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Reggie Bush is going to war with the NCAA yet again ... he's now suing the org. -- claiming a comment it made about him back in 2021 defamed him.

Bush's attorneys Ben Crump and Levi McCathern filed the lawsuit on Tuesday ... alleging that a statement that an NCAA official released to media outlets two years ago was flat-out false.

According to the suit, the comment was initially issued by NCAA spokesperson Megan Durham ... after a reporter had asked her whether or not the NCAA would reconsider the previous sanctions it had imposed on Bush in wake of its new NIL rules allowing college athletes to begin receiving compensation for the use of their name, image and likeness.

"Although college athletes can now receive benefits from their names, images and likenesses through activities like endorsements and appearances, NCAA rules still do not permit pay-for-play type arrangements," Durham said, according to Bush's lawyers. "The NCAA infractions process exists to promote fairness in college sports. The rules that govern fair play are voted on, agreed to and expected to be upheld by all NCAA member schools."

Even though the statement itself doesn't include Bush's name, his attorneys say in the docs it was made in direct response to a question about the sanctions on Bush --- and therefore clearly refers to him. They then called the "pay-for-play" portion of it "false, defamatory, and made with malice."

The attorneys claimed the ex-SC star had never been paid by the Trojans to play for the school -- while adding that the NCAA never found that he had received funds to suit up for the football team either.

They're now asking for unspecified damages over it all.

Bush and his attorneys further elaborated on the suit at a press conference at USC's Coliseum on Wednesday afternoon.

"[This lawsuit] is about truth, getting the facts out and holding the NCAA accountable," Bush said during the meeting with reporters.

You can't see Angel Reese on the court OR in class -- the LSU superstar says she's so popular on campus these days, she has to handle all her academics online!!

The Tigers forward revealed the adjustment in a new interview with Teen Vogue this week ... saying she wasn't expecting to blow up the way she did after the women's hoops team won its first-ever championship back in April.

"I didn't think I was going to be on Shade Room every time I post something," Reese said.

Reese -- who went viral after making John Cena/Tony Yayo's famous gesture all up in Iowa baller Caitlin Clark's face -- explained the attention she got in Baton Rouge became a little bit too much for the 21-year-old student-athlete.

"I don't feel like I'm a celebrity, but I think a lot of people look at me as a celebrity now because of the impact I've had on not just women's basketball, but sports in general, and Black women," Reese said. "Things have changed for me."

Her money has also changed -- Reese signed several NIL deals worth up to $1.6 million since becoming a star, but she's not letting the money and fame distract her from what's most important to her.

"School's first, basketball is next," Reese said. "I wouldn't be here without school and basketball, so that's my priority."

Once she's done with that, Angel said she plans to play in the WNBA ... and hopes to retire her mom ASAP.

"My mom is my rock," Reese added. "Everything I do is just for her and my brother."

Lizzo's got plans to sue the same backup dancers who are taking her to court ... and new photos appear to show her accusers having a great time backstage following some nude entertainment in Paris, about a month after the infamous banana incident in Amsterdam.

Lizzo's attorney, Marty Singer, tells TMZ ... newly surfaced photos show Lizzo's accusers "happily carousing" and "gleefully reveling" backstage with the performers from a topless cabaret show in Paris during Lizzo's tour.

Singer says the photos are from March 5, which is about a month after the infamous February visit to Bananenbar in Amsterdam. Remember, in their suit, Lizzo's accusers claim she pressured them to eat bananas from performers' vaginas.

Lizzo's accusers -- Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams, and Noelle Rodriguez -- also claim they were essentially forced to go to the Paris topless show, but her attorney says that contradicts the photos ... he says they're "happily cavorting backstage" with the topless dancers, who are the ones in the colorful wigs.

Singer says Lizzo's accusers chose to re-up with Lizzo a few weeks after the Paris show and return for the third leg of her tour.

What's more, one month after the Paris backstage visit, Lizzo accuser Arianna Davis gushed over Lizzo in an audition tape ... saying, "It's been so amazing and such a beautiful journey. I look up to her so much. I just want to follow in her footsteps, and I just want to share that with the Queen Lizzo herself."

