Legal

Federal prosecutors just released shocking new photos they say show the aftermath of the Molotov cocktail incident with Kid Cudi's Porsche -- an incident Cudi thinks Diddy was involved in -- and now we're seeing some of what jurors were shown in court.

Prosecutors just entered photos of Kid Cudi's car fire aftermath as exhibits in the case ... and they appear to show what Kid Cudi and LAFD arson investigator Lance Jimenez testified about in terms of fire damage from a Molotov cocktail.

Jimenez testified Wednesday an Olde English 800 malt liquor bottle was used in the incident and that when he arrived at the scene, he saw the bottle in the front seat ... and that appears to be what the photos show.

3:10 PM PT -- Attorneys John Harris and Herbert Hayden, who represent Jane Does 1-4, tell TMZ ... "The cross-complaint filed by Mr. Christopher Frost on behalf of William "Smokey" Robinson and Frances Robinson, is nothing more than an attempt to silence and intimidate the survivors of Mr. Robinson's sexual battery and assault. It is a baseless and vindictive legal maneuver designed to re-victimize, shift blame and discourage others from coming forward. This type of retaliatory litigation is precisely what California’s anti-SLAPP laws were enacted to prevent."

Smokey Robinson's firing back at the women accusing him of sexual assault with a lawsuit of his own ... claiming he and his wife, Frances, always treated employees with respect -- and, the 4 people suing them are simply trying to shake them down.

The singer-songwriter and his wife filed a cross-complaint against the four Jane Does, according to their attorney, for $500 million. In the suit, they say Smokey not only didn't abuse any of these women -- but, instead treated them like "extended family."

Smokey and his legal team point to gifts they claim he and his wife gave to these women over the years ... including concert tickets, money for dental procedures and more.

Brad Pitt is finally breaking his silence on the messy years-long divorce drama with Angelina Jolie -- and let’s just say, his response was ... casual.

The movie star's been busy hyping up his new racing flick "F1," but when GQ asked if finally finalizing the divorce in December -- after 8 freakin’ years, mind you -- felt like a relief, he made it clear it was something he hadn't really been sweating the whole time.

Brad straight-up said, “No, I don’t think it was that major of a thing. Just something coming to fruition. Legally."

Andrew and Tristan Tate may be charged in the UK for offenses including rape and human trafficking, prosecutors in the country have confirmed.

The Crown Prosecution Service says 21 total charges have been authorized against the two brothers -- Tristan's facing 11, and Andrew's facing 10.

However, CPS says the domestic criminal charges in Romania must be settled first before anything can move forward in the UK.

Sharay Hayes, an exotic male dancer known as "The Punisher," is apologizing to Cassie Ventura for his role in some sexual encounters with Diddy.

"The Punisher" went on CNN and said he's sorry to Cassie for any suffering he may have caused her ... explaining that at the time, he had no idea or indication that she was having a bad experience.

Hayes testified in the Diddy criminal trial about his role in "freak-offs" with Diddy and Cassie -- and he told us he didn't see Diddy do anything that seemed illegal -- but after learning Cassie told jurors she was being blackmailed and threatened to participate in freak-offs, he's offered up his apology.

Diddy's defense lawyer cried out for a mistrial Wednesday ... after a witness revealed fingerprints connected to the alleged break-in at Kid Cudi's Hollywood Hills house had been destroyed.

An arson investigator was testifying about the Molotov cocktail thrown into Kid Cudi's car back in January 2012 ... prosecutors believe the device was thrown at the behest of Diddy in a jealous rage over Cassie.

The arson investigator testified his unit had recovered DNA on the bottle used for the firebomb ... the partial DNA was from an unknown woman.

David Geffen may be in for a battle, because his estranged husband has just filed legal docs strongly suggesting his estranged hubby wants a chunk of David's fortune.

David Andrew Armstrong (aka Donovan Michaels) filed a response to Geffen's divorce petition. In the docs, obtained by TMZ, Armstrong's lawyer, Samantha Spector, checked a box that asks the judge to "Determine rights to community and quasi-community assets and debts."

That's significant, because TMZ has previously reported, Geffen, an 82-year-old whose wealth is estimated at $8.7 BILLION, has been retired for 15 years. Our understanding is he has no income other than investments, including property sales and dividends from stocks and equities. Those assets are all separate property.

Kevin Costner is being sued by a stunt performer for sexual harassment, discrimination and retaliation over a rape scene for the second part of his anthology series "Horizon: An American Saga" ... a scene she claims was unscripted.

Devyn LaBella filed the lawsuit Tuesday against Costner and the film's production companies after she says she was "the victim of a violent unscripted, unscheduled rape scene" directed by Costner on May 2, 2023, according to legal docs obtained by TMZ.

