Taylor Swift Sued You'll Be Sorry 'Evermore' ... For Stealing Our Theme Park Name!!!

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Taylor Swift's new album is creating a major mix-up between folks looking for her tunes, and those looking to get their goblin on ... at least according to a fantasy park.

The owners of the Utah-based park called Evermore are suing Tay-Tay for trademark infringement -- claiming they own the rights to the name “evermore,” and saying Swift trampled said rights when she started selling merch with that branding to promote her album by the same name.

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According to the docs, obtained by TMZ, the Evermore park camp claims it's poured many millions of dollars into building the facility, branding and selling its own gear since the park was conceived in 2014 and, of course, when it opened in 2018.

The park owners say they've got 'Evermore' trademarked for a number of different purposes -- including clothing and other merchandise they sell ... all of which they claim was diluted once TS dropped 'evermore' in late 2020.

Evermore park brass alleges since the record came out, their search results are way down in Google, and that it's legitimately causing confusion in the marketplace ... which they say is hurting their bottom line.

They also allege Tay's team was aware that the trademark for 'Evermore' was snatched up, but proceeded with their own campaign anyway ... figuring they'd drown out the park.

Taylor's team calls the suit "frivolous" ... going on to claim the CEO of Evermore park owes millions in construction fees, adding the purpose of the claim is obvious, in their minds. Meanwhile, Evermore park says it had already sent a cease and desist last year -- but now, it's seeking millions in damages.

Drake Champagne Partner Sues Retailer ... Claims Bigotry Against Rapper

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A champagne company in which Drake's heavily invested claims it got screwed by a distributor that's treating its luxury product like cheap booze ... and it thinks "racial bigotry" is involved.

Mod Selection is suing the retail store Total Wine & More for allegedly conspiring with the distributor Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits to destroy the brand ... and claims the distributor was downright racist when it came to marketing the champagne.

According to docs, Mod entered an agreement with Southern in 2018, but claims the distributor failed to market the high-end champagne the right way ... and it all comes back to the famous rapper.

Drake -- who's not suing or being sued, but is described in the suit as an investor and brand ambassador for Mod Selection -- was holding a bottle of it on stage in 2019 when he accepted his Billboard Music Award for Best Male Artist.

In the docs ... Mod says Drake permitted the company to use his name, image and likeness to promote and market their champagne, but Mod claims Southern Glazer damaged that relationship when it "repeatedly subjected [Drake] to browbeating and dismissive treatment."

Mod claims Drake considered this treatment to be motivated by "racial bigotry" ... and says he was also angry Southern marketed Mod as a "black" or "rapper's" champagne ... suggesting racial insensitivity. Attorneys for Mod tell us they have texts from Drake calling out Southern.

All of this led to Southern terminating its deal with Mod in 2019, but Mod alleges the distributor twisted the knife one last time ... by dumping its remaining Mod supply at Total Wine & More locations for as low as $49-149 per bottle -- when it should be selling for $300-400.

Drake's high-powered attorney, Larry Stein, says he doesn't know if Drake sent angry texts to Mod Selection -- but says he's been involved in all the negotiations and had no idea Mod was even filing this lawsuit.

He adds, Drake is not involved with the suit, and at no point did Drake or his team raise any issue of racial bias.

Ja Rule Put It On Me, Harvard!!! Check Out My Biz Certificate

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Dave Chappelle once famously asked, "Where is Ja?!?" -- and for now, the answer is ... on the graduating side of Harvard's online program for biz wizzes.

The rapper and businessman posted the results for his enrollment at Harvard Business School Online Certificate Program ... and it says clear as day -- Jeffrey Atkins (Ja's government name) has successfully completed it.

Looks like there's a focus he was specializing in too ... Entrepreneurship Skills. The description reads ... "This certificate program introduces a framework -- People, Opportunity, Context, Deal -- to evaluate opportunities, manage start-ups, and finance ventures."

Ja Rule was humblebragging about the accomplishment, tweeting ... "I ain’t the sharpest knife in the drawer buuuuut..." OK, we see ya, JR! And, we gotta say, the timing's kinda perfect.