Singer says after we first reported on Davis' audition tape "she tried to explain away her glowing comments about Lizzo by claiming the 'bulk' of her accusations were based on things that happened later" ... but he says, "That excuse is completely contradicted by the facts, including by these images."

The attorney for the accusers, Neama Rahmani, tells us of the smiling pic, "Of course, they wanted to keep their jobs. They had bills to pay just like everyone else but they finally had enough of the abuse. We stand by every claim in the lawsuit and look forward to trial."

Rahmani continues, "We’ve been hearing from other former employees sharing similar stories, and as seen in the Los Angeles Times article today about how Lizzo used intimate footage of her dancers without their approval in the 2022 HBO Max ‘Love Lizzo’ documentary, we’re seeing even more of a pattern of just how much Lizzo thinks of those who work for her. Clearly, not very much.”

Lizzo was spotted in public Monday for the first time since being sued, and she said she was doing just fine and working on new music.

Her attorney says he has other "substantial evidence" in addition to the photos and videos that "prove the glaring contradictions between what the plaintiffs claim in their bogus lawsuit and what is actually proven by the facts."

Cardi B is threatening to take legal action against a Twitter user who's been spreading claims that Offset cheated behind his wife's back!!!

On Monday evening, Cardi reacted viciously to a video posted Sunday by Twitter user @ayywalker -- who, by all accounts appears to be dedicated to Nicki Minaj.

Cardi scolded the fan for posting clearly fake images and AI audio of Offset, but also claimed to have the fan's father's personal information ... and planned on following through with legal action in order to make an example out of them!!!

The @ayywalker's post featured a purported photo of Offset, along with a fake voice memo attempting to set up a sneaky link with a woman behind Cardi’s back.

They included the caption, "Offset has allegedly cheated on Cardi B once again. How embarrassing” … effectively getting Cardi’s attention, who only found humor in the potential lawsuit she was filing.

There's precedent for Cardi filing this kind of lawsuit, especially because @ayywalker's defense for making the claim is "the streets" are saying it's true. Someone should tell them that's exactly how Tasha K got slapped with a $4 million judgment.

Halle Berry's long road to finalizing her divorce to Olivier Martinez is officially over … after the ex-couple hammered out a formal custody and child support arrangement that has the actress paying big bucks.

Here's the deal … back in 2015, Halle and Olivier split after 2 years of marriage. The exes have one child, 9-year-old Maceo. They had a prenup, but the case still dragged on for years because there were some unresolved issues on custody and child support.

Fast forward to August 2023 ... Legal docs were filed in L.A. County Superior Court, which officially tied up the remaining loose ends on these issues. According to the new court docs, Halle and Olivier agreed to joint legal and physical custody of Maceo.

The docs also say Maceo will attend individual and family counseling. Halle and her daughter, Nahla, (from her ex-boyfriend Gabriel Aubry), can sit in during the family sessions. But Halle’s current boyfriend, Van Hunt, is not allowed to participate.

Halle will have custody of Maceo Monday to Wednesday and Olivier will get him Wednesday to Friday, with some variations due to school closures. The pair will alternate custody of Maceo on the weekends.

As for child support, Halle has to pony up $8,000 a month to Olivier. She will also pay an additional 4.3 percent of all income she receives above $2 million.

It doesn’t stop there … Halle must also cover Maceo's private school tuition and 100 percent of his extracurricular activities, including soccer. She's also on the hook for Maceo's health insurance -- both medical and dental -- as well as any uninsured expenses.

Woody Johnson is really a players' owner -- the New York Jets honcho decided he wanted to have drip like his superstar athletes ... by copping a diamond chain for himself!!

TMZ Sports is told -- the NFL owner recently hit up Al The Jeweler of Labelle Jewelry in Totowa, NJ ... after he noticed the pieces made for Jets stars like Sauce Gardner, Mecole Hardman and Aaron Rodgers, and wanted to get in on the fun.

