Legal

Filmmaker Michael Bay is now charged with killing a pigeon while directing a film in Italy ... but he's firing back, denying it ever happened under his watch.

The blockbuster director was hit with charges relating to the bird's death, which allegedly happened back in 2018 on the set of the Netflix flick “6 Underground."

However, sources connected to the production tell TMZ ... all the homing pigeons used in the film landed safely during filming.

One source told us, "Everyone knows Michael is an animal activist. This would never happen on his set. There are dozens of witnesses who said that this didn’t happen."

Italian officials say otherwise -- prosecutors claim the pigeon was killed by a dolly while Michael was filming in Rome ... where it is illegal to harm or kill wild birds.

Authorities say someone from the set saw the whole thing, and took a photo before reporting it to law enforcement.

The allegation isn't that Michael himself harmed the bird, but because he was the director ... he's being held responsible for the incident. Michael reportedly tried to get the case thrown out several times, but prosecutors persisted.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ Bryan Kohberger's scratches are from shaving before court.

Bryan Kohberger is in no hurry to stand trial for the quadruple murder, and, not shockingly, the judge is ordering him to be held without bail until that trial.

He appeared in a Moscow, ID courtroom Thursday morning -- with apparent scratches on his face and wearing an orange jumpsuit -- as he waived his right to a speedy trial. The whole hearing was over after just a few minutes, and a preliminary hearing for the trial has been set for June 26.

Kohberger is accused of fatally stabbing Kaylee Goncalves, Maddie Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin in an off-campus rental home in Moscow, ID, on November 13. The three women lived at the house; Chapin was visiting.

Investigators had Kohberger on their radar nearly from the start ... two weeks after the homicides, police obtained several videos showing a white Hyundai Elantra cruising past the murder house several times before finally stopping at 4:04 AM.

About 20 minutes later, surveillance videos showed the car speeding away from the house. Police deduced that the Elantra had traveled about 10 miles away to Washington State University, where Kohberger was enrolled as a graduate student in criminology.

Cops then released a bulletin asking the public to be on the lookout for the Hyundai Elantra. A WSU officer spotted a vehicle matching the description parked in the driveway of Kohberger's home and ran the license plate ... turns out the car belonged to Bryan.

Police caught a few more breaks. One of the surviving victims -- who saw the killer up close during the bloody rampage -- described him as a man 5'10" or taller, not very muscular but athletically built with bushy eyebrows, wearing black clothing with a mask. Detectives obtained Kohberger's photo driver's license, which had a similar description, including bushy eyebrows.

Police pulled cell phone records, which showed Kohberger was on the move the night of the murders. He drove from the WSU campus at 2:44 AM and headed south through Pullman, Washington. His cell phone went dead for a period of time, then picked up again around 5:30 AM -- but only after the slayings. Police believe Kohberger deliberately disabled the phone to conceal his travels.

Investigators also found Kohberger's DNA on a leather sheath he allegedly left at the crime scene and matched it to his father's genetic profile through testing.

Police had retrieved the father's DNA from trash discarded at their family home in Pennsylvania. Bryan had been staying there while he was on Christmas break from school.

Kohberger was arrested on Dec. 30 after an FBI SWAT team descended on the PA home. He was later charged with four counts of murder and now faces a possible death sentence if convicted. Kohberger denies any wrongdoing and says he's fighting the charges.

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene talked a big game after Dr. Dre went after her for using his song, "Still D.R.E.," as a music bed for her entrance to the House chamber, but after Dre. delivered a legal threat -- stop using my music, or else -- she backed down.

A Greene staffer just sent a letter to Dre's lawyer, Howard King -- obtained by TMZ -- which reads in part, "On behalf of Congresswoman Greene, please be advised that no further use of Mr. Young's copyright will be made by a political committee or via social media outlet she controls."

It's really something ... Greene responded well before the 5 PM deadline imposed by King.

