Legal

A Hollywood actor -- who scored roles in 'NYPD Blue' and 'CSI Miami' -- believes his daughter did not commit suicide and died under suspicious circumstances ... and now he's suing her estranged boyfriend for wrongful death.

Dwayne Adway filed his lawsuit Monday in L.A. County Superior Court against Makar Kirikov, accusing him of being involved in the death of his daughter, Daelena Mackay.

In the suit, Adway says Daelena and Kirikov lived together for about a year in an L.A. apartment and, during that time, Daelena "experienced multiple incidents of domestic violence" at the hands of Kirikov.

5/22/25 6:20 PM PT -- In an earlier version of this story -- and others on TMZ.com -- we incorrectly identified one of the photos of the alleged sex workers as "Jules." The man prosecutors labeled "Exhibit 2A-628" is not Jules, the man Cassie testified was with Diddy and her at the L.A. Intercontinental Hotel in March 2016.

While the government says the man displayed in court as "Exhibit 2A-628" was an "escort" hired to hook up with Cassie and Diddy, he is NOT the one who was with them at the Intercontinental.

He is a former star of the Showtime series, "Gigolos," named Vin Armani, and he tells us ... "I have proof that I could not possibly have been in Los Angeles on the day this Jules person (someone who is absolutely and categorically not me) supposedly was. Had any lawyer or authority ever contacted me, it would have been immediately obvious to them that any claim that I was present at the incident in question is completely false."

Further, Vin denies any insinuation he was a "sex worker," instead he says ... "I was the star of a TV show for 6 seasons and, during that time, was a fixture in the nightlife of Las Vegas. I was a celebrity and, as a result, hung out with literally hundreds of celebrities on a regular basis. I have never had an interaction with Diddy and/or Cassie that included (or where I witnessed) violence, illegal drugs, contracting for sexual services/acts (prostitution), or the transportation of any person from anywhere to anywhere whatsoever. So, just as with the hundreds of interactions I have had with celebrities (and the thousands of interactions I have had with other people in my life), I have no knowledge of any interaction that would be pertinent in any way to a criminal case of any kind. Had any attorney or authority ever contacted me, this fact would have been plain for them to see."

Diddy's alleged sex workers have finally been unmasked as Week 2 of testimony gets underway in the music mogul's federal racketeering and sex trafficking trial in NYC.

On Monday, prosecutors released a document dump of exhibits entered into trial evidence, dropping an avalanche of photos and other information. Some of the pics showed the faces of the sex workers Diddy allegedly hired to be transported across state lines for "freak-offs" with his significant others, including Cassie.

The feds define a freak-off as Diddy, a girlfriend and a male sex worker engaging in marathon sex sessions that were often recorded by the Bad Boy Records CEO inside hotel rooms. Prosecutors say Diddy forced or coerced his girlfriends into participating in the freak-offs.

Cassie Ventura and husband Alex Fine were seen out Monday, for the first time since the singer testified in Diddy's federal sex trafficking trial in NYC last week.

The married couple was seen exiting their residence in the city looking casual ... Cassie's going incognito in oversized dark sunglasses and a driver's cap pulled low over her hair, which is drawn back in a claw clip.

The very pregnant soon-to-be mama-of-three's wearing a romper with a blazer over it, which has denim jeans attached to it in a dash of extra styling, and she's got a couple bags in hand.

Megan Thee Stallion is fighting back at Tory Lanez fans who still don't believe he shot her, despite what a jury in Los Angeles ruled ... and she's got some choice words for him too.

Megan unloaded on Tory in a social media rant Monday, posting on TikTok ... "At what point are yall gonna stop making me have to re live being shot BY TORY !? At what point are Tory and yall FANS gonna stop lying ? Like how much is the check to keep harassing me? Why is this happening EVERY DAY?"

MTS continued ... "One min him/ yall said I was never shot now yall letting him play in yall face AGAIN and say I was shot but it wasn't him oh okay... ?! I'm sick of this s*** LEAVE ME TF ALONE!!!!"