Woody revealed his own piece during a team meeting, as shown in the most recent episode of HBO's "Hard Knocks" ... and everyone erupted in approval -- clapping and cheering as he explained how he got it.

"I got the inspiration from you," Woody told the players.

Johnson went on to say he saw just how hard the team has been working during training camp ... saying it motivated not only the front office, but the fan base as well.

We're told the piece -- which says "Woody and the Jets" -- is made of 80 carats of emerald and round cut diamonds ... with a white gold setting.

On the back, it reads "Think Big August '23."

Of course, Al is responsible for the most lavish looks in the game -- working with superstars like Gardner, Stefon Diggs, Jarvis Landry and so many more.

But, Al tells us he's never worked with an NFL team owner before ... and it might be a first throughout the whole league.

California Pizza Kitchen co-founder Larry Flax has closed the deal on his estate in Beverly Hills ... and while the final sale price came in lower asking, he's still walking away with a ton of bread.

Our real estate sources tell us Larry's compound sold Wednesday for $34.4 million ... it's a markdown from his original $48.5 million asking price, but still impressive.

The nearly 3-acre property is in the same super exclusive neighborhood as the home Mark Wahlberg sold in February for $55 million, and this one is just as beautiful.

The estate comes with a 5-bedroom, 8.5-bathroom main house, plus a 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom guest house -- overall there's 14,239 square feet of living space, and the amenities are incredible.

Luxury is displayed right off the bat ... a motor court runs up to the French Chateau-styled mansion, and the foyer has a golden dome and a sweeping staircase.

The estate has a library with a marble fireplace and built-in bar, and there's a room just for silver, crystal and fine china.

In the gourmet chef's kitchen, there's a baking area, butler's pantry, wraparound granite island, commercial appliances and a walk-in refrigerator ... plenty to make a meal for a dining table that seats 20 people.

Oh, and there's a 1,800-bottle wine cellar that's visible from a separate fireside dining area.

The family room features floor-to-ceiling French glass doors, limestone-clad walls, a marble fireplace and a built-in bar ... with views opening out to the 70-foot swimming pool.

The grounds also feature a reflecting pond with marble statues of Daphne and Apollo -- it's a Greek thing -- plus a spa, a wading pool for kids and an outdoor kitchen with a built-in BBQ. Not to mention a rose garden and several fountains dotting the landscape.

It's like a game of "Clue" ... there's even a glass-enclosed conservatory, decked out with a custom glass chandelier and a painted ceiling.

We haven't even mentioned the tennis court, which has lights so folks can play tennis at night.

The primary suite upstairs has a sitting room with a fireplace, kitchenette, powder room and a terrace with another fireplace ... and it's just down the hall from a home theater with a velvet stage curtain.

Larry founded 'CPK' way back in 1985 and purchased this pizza palace in 1992.

Brielle Biermann is being hounded by American Express for allegedly not paying a five-figure credit card bill, and now AmEx is going after her in court.

According to new legal documents, obtained by TMZ, American Express claims Kim Zolciak's daughter failed to pay off a $12,870.25 balance.

The credit card company claims Brielle hasn't been forking over the monthly minimum payment on her Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card.

In the docs, AmEx says it's demanded payment from Brielle ... but she's failed to settle the bill ... and now they're going after her for the full balance, plus court costs.

The apple apparently doesn't fall far from the tree ... Brielle's mom is also being sued for an unpaid credit card bill at Target, just one factor in her mother's ongoing struggles.

Meanwhile, as we first reported ... Brielle's adopted father, Kroy Biermann, is being sued over an unpaid credit line from a casino trip to the Bahamas.

Calling it a comeback is an understatement, but Fyre Fest founder Billy McFarland is actually selling out tickets for a sequel to that infamous flop ... and he's telling us how he's pulling it off.

McFarland joined us Tuesday on "TMZ Live," revealing the first round of FYRE Festival II pre-sale tickets were scooped up quickly ... and, interestingly, Billy thinks all the buzz around his 2017 tropical failure is driving curiosity and interest around his second attempt.