Remember, Ja's got a few things in the oven on the tech and start-up front -- including a new app he's launching called Iconn, which facilitates celeb bookings. He gave us the rundown on it not too long ago, and even invited former Prez Trump to join.

No Proud Boys -- or Proud Boy hate-mongering -- is allowed though, as he made clear in our interview.

And, of course, we know Ja's big into finance -- as he recently weighed in on Robinhood's controversial limiting of trades amid the crazy surge of GameStop dealing. So yeah, things are a-cookin' for him ... and even more so now that he's got a Hahvahd education.

Gene Simmons I Wanna Pack and Move All Night!!! Unloads H'Wood Hills Pad

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Gene Simmons has officially kissed his Hollywood Hills crib goodbye ... selling it for a cool $2 million.

The rock star sold his 3-story pad that sits in Laurel Canyon for just a tad under the $2.2 million asking price. The house, and its views, are a beaut ... with 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and iconic 180-degree views of downtown L.A., the Hollywood Sign, Griffith Park Observatory, Beverly Hills and the Pacific Ocean.

As we reported ... the house offers a spacious deck and tons of living space ... with 2,345 square feet that's perfectly suited for any rock star.

As for his other crib ... the KISS singer and bassist's Beverly Hills estate remains on the market, but the price on that one is a tad higher ... at $22 million. That one's way more house!

Lisa Young and Kennon Earl of Compass held the listing.

Jeff Bezos Passes CEO Baton ... Will Remain Chief of Board

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Jeff Bezos is letting go of the Amazon reins, day-to-day at least, and while he's not vanishing altogether from the office, it's clear his focus elsewhere.

Bezos' departure as CEO was announced Tuesday during an earnings call, and it was revealed AWS CEO Andy Jassy would take over as the main man of the e-comm behemoth sometime in the third quarter of 2021.

As for why he's stepping down ... Bezos wrote a letter to employees, saying running Amazon at large is exhausting and all-encompassing -- and he's got other projects he wants to go all-in on. He'll still have a hand on the wheel though, as executive chair of Amazon's board going forward.

JB added in his letter, "As Exec Chair I will stay engaged in important Amazon initiatives but also have the time and energy I need to focus on the Day 1 Fund, the Bezos Earth Fund, Blue Origin, The Washington Post, and my other passions. I’ve never had more energy, and this isn’t about retiring. I’m super passionate about the impact I think these organizations can have."

For reference, the Day 1 Fund is JB's homelessness project; the Earth Fund is his climate change initiative and Blue Origin is his aerospace company. So yeah, Dude's still got a lot on his plate.

As for how this will affect the company's projected growth, the numbers seem to show stakeholders have faith. Amazon shares were trading higher in after-hours Tuesday. That shows how solid Amazon is -- Bezos has been in the captain's chair since '94.

Unclear if Jeff's stock options with the company will be affected -- which could change his wealthiest man on the planet status. He and Elon Musk have been swapping the 1 and 2 spots all year.

Something tells us he'll be just fine.

Jared Isaacman Elon's Pilot for 1st Civilian Spaceflight ... Billionaire Commander!!!

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Elon Musk's handing over the keys to a SpaceX rocket to Jared Isaacman -- a billionaire himself, and pilot who's preparing to lead the first-ever, all-civilian spaceflight.

Jared joined us on "TMZ Live" Tuesday and told us all about the historic mission set to blast off this October, and what he's looking forward to most once he and 3 other civilians get into orbit.

Elon announced Monday Jared will be Commander for the trip, and he's already started some hands-on training for the SpaceX Dragon capsule. Sounds like he'll be ready to override the automatic pilot, if necessary, but don't worry ... he's an accomplished pilot with a flying speed record to his name.

It's pretty cool ... Jared's bringing 3 other civilians to space for a multi-day trip around the Earth, and he tells us how 2 lucky people can snag spots on the capsule by donating to a great cause.

For now, Isaacman Rocketman's trying to stay grounded and take the mission preparations day by day -- but you can tell he's champing at the bit to get some serious pilot bragging rights.

Also obvious ... Elon must really trust him.