Megan added ... "HE AINT DARE GET ON THAT STAND AND DENY HE SHOT ME AND THAT WAS HIS CHOICE BECAUSE HE KNOWS HE DID THAT S***! IDGAF ABT A BLOG OR A BOT!!! WHY IN TF WOULD ME ... MEGAN THEE STALLION HAVE TO LIE ON THIS MF ABT SHOOTING ME!"

As we reported ... Tory was convicted of negligent discharge of a firearm, assault with a semiautomatic firearm, and carrying a loaded and unregistered firearm back in 2022 after prosecutors accused him of shooting Megan Thee Stallion in the foot. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Lanez has denied shooting Megan and here she says ... "FACTS ARE FACTS, he did it, it was PROVEN IN COURT f*** the hate campaign on the internet TORY YOU SHOT ME !! Ain't no new f****** evidence yall been saying the same s*** for years."

Tory's case has been back in the spotlight after his recent prison stabbing ... with his lawyers claiming Megan's ex-BFF Kelsey Harris was the real shooter.

The sixth day of witness testimony in the Diddy trial is in the books and while there was some more interesting tidbits from celebs, friends and staffers ... it feels like prosecutors are all over the map.

Danity Kane singer Dawn Richard was first on the stand Monday and her testimony seemed to be geared toward one of the main charges against Diddy ... racketeering.

Dawn testified Diddy made threats about having people killed if they didn't listen to him ... and she also told the jury she saw Diddy with guns and drugs, though the defense got her to admit she never saw Diddy use a gun or pay for the substances.

Harvey Weinstein says he's an innocent man wrongly convicted of rape and other sex crimes -- and he's going after three of his celebrity accusers, including Gwyneth Paltrow, in a new interview.

The disgraced Hollywood film producer sat for his first on-camera discussion with conservative podcaster Candace Owens since his arrest 7 years ago. And Weinstein doesn't pull any punches, slamming not only Gwyneth, but also Ashley Judd and Rose McGowan.

Owens released a one-minute 20-second clip of the interview that will air in full on Club Candace Tuesday. The clip kicks off with Weinstein appearing in a suit on a monitor talking on a phone from jail with Candace who is seated in her broadcast booth.

One of Diddy's former assistants recalled a couple conversations he says he had with Cassie ... including one when he says Cassie told him why she couldn't leave Diddy.

David James took the stand Monday in Diddy's federal trial and testified for the prosecution ... telling the jury he had been with Cassie in Miami early on in her relationship with Diddy.

David says he worked for Diddy from 2007 and 2009 and testified he first met Cassie on Star Island in Miami, where Diddy had rented a yacht to impress her.

Federal agents testified they found drugs, baby oil, lubricant and cash stashed in Diddy's New York City hotel room after his September 2024 arrest ... they took photos as evidence, and now we're seeing what they say they found.

Dozens of photos from inside Diddy's hotel room at the Park Hyatt Hotel in NYC have now been entered as exhibits in the case ... and we've compiled some of the most interesting images for you to peruse.

In new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, the feds say they recovered two clear plastic Ziploc bags in an orange prescription bottle ... and inside the baggies were pink solid material. The feds say one bag tested positive for ketamine and the other tested positive for MDMA and ketamine.

Diddy's federal sex trafficking trial is chugging along and Cassie took the stand last week for four days of intense testimony ... where she told the jury Diddy physically abused her during their relationship.

Photos of the injuries Cassie says she sustained at Diddy's hand have now been entered as exhibits in the case ... and we've collected some of the most compelling photos for you to see.

In one image, it looks like Cassie snapped a selfie of her swollen and busted lip ... and she's wearing a hoodie and hiding her eyes behind a big pair of sunglasses.

Another photo shows a deep gash over Cassie's left eyebrow ... there's a good amount of blood and open flesh ... and it appears there's some swelling and bruising too.

Diddy's federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial is undeniably weighing heavily on his family ... but his children's caretaker is assuring everyone the entire Combs clan are nothing but troopers!!!

Lawanda 'Lala' Lane joined "TMZ Live" on Monday to discuss the day-to-day operations since Diddy was hauled off to jail last year to wait for his trial, which got started two weeks ago.