He tells us why the "no publicity is bad publicity" model really works in his favor. BTW, folks who've already purchased tix, dropped $500 bucks without knowing the exact location or which artists will perform!!!

Billy also chats with us about how the hell he found backers for Fyre Festival II ... saying it wasn't until a Broadway production company supported a musical based on the first Fyre that financiers got interested in his return to live events.

You'll recall, Billy teased the new festival last October -- about 6 months after he served 4 years in prison for wire fraud related to the OG Fyre Fest disaster.

Months after the teaser, Billy reunited with Andy King -- the guy who famously revealed Billy asked him to give oral sex to a customs officer to get shipments of bottled of water -- and they sold grilled cheeses in NYC to raise money for Bahamas workers who still haven't been paid from Fyre.

Billy says he won't be doing as much at next year's festival, but he's at least secured one job -- cookin' up those infamous cheese sandwiches with Andy!

The split between Nia Long and Ime Udoka is getting nastier ... the actress is now asking for primary custody of the couple's child -- after she claims the NBA head coach has been failing to support the kid.

Long made the allegation in a court filing in Los Angeles last week ... while requesting a judge give her primary legal and physical custody of their 11-year-old son, Kez.

According to the docs, however, she did ask the judge to allow Udoka a reasonable opportunity to visit their kid to the extent "consistent with the child's best interest."

A ruling on the petition has not yet been handed down. Udoka has yet to respond.

As we reported, the couple broke up in late 2022 after 13 years together ... following allegations that Udoka had an affair with a team staffer while he was the Boston Celtics' coach.

Long had said at the time that the scandal was revealed that she was heartbroken ... adding that it was all "devastating" to her and her family.

Music executive Scooter Braun still has A-list clients like Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande under his belt, despite reports ... but we're told he's got his hands full -- because he's stepping into a larger role.

Sources familiar with what's happening behind the scenes tell TMZ ... all of Scooter's clients, including Justin and Ariana, are still under contract with his company, SB Projects.

However, we're told contract negotiations have been going on for several months as he shifts into his bigger role as CEO of HYBE America -- his multi-billion-dollar South Korean entertainment company that manages the likes of BTS.

Sources say folks spreading rumors about Bieber and Ariana are off ... Scooter's team at SB Projects is still handling both Justin and Ariana as they work through figuring out what the new structure will look like.

For those unaware, reports have been flying recently about the 2 superstars leaving SB, but it's been a bit of a gray area until now.

There was also word that Demi Lovato has stepped away from Scooter -- our sources confirm her departure, saying it was a mutual decision.

Maui resident and former TV host Peter O'Riordan lost his home, car and belongings in the deadly wildfire, and says President Biden's visit is doing little to raise hope for victims like himself.

Peter, a former TMZ staffer who went on to host an Irish TV show before moving to Lahaina, joined us on Tuesday on "TMZ Live" ... revealing the devastating details of what's happened to his family and countless others just like him.

He says he's lost everything in the blaze, and its aftermath is wreaking havoc on his children's lives ... as they've been uprooted from their home, and have school left to attend.

Peter says his crying children were told to grab what they could, and flee for their lives as the fire advanced -- and it's that kind of lasting trauma that's so negatively impacting all kids in the Lahaina area.

As a business owner who relies on tourism, Peter says folks on Maui are super worried about the future and their island's economy ... and they don't feel like the federal government is a reliable source of help.

POTUS was met with jeers, and even outright chants of "f***k you" and residents flipping the bird, during his Monday tour of the devastation.

Peter tells us the President's delayed visit -- coming 13 days after the fire -- already pissed off many residents, but he added that Biden made it worse when he said "no comment" to a question about the federal government's reaction.

With Peter's home and belongings reduced to a pile of ash, he's crowdfunding for his snorkel biz, Sea Maui, and he's reminding tourists that most of Maui is open for business.

While they desperately need tourism dollars, he's also asking visitors to be respectful of what locals are going through right now.