It had gotten really nasty. King initially fired off a letter to Greene in which he made clear, his client would not allow Greene "to promote your divisive and hateful political agenda."

Greene fired back with a statement of her own, saying, "While I appreciate the creative chord progression, I would never play your words of violence against women and police officers, and your glorification of the thug life and drugs."

So now Greene will have to find another artist if she wants a music bed to accompany her videos. Thoughts?

Alec Baldwin might've settled things on the civil side of the 'Rust' tragedy, but he's not out of the woods criminally ... as there's still a decision that has to be made, and we've learned it will come down by month's end.

Santa Fe's First Judicial District Attorney's Office tells TMZ ... the D.A. is set to make an announcement about whether she'll pursue criminal charges against anyone that was directly or indirectly involved in the death of DP Halyna Hutchins.

We're told everyone involved -- including Baldwin -- is under the D.A.'s microscope, and any filing decisions will be made by the end of January.

Baldwin could face charges for his role in Hutchins' death -- although the actor has repeatedly denied any responsibility ... insisting he didn't pull the trigger, and other parties were to blame.

It's been more than a year since Hutchins died ... and in light of her widowed husband settling his wrongful death suit entirely late last year in dramatic fashion -- which entailed him stepping in as an EP of the revived film -- everyone assumed the saga was over.

We'd already reported the civil settlement does not affect the criminal investigation -- which has already wrapped, with the findings sent over to the D.A.'s office a while ago at this point. So, the question ... what's the holdup?

The answer is unclear, but the end of the tunnel is in sight. The D.A. hasn't said what charges are being considered, but until she says otherwise -- it's all fair game.

An arrest warrant has been issued for Dallas Cowboys rookie Sam Williams, TMZ Sports has learned ... over his alleged role in a violent car crash last month.

The Plano Police Department tells us the misdemeanor warrant is for reckless driving ... though further details surrounding the allegations against Williams were not made immediately available.

According to a police spokesperson, "at this time, there is no plan to find and arrest" Williams ... as the 23-year-old football player "has been contacted to turn himself in."

Per the spokesperson, though, if Williams is stopped by police before he turns himself in, "he would be arrested then."

As we reported, Williams slammed his black Corvette into another vehicle at around 2:15 PM in Plano, Texas on Dec. 22. Pictures from the scene showed the collision caused serious damage, leaving debris all over the roadway.

Thankfully, neither Williams nor the other driver were seriously injured in the crash ... but the Dallas pass rusher did end up missing one game following the wreck.

Williams addressed the accident with reporters a few days afterward, and said he was "thankful" to still be alive.

"You're looking at the [totaled] car like, man, but God works in mysterious ways," he said. "I know He has something in store for me."

It's not yet clear if the warrant will impact Williams' availability for the team's playoff game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday.

Gunna has access to his social media accounts again and in a defiant return, he's defending his status with YSL … the label, that is.

In his first IG post since taking the Alford plea deal that got him sprung from prison on December 14 ... Gunna called for Young Thug and Yak Gotti's freedom, and reiterated his allegiance to the crew.

Gunna also let off a belated RIP to Lil Keed, as he was incarcerated at the time of Keed's death in May 2022 ... which was recently discovered to be the result of a blood cell disorder.

The post didn't sit well with Keed's brother, Lil Gotit, who showed his emotions when he, incorrectly, thought Gunna was referring to him when he called Keed his "twin."

Young Thug's brother Unfoonk also flexed some umbrage ... flipping Gunna's patented P emoji against him while slamming the post.

We recently bumped into Thug's sister Dolly White and Gotit at LAX and her reaction was pretty similar to Unfoonk's -- Gunna still has some explaining to do!!!

Convincing the YSL collective is only half Gunna's battle reentering the rap game.

Damar Hamlin has applied for two trademarks following his scary medical emergency last week ... TMZ Sports has confirmed he's seeking to own the phrases, "Did We Win" and "Three Is Back."