Dolly Parton Turned Down Medal of Freedom Twice ... Doesn't Wanna Get Political

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OFFER'S ON THE TABLE

Dolly Parton's had to reject the Presidential Medal of Freedom twice, but she's gonna get a third chance ... problem is, she's trying to stay outta politics.

The legendary country singer revealed Tuesday former President Trump tried to bestow her with the nation's highest civilian honor, but she had good reasons to turn it down.

Dolly told "Today" hosts Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager, "I couldn't accept it because my husband was ill and then they asked me again about it and I wouldn't travel because of the COVID."

Now, she also confirmed President Biden's administration has already reached out to her about the award -- but, she says that presents a challenge too. She said, "Now, I feel like if I take it, I'll be doing politics, so I'm not sure."

Stephen Colbert jokingly took Barack Obama to task for his administration's oversight on awarding Dolly with the prestigious award. Obama had joked he would tell his buddy Biden to fix his error ... and it seems Biden's camp got the message.

For her part ... Dolly says she's not even sure she deserves the award -- but, of course, she does. Her music would be enough, but then there's her amazing philanthropy ... including her Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, which has donated more than 100 million kids books, and her Dollywood Foundation's support of families in need.

Dolly also donated $1 million to fund COVID-19 research at Vanderbilt University, which helped develop the Moderna vaccine.

Screw politics ... get your medal, Dolly!!!

Kobe Bryant Mamba's Old '63 Impala Sells at Auction ... Cracks $220,000!

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UPDATE

6:13 AM PT -- February 2 -- The final gavel has banged ... and Kobe's old ride has sold for $221,400!!!!

UPDATE

In the end, there were 9 serious bids -- and it seems like the deepest pocket got the victory. So far, the identity of the buyer has not been revealed.

UPDATE

Congrats!

The tricked out 1963 Chevy Impala once owned by Kobe Bryant is hitting the auction block -- and we're told it's expected to sell in the $250,000 range!

The car has a pretty famous and well-documented history. Kobe's wife Vanessa went to West Coast Customs (the "Pimp My Ride" people) back in 2006 and had them customize something special for Mamba ... so she could gift it to Kobe on Christmas morning.

The final product was pretty amazing -- the guys at WCC rebuilt the engine, installed hydraulics, gave it a custom paint job. There was also some major work done on the sound system.

And check this out ... the interior got some major work as well, as described by the Barrett-Jackson auction house.

"The interior was beautifully re-worked, with all new white leather upholstery studded with genuine Swarovsky crystals and offset by royal blue piping and carpets."

Damn.

Kobe got rid of the car around 2013 -- and it was later auctioned off by Barrett-Jackson in 2014.

Now, the car is changing hands once again -- with the folks at Goldin Auctions running the sale. The auction is live and there's already a $100,000 bid -- but Ken Goldin tells us he expects the car to sell in the neighborhood of $250k.

The seller's identity has not been revealed. All we know is the vehicle is located in Indiana and the winning bidder is responsible for picking the car up after the sale ends next Saturday.

Good luck!

Originally published -- 5:00 PM PT

Mariah Carey Sued by Estranged Sister ... Over Abuse Claims in Book

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Mariah Carey's estranged sister says she's suffered emotional distress from the singer's allegations about her ... so she's suing her for at least $1.25 million.

Alison Carey claims in new legal docs obtained by TMZ ... Mariah presented no evidence to back up the accusations of abuse in her 2020 book, "The Meaning of Mariah."

According to the suit ... Mariah's book alleges Alison "gave her Valium, tried to pimp her out and threw a cup of boiling hot tea on her causing third-degree burns" when Mariah was 12. Alison disputes these allegations and claims Mariah hasn't provided any evidence to support them.

Alison goes on to accuse Mariah of making these outrageous claims despite knowing Alison suffers from trauma herself from the alleged abuse she suffered as a child at the hands of their mother.

Alison claims their mother subjected her to satanic rituals and sexual activity at a young age ... allegations she previously made when she sued their mother for sexual abuse last year.

Mariah's estranged sister also says she suffered a traumatic brain injury during a 2015 home invasion, and suggests Mariah ignored her vulnerabilities and "used her status as a public figure to attack her penniless sister" to promote her book.

Alison's suing for infliction of emotional distress. We reached out to Mariah ... no word back so far.