Peter's also working with the Maui Pono Foundation and Lahaina Restoration Foundation to help rebuild homes and businesses.

Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian have a lot to celebrate ... the couple just welcomed their second child together!!

The tennis superstar revealed the major news with a TikTok on Tuesday ... showing her get up from a table and leave the frame before returning with the little bundle of joy.

Alexis and Olympia look happy as can be -- with big sis adorably giving baby Adira River a kiss on the forehead.

The Reddit co-founder also posted about the newcomer ... saying, "I'm grateful to report our house is teaming with love: a happy & healthy newborn girl and happy & healthy mama."

"Feeling grateful. @serenawilliams you've now given me another incomparable gift — you're the GMOAT. Thanks to all the amazing medical staff who took care of my wife & our daughter 🙏 I'll never forget the moment I introduced @olympiaohanian to her baby sister."

Serena and Alexis shared they were having another daughter at a lavish gender reveal just a few weeks ago ... and now that Adira is here, the countdown is on to see her take the court with Olympia -- just like Mama and Aunt Venus!!

James Harden's bank account is 5 zeros lighter this morning ... the NBA slapped the perennial All-Star with a huge 100 grand fine for saying he wouldn't play for the Philadelphia 76ers, despite being under contract.

"The NBA announced today that Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden has been fined $100,000 by the NBA for public comments on August 14 and 17 indicating that he would not perform the services called for under his player contract unless traded to another team," the Association announced.

"The league’s investigation, which included an interview of Harden, confirmed that these comments referenced Harden’s belief that the 76ers would not accommodate his request to be traded."

Of course, it was just last week when the 2018 NBA MVP blasted the Sixers exec while at an Adidas event, saying, "Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of."

In case there was any doubt, James doubled down.

"Let me say that again. Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of.”

Once James returned to the States, he was asked whether the relationship with Morey and the team could be salvaged ... to which he said no.

Harden is set to be a free agent after this season ... but he's made it clear, despite being owed over $30 million, he won't play for the 76ers.

Xavien Howard says the woman who accused him of filming sex acts with her without her consent attempted to shake him down for a ton of cash before going public with her allegations.

The Miami Dolphins star made the claim in a motion to dismiss his accuser's lawsuit on Monday ... alleging the woman -- ID'ed only as Jane Doe -- sought "presumably millions of dollars" from him prior to filing her suit in Florida in the spring.

In the court filing, Howard also said the woman's suit should be thrown out immediately for a multitude of reasons -- including Doe's insistence on remaining anonymous.

As we previously reported, the woman filed the suit against Howard in May ... alleging he had not only videotaped sex with her without her knowing -- but he then distributed the footage to at least one other person.

In her suit, she said she found out about it all because a woman had sent her the clips after claiming Howard had messaged them in an effort "to make her mad because she didn't want to have sex with him."

The woman sued Howard for invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress -- and asked for damages.

In his motion Monday, however, Howard also argued that Doe didn't meet Florida legal standards for either of her claims.

"Her anonymous lawsuit is not compliant with the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure, wildly at odds with due process, and further creates the practical problem of one-sidedly prejudicing the public and potential jury pool," Howard's attorney, Brad Sohn, wrote in the docs.

Tori Spelling is out of the hospital where she's been getting treatment for several days ... but she had some bruises as she exited in a wheelchair.

The actress was spotted leaving an L.A. hospital Sunday, the same day she posted a photo, revealing to the public that she was there. Of course, the wheels are usually standard ops when leaving a hospital after 4 days ... but we're told she needed a bit of help getting out of the chair and into her SUV.

She also has some bruising on her face, but we still don't know what landed her in the hospital last Thursday.

As we reported, Tori posted a pic from inside the facility, showing an IV in her hand -- and while she didn't reveal why she was there ... she made it clear her kids have been supportive.

Tori said she was missing her children, while also being extremely grateful for how strong and brave they've been.

Of course, the mysterious health scare comes a couple of months after she and Dean McDermott called it quits after nearly 2 decades of marriage.