The embattled music mogul's twins, Jessie and D'Lila, just stepped out for their senior prom,  and Lala says they're straight-A students and says faith in God is the dominant theme in the household.

Lisa Bloom says testimony from Cassie Ventura and Dawn Richard is essential to the prosecution's criminal case against Diddy ... but she says the feds are far from finished, and they've got plenty of time to close any loops the defense finds.

The famed attorney, who is also representing Dawn in a civil suit against Diddy, joined us on "TMZ Live" Monday and explained how Dawn's testimony is geared towards the RICO charges against Diddy.

Lisa says the fact Dawn told the jury she saw Diddy with guns and drugs is super important ... even though Diddy defense attorney Nicole Westmoreland got Dawn to admit she never saw Diddy use a gun or pay for drugs.

Post Malone has called BS on his baby mama, who wants an L.A. County judge to hear their custody case, claiming the matter properly belongs in Utah, where he's raising the child.

Post had filed for custody in Utah, claiming that's where the 3-year-old daughter was raised.

The mother, Jamie Park, filed similar legal docs in Los Angeles 4 days later, asking for sole physical custody with visitation going to Post.

1:39 PM PT -- A spokesperson for Universal Music Group tells TMZ ... "Salt-N-Pepa’s own legal filings demonstrate the repeated attempts we have made to resolve this matter amicably (including offers to enter into a mediation) ever since the artists served an invalid termination notice. Although we had no legal obligation to do so, we still sought to find a way to improve the artists’ compensation and pay them directly – even after they had sold their royalty streams to a third party.

The spokesperson continues ... "Clearly, the artists’ legal counsel thinks they can use the threat of negative media coverage from the lawsuit to achieve their unreasonable demands.  Despite this, and consistent with our longstanding practice, we remain committed to working towards an amicable resolution."

Much of Salt-N-Pepa's music was pulled from streaming services last week, and it turns out the legendary hip hop trio has a serious bone to pick with Universal Music Group!!!

TMZ Hip Hop obtained legal docs filed by Cheryl "Salt" James and Sandra "Pepa" Denton demanding UMG comply with the termination of their contract, per Section 203 of the American Copyright Act, which returns SNP the rights to song recordings after time.

According to the complaint, UMG has refused to cooperate with the "Push It" rappers since 2002 ... not resulting in revenue loss, but preventing them from entering a new agreement with a new party to license the recordings.

“Love Island” contestant Cashel Barnett is behind bars in Utah ... the reality star turned himself in to police after a felony warrant had been issued for his arrest, TMZ has learned.

Authorities and a source close to the victim tell TMZ … Cashel was booked into Salt Lake City jail in Utah on Monday morning – a week after a warrant had been issued.

Cashel was hit with a slew of charges by the SLC district attorney after he allegedly attacked his ex-girlfriend in front of their 1-year-old daughter late last month.

Cassie's former friend Kerry Morgan says Diddy came looking for Cassie after he beat her in a Los Angeles hotel ... showing up to Cassie's apartment armed with a hammer.

Kerry recalled her involvement in the infamous InterContinental hotel assault of Cassie ... telling the jury she was staying at Cassie's apartment in March 2016 ahead of a movie premiere, when Cassie came home with a black eye.

Morgan said about 30 minutes after Cassie came home, Diddy showed up at the front door... banging on the door with a hammer.

Kerry Morgan, a former friend of Cassie Ventura's, just testified for the prosecution in the Diddy trial ... and she says she saw Diddy assault Cassie twice ... and claims both times he was sober.

Kerry took the stand Monday in Diddy's federal sex trafficking trial in NYC, and she told the jury one of the occasions she saw Diddy assault Cassie was at Diddy's house in Los Angeles. She said Diddy kicked Cassie, and when she told one of Diddy's security guards to do something about it, he refused. She says she left the house with Cassie and they hid outside a neighbor's house.

Morgan testified another time she saw Diddy assault Cassie was on a trip to Jamaica in 2013 ... when she says she saw Diddy drag Cassie by her hair. She also said she saw Diddy push Cassie to the ground. She said Cassie hit her head on a brick and she thought Cassie was KO'd.