Bills Mafia Donates To Dion Dawkins' Charity ... After OL Defended Josh Allen

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You do right by Bills Mafia, they do right by you ... just ask left tackle Dion Dawkins, whose charity has been flooded with donations after coming to his QB Josh Allen's defense in the AFC Championship Game!!

You know the play -- K.C. Chiefs defensive end Alex Okafor sacked Allen late in the conference title game last month ... which led to the QB throwing the ball in his face out of frustration.

Okafor then taunted Allen by standing over his body after the play. That clearly didn't sit well with the Bills, 'cause Dawkins and teammate Jon Feliciano rushed over to kickstart a shoving match.

Dawkins and Feliciano were both hit with $10k fines for the pushing attack ... while Allen was hit with a $15k penalty for the throw.

Naturally, Bills Mafia -- which will stop at nothing to find a reason to pull out their wallets for good causes -- decided to band together to thank Dawkins for having their QB's back ... with donations piling into the O-lineman's Dion's Dreamers charity.

So far, WVIB reports the crazed fanatics have donated $3k to the charity, which mentors young men and women in underserved communities.

But, it's not the dollar amount that matters, it's the fact these fans are ALWAYS looking to make an impact -- after all, Bills fans donated over $1 million to John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital in Buffalo after Allen's grandmother passed away.

Lamar Jackson's charity also received over $360k from the Mafia after he suffered a concussion in their playoff game on Jan. 16.

Keep it up, Bills Mafia!!

Kevin Hart I Need More Muscle Under the Hood!!! Gets Powerful New Ride

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Kevin Hart isn't letting that horrific 2019 car wreck hold him back from one of his passions ... he's about to add another souped-up whip to his collection, and it's a BEAST.

Sources familiar with the deal tell us Kevin recently bought a new muscle car from SpeedKore in Wisconsin, dropping several hundred thousand dollars on an old Dodge Charger that's been completely revamped.

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SpeedKore calls the car the "Hellraiser" and it looks pretty sick, under the hood alone.

We're told Kevin's getting it delivered next week, so keep an eye out for the full unveiling. Unclear how much horsepower this one will be packing, but we know Kevin likes 'em fast.

As we first reported, Kevin was in the passenger seat, and a friend was driving, when they crashed in the Malibu Hills. Kevin's 1970 Barracuda was totally mangled. Ditto for his back ... KH needed spinal surgery, but fully recovered after a lengthy rehab.

SpeedKore had also tricked out that Barracuda, but Kev's going back to that well.

Terry Crews' Teen Son 'Side Hustle' Pays Big Time $15k Per Episode!!!

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Terry Crews' son, Isaiah doesn't need a side hustle ... because he's getting paid a small fortune for his role in "Side Hustle."

The 15-year-old actor is off to a strong start in the family business after landing a recurring role on the Nickelodeon series, "Side Hustle." According to his minors contract, obtained by TMZ, Isaiah is banking $15k per episode in the first season alone.

Looks like season one has 10 episodes ... which should net him a cool $150k. And, get this ... he'll see significant increases per episode if the show's a hit and gets picked up for new seasons ... he could earn nearly $20k an episode by season 6.

This isn't Isaiah's first role in Hollywood. He appeared as himself in his pops' short-lived reality show "The Family Crews" a little over 10 years ago. He's probably used to the cameras ... what with his father being a huge Hollywood star and all.

Lemonade stands ... gone the way of the dinosaurs for kids these days looking to earn big bucks.

Wall Street Charging Bull Muzzled w/ a Tarp Fear of Attacks???

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Reddit users messed with the bull, now it gets ... the tarp. That's how the saying goes, right?

We kid, but in all seriousness ... check out what Wall Street's Charging Bull looks like right now in Manhattan's Financial District -- the bronze sculpture is completely covered in a blue tarp, from horns to hooves.

There's no official explanation out as to why this happened, but the reason seems to be obvious -- especially considering what's been happening with the stock market this past week.

Of course, we're talking about the frenzy with Gamestop, AMC and other stocks that were restricted on exchanges like Robinhood ... which was seen as a corrupt move by normies who were making a bundle against hedge fund managers trying to bet on shorts.