According to the United States Patent and Trademark Office records, Hamlin filed for the trademarks on Jan. 6 -- just days after he went into cardiac arrest on the field during the Bills vs. Bengals "Monday Night Football" game.

As part of the application for the trademarks, the records show Hamlin is intending to use the phrases on shirts, clothing jerseys, sweatshirts, hats, pants, shorts, and jackets ... plus printed and downloadable posters, mugs, and ornamental novelty pins.

The applications also list educational and entertainment services for "motivational and educational speakers in the field of self- and personal improvement" and "health care services in the nature of athletic training."

Of course, the "Did We Win" phrase became iconic and associated with Hamlin after doctors said those were some of the first words he uttered after he woke up at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

The 24-year-old has already created and put out "Did We Win?" shirts ... tweeting earlier this month they were a way to give back to the UC Trauma Center.

"We all won," Hamlin said revealing the tees. "Proceeds of this shirt will go to first responders and the UC Trauma Center. Go get yours!"

The woman who accused Antonio Brown of domestic violence in November also told cops he sent "explicit videos" to her son during the dispute ... new 911 audio, obtained by TMZ Sports, reveals.

In the call, a woman said to a Tampa Police Dept. dispatcher that she and Brown -- the father of her children -- had gotten into "a little argument" at their home in Tampa, Fla. on Nov. 28.

She explained that she had arrived at the house on Nov. 27 ... and hours later, Brown "started throwing a fit." The woman claimed she took the kids and went outside in an effort to diffuse the situation ... but then said to the operator that the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver started to "throw all of my clothes out of the house."

She later added that Brown was "sending explicit videos to my son's phone" as well.

In the call, the woman could be heard appearing to yell at Brown -- telling him, "This is not legal!" before adding, "You might want to go inside! You better hide out!"

A second 911 call was also placed ... and in it, you can hear a woman claiming to be a neighbor telling cops that Brown had thrown the woman out of the house.

As we reported, TPD officers eventually arrived on scene ... and say Brown threw a shoe at the woman during the altercation -- leading them to issue a warrant for his arrest.

Brown, though, was never formally placed into custody ... as prosecutors announced on Dec. 21 they were not filing charges against the 34-year-old, saying the alleged victim "recanted her previous allegations regarding Mr. Brown's intent to strike her or cause her bodily harm."

Singer Malu Trevejo is devastated by allegations she was abusive to people who used to work for her ... and she's planning to fight a lawsuit recently filed against her.

Here's the deal ... Malu is being sued in Florida by four people who say they used to work for her. The suit alleges Malu inflicted emotional, mental and verbal abuse on some of her former staffers ... and they're going after her for at least $4 million.

Malu's attorney, Jason Ziven, tells TMZ ... "Ms. Trevejo is aware of the false allegations in the lawsuit and looks forward to defending herself against these baseless claims."

In the lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, folks who say they used to work for Malu claim she would use the r-word and berate them with racial slurs, often hurling obscenities their way too, if they didn't respond to her texts and calls as quickly as she wanted.

One source close to Malu tells TMZ … she's devastated by these allegations and Malu would never hurt anyone in this way.

MacKenzie Scott is officially single again -- her divorce from her second husband is signed, sealed and delivered ... kinda like an Amazon order.

The former Mrs. Jeff Bezos had her dissolution of marriage from now ex-husband Dan Jewett recently finalized in Washington state ... as the judge signed off on Mackenzie and Dan each going their separate ways, according to court docs obtained by TMZ.

It turned out to be a quickie divorce ... as we reported, MacKenzie filed to end things back in September, a little more than a year after they tied the knot, and now the book is closed on her second marriage.

Remember, MacKenzie and Dan -- a chemistry teacher at her kids' private school in Washington -- announced in March 2021 they got hitched. They did not have any children together.

MacKenzie was previously married to Jeff from 1993 to 2019 before they divorced ... and she walked away from her first marriage with nearly $37 billion, pledging half to charity.