LaBella -- whose other credits include "Barbie" and "American Horror Story" -- says she experienced no issues on set prior and even filmed a scheduled and rehearsed sexual assault scene on May 1 ... which is why she was shocked to stroll on to set the following day learning she would be subject to shooting another explicit scene.

Testimony continued for the third week in Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial in Manhattan Wednesday morning ... with two victims, an L.A. cop and an arson investigator all slated to take the stand today, one day after Capricorn Clark's bombshell testimony.

The prosecution calls LAPD Officer Christopher Ignacio as the first witness of the day. Ignacio is asked about a 911 call on December 11, 2011, at about 8 AM, which he describes as "Code 3, with lights and sirens" to a Hollywood Hills address -- the address is Scott "Kid Cudi" Mescudi's house, the location of an alleged break-in by Diddy and associates, and where Cudi's car was later destroyed by a Molotov cocktail. Ignacio says a Cadillac Escalade was present when officers arrived.

Ignacio says he memorized the license plate of the Escalade ... he became suspicious by "the way it left as soon as we got there." He said they found the front door of the residence unlocked ... inside, officers found expensive watches, purses, some of which were gift-wrapped. He said two detectives arrived, and he said he saw the same black Escalade driving down the hill. Then Cudi arrived in his Porsche.

Hugh Jackman's estranged wife has her own superpowers now ... claiming the road on the "journey of betrayal" has made her stronger -- and, now she feels free.

Deborra-Lee Furness spoke out just a day after filing for divorce from her movie star husband ... taking shots at him in a statement to Daily Mail.

Furness told DM her heart goes out to everyone who has traversed the trauma of betrayal like she has ... calling it a "profound wound" -- while adding she believes the higher power of the universe is always working for those recovering from broken trust.

Joe Exotic let his inner tiger come out Tuesday ... absolutely blasting Donald Trump for pardoning Todd and Julie Chrisley while he continues to sit in prison with no word on his appeal.

ICYMI ... 47 issued a full pardon for the "Chrisley Knows Best" stars, who have been serving their combined 19-year prison sentence after they were found guilty in 2022 on federal charges of bank fraud and tax evasion.

The "Tiger King" star swiftly unloaded his frustrations, writing in a press release he shared on X ... "I have never been more disappointed in my life that President Trump is pardoning all of these people that have actually committed crimes and yet the President leaves me in here as an innocent man."

A Maryland woman was arrested in Florida after cops say she beat up a kid who hit her with a very juvenile Muppets-related burn.

Kristy Crampton, a 46-year-old from Hagerstown, MD, was arrested Monday at the Orlando Sanford Airport after cops got a call asking them to come to a gate where a flight headed for Maryland was sitting on the tarmac.

When they got there, cops say they spoke to Crampton and 2 other people -- whose names are redacted from the police report -- with one of them claiming the alleged victim was suffering from behavioral issues, both at home and on the flight.

The second suspect in NYC's notorious crypto torture caper is now cooling his heels behind bars after being hit with formal charges by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office.

Prosecutors filed a criminal court complaint Tuesday in Manhattan Criminal Court, charging Bitcoin entrepreneur William Duplessie with several felonies -- kidnapping, assault, unlawful imprisonment and criminal possession of a weapon.

At his arraignment Tuesday evening, Duplessie was ordered held without bail after prosecutors asked the judge to remand him due to the severity of the crimes.

Keyshawn Johnson has filed a lawsuit against NFL agent Chris Ellison ... claiming the guy owes him nearly $1 million for helping funnel clients his way -- but Ellison is adamant the allegations are untrue.

Johnson said in his suit, which was filed in Los Angeles last week and obtained by TMZ Sports, that he and Ellison struck a deal about a decade ago ... in which the former New York Jets star agreed to push players to be represented by Ellison in exchange for a portion of the NFL contracts the athletes received.

According to the lawsuit, Johnson was to get one-third of the three percent commission Ellison ultimately made on the players' salaries.

Britney Spears is one step closer to debuting her first-ever jewelry line because TMZ has learned she's officially filed a trademark for the brand.

Britney's team filed the official paperwork with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Tuesday. The documents say the filing has met all the minimum requirements and is now awaiting review.

Our Britney sources tell us the main motivation behind securing the trademark was to prevent others from jumping on the name before Britney could bring her own vision to life. We're told while there’s no official launch date just yet, Britney and her team are hoping the line will be ready to launch soon.

The tenth day of witness testimony in the Diddy criminal trial was all about former Bad Boy employee Capricorn Clark ... and prosecutors tried to use her testimony to make the racketeering charge against Diddy stick.

Capricorn was the only witness Tuesday and she told the jury all about her time working under Diddy at Bad Boy ... and there were some noteworthy moments.

While Capricorn was testifying under oath, a pregnant Cassie was being rushed to a hospital ... our sources tell us she's in the labor and delivery unit, but it's not clear if she's given birth yet, as we're also told there may have been some complications.