There was widespread outcry online, with folks accusing Robinhood of being in cahoots with these hedge fund runners -- something Robinhood denied, BTW. The chatter wasn't just digital though ... it literally trickled into the streets with protests over the weekend.

People gathered at the Bull with signage that read "TAX WALL ST TRADES" among other messages. There are even photos circulating that show the Bull getting vandalized with blue tape, with phrases like "#HoldTheLine" and "WBC" etched in in permanent marker.

Basically, there's been a lot of activity there these past few days -- and it looks like the authorities have responded in kind ... both with man power and now ... with plastic.

Better safe than sorry, we suppose -- but if they really wanna protect the ol' Bull there ... they're gonna need a bigger boat.

Robinhood Banner High Above San Fran Headquarters ... 'SUCK MY NUTS'

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Some small investors who have been blocked from making money on the Robinhood platform apparently still have enough money to hire a pilot to send a message -- "Suck My Nuts Robinhood."

The banner flew in the skies above San Francisco ... where the Robinhood headquarters are located.

The message, which is dripping in anger, is an above-earth response to the company's decision to restrict the trading of 50 stocks, including GameStop, AMC and BlackBerry.

Residents of San Fran saw the banner Friday afternoon, much to the delight of many ... especially those who now can't play the same game people on Wall Street have been playing for decades. Remember the late '90s ... when tech stocks were skyrocketing WAY beyond their worth?

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BANNER BURN

The free-trade app got hit with a class-action lawsuit ... one day after Robinhood barred retail investors from continuing to buy stock in companies on the verge of collapse. It became an epic battle between Redditers and hedge fund managers.

Senator Warren and others are outraged Wall Street bigwigs are grousing about the little guy finally making a killing at their expense. In other words, turnabout is -- or should be -- fair play.

Coronavirus Smart & Final Brings Back COVID Sick Pay ... After Employee Backlash

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8:40 AM PT -- 2/1 -- Smart & Final just backpedaled on scrapping COVID sick pay, the grocery chain is reviving the program after dealing employees what they considered was a low blow.

UPDATE

The grocer's president and CEO, David Hirz, blasted out an email to employees Monday announcing the return of extra paid sick days after negative "feedback" from workers.

UPDATE

Smart & Final also says it will give employees two hours of paid time off whenever they are fully vaccinated.

Smart & Final's leaving workers twisting in the wind as the pandemic rages on ... the grocery chain put the kibosh on COVID sick pay before most employees could even get the vaccine.

Corporate blasted out an email to employees Thursday informing them supplemental sick days for COVID-related issues were no more.

We're told the feeling among employees is that it's a low blow after busting their butts for the company and risking exposure to the virus for 10 months and counting.

Like many other essential businesses, Smart & Final tacked on extra paid sick days early on in the pandemic, but now employees are being told they've gotta use regular sick days or even vacation days if they have to miss work because of COVID.

Problem is ... the pandemic is far from over, and we're told many employees are upset with the change because they still aren't eligible for vaccination and they're in the dark about how to even go about getting the shots once it's their turn in line.

We reached out to Smart & Final ... so far, no word back.

Originally Published -- 1/31 1:00 AM PT

Ja Rule Trump's Welcome on My New App ... Just Not the Proud Boys!!!

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Donald Trump's banned from Twitter, but he can still have a voice on Ja Rule's new app ... but Ja says he has a few ground rules, and the Proud Boys aren't welcome.

The rapper tells TMZ ... the ex-Prez can start a page on his celebrity booking app, Iconn, and start fresh with a clean slate ... which is more than almost every digital platform's willing to give him these days.

As you know ... Trump's permanently banned from Twitter because of the Capitol riots he's accused of inciting, and a bunch of other apps are keeping the former President in social media timeout.

Ja says Trump's welcome on Iconn, as long as he doesn't use it to rile up his base and do "crazy things." Ja says any funny business from Trump, like bringing in the Proud Boys, will get him booted.

Stay tuned to see if 45 joins -- of course, it's a long shot -- but as we've seen, unfortunately, almost anything goes with Trump. So, Ja's making a pretty strong pitch here.