According to the docs, MacKenzie and Dan signed a separation contract that will handle all the details of any property settlement. That contract is not on file with the court.

When Dog the Bounty Hunter's late wife, Beth Chapman, died ... a memorial fund was set up in her name, but now her daughters are dragging its founder to court.

Bonnie Chapman and Cecily Barmore just filed suit against Rainy Robinson -- who was Beth's best friend and costar on "Dog's Most Wanted" -- because they claim she's been running a charity fund baring their mother's name/likeness ... but has been enriching herself instead.

In the suit, obtained by TMZ, Bonnie and Cecily allege Rainy has been soliciting donations for years -- starting shortly after Beth died of cancer in 2019 -- and that, lately, she's been falsely promising to transfer ownership of the fund to the girls, but never actually did it.

That's a big problem for Beth's daughters ... in the suit, they allege Rainy's been acting in bad faith -- never intending to hand over the fund, and instead, starting the process to quietly dissolve the charity.

According to the suit, Rainy made several social media posts about turning over operations of the fund to Bonnie and Cecily, but wen their attorneys demanded an accounting of how she's been using the money ... she reversed course and never followed through on the transfer.

The daughters are suing to block the use of their names and images for the charity and want at least $50K in damages.

Rainy tells TMZ she's been trying to have the girls head the fund since their mom died ... but claims they distanced themselves without explanation. Rainy also says the fund has had good intentions all along, including creating a scholarship and a victim fund for families whose loved ones were murdered.

She also claims she told Bonnie and Cecily they could have the fund, but that they'd need to contact her directly ... which they didn't do. Rainy says she now plans to shut it down.

"Rhythm of the Night" singer El DeBarge is not dancing 'til the morning light, because he got busted in the middle of the night ... after a run-in with cops at a gas station.

Burbank PD tells TMZ ... officers slapped the handcuffs on El around 3:40 AM Sunday. They didn't pull him over, he was already stopped at a gas station when they noticed he had expired tags -- but when they approached, they say an expandable metal baton in plain sight in El's vehicle.

The baton is an illegal weapon, and that prompted cops to further search the vehicle ... which is when they allegedly found found pepper spray and suspected narcotics.

They also found out DeBarge didn't have a valid driver's license.

The singer was arrested and booked on several charges ... including possession of a leaded cane or baton, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Law enforcement tells us they believe the narcotic is heroin.

You'll recall, cops busted him for felony vandalism back in 2018 ... after he allegedly took a wrench to some guy's windshield during an argument.

Bryce Hall seems to have put his boxing skills to the test in Sin City, punching a nightclub security guard in the head, and it's all on video -- an incident that could land him in some legal trouble.

TMZ obtained the footage, shot Friday night in Las Vegas outside XS nightclub at the Wynn, showing the TikTok star getting physical with security -- including a punch to the side of the guy's head.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... LVMPD responded to a call from XS and police ended up citing Bryce with two counts of battery and one count of trespassing, all misdemeanors. We're told the case will be submitted to the District Attorney.

As for what sparked the fight ... we're told Bryce and a friend were kicked out of the club during a Calvin Harris performance after being invited up to the DJ booth.

In the video, you see Bryce throw the punch ... and it then takes four security guards to take him to the ground.

Remember ... Bryce is famous for his TikTok account, but he's also boxed before ... getting destroyed in a June 2021 boxing match against fellow social media star Austin McBroom.

Bryce use to live in Los Angeles, but bought a house in Las Vegas in 2022. He also attended and posted at the AVN awards over the weekend.

Dr. Dre just went in hard on Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, threatening her with legal action for exploiting his music "to promote your divisive and hateful political agenda."

Dre's lawyer, Howard King, fired off a letter to Greene, saying "Mr. Young [Dre] has not, and will never, grant you permission to broadcast or disseminate any of his music."

As we reported, Greene posted a video of her walking to the House floor Monday, using Dre's song, "Still D.R.E." as the music bed.

