part of the alleged scheme -- Joe claims the firm also defrauded Jose Iglesias of Colorado Rockies, Luis Garcia of the Houston Astros and former Chicago White Sox player Dayan Viciedo.

In the suit, he says AMEX accounts were opened under their names as well, and the money flowed between all of their accounts to keep the Ponzi going. The players are not plaintiffs in the suit, and Joe makes it clear he feels they were victims ... just like himself.

Choreographer and former "Celebrity Big Brother" contestant Todrick Hall may need to downsize ... he's been ordered to cough up six figures after being sued over unpaid rent.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, a default judgment was entered against Todrick and now he's on the hook for more than $102,000.

As we reported ... Todrick was sued in March for allegedly failing to pay back rent on a Sherman Oaks home. The suit claimed his monthly rent was $30K and he had fallen behind.

Oddly enough, Todrick made it seem -- at least on social media -- like he owned the home ... giving an elaborate tour of the lavish property in a YouTube video where he says, "I have been wanting to buy a home for a very very long time, and this is a dream come true."

The place is decked out with an outdoor pool, movie theater, huge massive closet and even a Louis Vuitton bedframe ... which would explain the $30K monthly rent.

Todrick's been ordered to pay $100,000 in damages plus another $2K in attorney fees and costs.

Amber Heard apparently was looking for a place where people wouldn't judge her ... and she may have found it in Spain.

Amber was last seen hopping on a private jet back in June, shortly after losing the spectacularly popular trial against Johnny Depp.

While Johnny seemed to be everywhere, basking in the glow of victory, Amber seemingly ghosted the world.

Now she's back ... though in a land far, far away, in Palma de Mallorca. She was there with close friend Bianca Butti and her 1-year-old daughter Oonagh Paige Heard.

We don't know how long she's been there. It could just be a vacay, but wherever she calls home is a mystery because there hasn't been a photo of Amber that surfaced for 3 months.

Amber's got legal issues for sure ... she's on the hook for $8.3 million, although she's appealing the verdict. That appeal is pending.

U.S. Women's National Team legend Abby Wambach is distancing herself from a health company supported by Brett Favre ... after finding out the business has been accused of being involved in the massive Mississippi welfare funds scandal.

ESPN reports Wambach -- a member of the sports advisory board for Odyssey Health -- had her mentions on the company's website scrubbed Thursday afternoon ... after hearing that a lawsuit filed by the state of Mississippi alleged $2.1 million intended for welfare recipients was directed to the health company instead.

Odyssey Health is a drug company developing a nasal spray to treat concussions ... and Favre is reportedly its biggest investor. Kurt Warner, Mark Rypien, David Ross and Steve Mariucci are also members of the org.'s sports advisory board.

Wambach explained her decision to walk away in an email Thursday to ESPN ... saying, "Minutes after learning this new information, I initiated the process to immediately and fully divest myself from any involvement -- financial and otherwise -- with Prevacus/Odyssey Health Inc."

"A process that I insisted be complete by end of day today."

Wambach added she "genuinely believed this company was being transparent about a product that could spare the next generation of athletes from the severe impact of concussion injuries that I endured as a professional athlete."

"I am profoundly angry, disappointed, and saddened by what I learned today."

Wambach's decision to fully divest from the drug company comes on the heels of more troubling allegations for Favre ... whose charity, Favre 4 Hope, is under fire for donating money meant for children and cancer patients to USM's athletic foundation between 2018-2020.

Gunna is currently making another play at coming home while his criminal case is pending … a move fully supported by Kevin Liles, head of Gunna's label ... 300 Elektra Entertainment.

We caught up with Kevin Thursday in D.C. during the “Rap and the Rules of Evidence” panel … and he doubled down on arguments made to the court when Young Thug was attempting to get placed on house arrest ahead of his trial.

Kevin tells us his longtime allegiance with Young Thug extends down the YSL family tree and he considers him, Gunna and everyone else at the label his “sons.”

Gunna’s attorneys are actively arguing for his freedom in Atlanta for the third time, and Kevin insists Gunna is not a violent offender and shouldn't be locked up!

During the panel discussion, which was powered by The Recording Academy, RIAA and Industry Blackout ... Kevin seemed touched by the earlier convo and got emotional explaining the hardships of YSL's Rico case.