King fired off a demand letter to Twitter, asking the company to block her post. For its part, Twitter not only blocked the post ... it also locked her Twitter account.

But King wasn't done. Dre's lawyer went after her in a blistering way, saying "you would have a passing familiarity with the laws of our country. It's possible, though, that laws governing intellectual property are a little too arcane and insufficiently populist for you to really have spent much time on."

Dre and King were not done ... "We're writing because we think an actual lawmaker should be making laws not breaking laws, especially those embodied in the constitution by the founding fathers."

And then the ultimatum ... King demanded that Green cease and desist from using any of Dre's music, and he set a time deadline ... "please provide me with written confirmation that you have complied with these demands before January 11, 2023 by 5:00 pm EST."

Before the letter was sent, Greene told TMZ, "While I appreciate the creative chord progression, I would never play your words of violence against women and police officers, and your glorification of the thug life and drugs."

We will follow up on this ... promise!

Johnny Depp's star lawyer, Camille Vasquez, has a sweet new TV gig ... she's working for NBC as an on-air legal analyst, and on her first day she's tackling the biggest criminal case in the country.

Camille appeared Monday on the "Today" show, where she joined Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie to discuss Bryan Kohberger ... who's been charged for the quadruple murder in Idaho. The 2 cohosts asked her to size it all up, and to weigh in on how strong the state's case is against him, based on what we know so far.

According to CV ... Kohberger has a steep hill to climb, because she says investigators and prosecutors aren't in the habit of revealing all their cards from the get-go. On the contrary, she suggests there might be even more damning evidence beyond what's been revealed so far in the police affidavit ... which includes DNA, cell phone data and eyewitness accounts.

Camille says they probably put just enough in the docs to get probable cause for an arrest, but notes there could be more revealed in court. She also talked about the pros and cons of having the public so engaged in this case ... saying tips could certainly be helpful, but too much sleuthing could also be a red herring.

Pretty solid first outing as a media personality for Camille ... a job that came after 4 major networks were clamoring for her expertise since she won the defamation case for Depp.

She's not going fully Hollywood ... Camille is still a partner at her firm, Brown Rudnick, so she's quite busy these days.

Young Thug's RICO trial is about to get started -- during which prosecutors will present evidence backing their case, and, controversially, that will include some of his lyrics.

Opening arguments are scheduled to kick off Monday in Fulton County, where YT is facing serious charges ... including conspiracy, participating in criminal street gang activity, possession of a firearm and controlled substances charges, among others.

He's pleaded not guilty -- with his defense attorney insisting his name will be cleared through the proceedings.

Thug is just one of several individuals who've been charged in the sweeping case -- but he's a key defendant, as the feds allege he's one of the head honchos of YSL (Young Slime Life) ... which they claim is not only a music label/brand, but a violent criminal enterprise too.

The allegations against Thug and the other 27 co-defendants date back to 2015, and some defendants -- not Thug -- are facing murder, attempted murder and armed robbery charges. Even more alarming is the fact prosecutors are expected to cite specific lyrics YSL members have rapped to help build the case against them.

It's caused a lot of outrage, with some arguing rap lyrics shouldn't be allowed as evidence in the case ... claiming they often blur the lines between artistic expression and reality.

It's unclear which lyrics, exactly, are going to be mentioned ... but some of the songs prosecutors are looking at have been revealed. They include Young Thug's 2018 hit, "Anybody," plus tracks from YSL's 2020 compilation album like ... "Take it to Trial," "Ski" and "Slatty."

Prosecutors allege YSL members, including Thug, explicitly refer to criminal activity in those tracks -- and that they furthered the objective of the group ... namely, "Preserving, protecting and enhancing the reputation, power and territory of the enterprise."

While Thug is about to have his day in court ... one of his cohorts and fellow labelmates, Gunna, already accepted a plea deal that saw him released from custody. He was sentenced to 5 years with one year credit for time served. The remaining 4 years were suspended, so no more time behind bars if he stays out of trouble.