Ahmaud Arbery Mom Settles 2:23 Foundation Feud
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Ahmaud Arbery's mother is squashing her beef with an organization that's been raising funds in her son's name, but without her permission -- they've settled the dispute without going to court.
Wanda Cooper's lawyer, J. Carter, tells TMZ ... Ahmaud's mom settled her trademark dispute with the 2:23 Foundation last week, avoiding the hassle of a lawsuit.
As we first told you, Wanda claimed the 2:23 Foundation was using her son's name and likeness ... hauling in massive amounts of cash donations even though she hadn't given her blessing.
We're told the settlement terms call for the 2:23 Foundation to phase out their usage of the marks, for the org to be dissolved and for $345,306 in donations to be transferred to Wanda's newly established foundation, The Ahmaud Arbery Foundation.
Wanda's new foundation, we're told, is officially launching May 8 to coincide with Ahmaud's birthday.
It sounds like it will be a big event ... we're told Rep. Maxine Waters, Angela Rye, Roddy Rich, Young Thug and former NBA star Tracy McGrady have all expressed interest in speaking or performing at the foundation's launch.
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Tom Hanks 'Forrest Gump' Ping Pong Paddle Sells At Auction ... Fetches $25,600!!!
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The paddle Tom Hanks used to help repair U.S. relations with China in "Forrest Gump" just sold at auction ... and it fetched a whopping $25,600!!!
The ping pong bat the famous actor grabbed for his role as Gump hit the block a few weeks ago ... and the gavel just dropped for the final sale on Thursday morning, TMZ Sports has confirmed.
The price is far more than the experts at Julien's Auctions estimated it'd go for ... initially, they believed it'd sell in the $1,000-$2,000 range.
But, it ain't hard to see why it exceeded expectations ... the piece is serious movie history!!
You'll recall ... Gump used the paddle after the Army sent him to China -- with Gump famously saying, "Somebody said world peace was in our hands. But, all I did was play ping pong!"
It's unclear if this was one of several paddles Hanks used for filming, or if it's a true one-of-one ... but the auction house says it still has its black-gripped handle and red and black striking surfaces in-tact.
In total, auction experts say it measures in at 10 inches long and 6 inches wide.
The buyer's identity has yet to be revealed.
Stupid may be as stupid does ... but this feels like a smart purchase in our book!!
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Tony Hawk Gives Away Blood-Stained Skateboard ... Cool Or Gross?!?
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Most people would be grossed out at the thought of getting a used, blood-stained skateboard -- but what if the board was stained with the blood of the greatest skater who ever lived?!
Now, it seems pretty rad, right?!
That's what happened with Tony Hawk this week -- when the skate god offered up one of his old boards as a prize in a social media "leave a comment" contest.
Here's the backstory ... the board had struck Hawk in the shin at one point, causing Tony to drop blood onto the grip tape, staining it forever.
Most collectors will tell you ... a bloodstain on an authentic, used item is actually GREAT for collectibility -- and fans joined the contest like crazy looking to win the piece.
Hawk eventually picked a winner -- the commenter had used lyrics from a The Cure song, which Hawk apparently loved -- and it doesn't seem the fan had any issue with Tony's DNA being on the set of wheels.
Some advice to the winner ... DON'T CLEAN THE BOARD!
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Sterling Brown Assault Extended Police Video ... Shows NBAer Completely Covered In Blood
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NBA player Sterling Brown was COMPLETELY covered in blood when cops found him after he was attacked at a Miami strip club ... new police video obtained by TMZ Sports shows.
In the footage from the scene, which was captured on an officer's body cam in the early morning hours of April 19, you can see Brown was constantly pressing his shirt hard against a gnarly wound on his head to try to stop the bleeding.
Video shows Brown -- who just minutes prior had been reportedly hit in the head with a liquor bottle -- was clearly annoyed with the situation ... consistently being short with cops and brushing off officers who tried to ask him questions about the incident.
Brown repeatedly asked first responders for an ambulance ... and when he got close to one of the officer's cameras, you can see blood was oozing so heavily from his head, it gushed all the way down to the bottom of his stomach.
Eventually, medical personnel arrived ... but things clearly didn't go smoothly as they tried to tend to the Houston Rockets guard.
Brown's teammate, Kevin Porter Jr., had made his way to the scene ... and for some reason, he became argumentative with cops in the area.
Police redacted the audio -- they said in a document it's currently being reviewed as part of an open internal investigation -- but it's obvious the two NBA players were very upset.
You can see in the clip, Porter Jr. was animated ... waving his arms and making gestures toward one of the officers.
Eventually, things calmed down enough for medical personnel to bandage up Brown ... and he was ultimately stitched up at a local hospital.
The NBA said Wednesday it's completed its investigation into the incident ... and hit Porter Jr. with a $50,000 fine for violating the league's Health and Safety Protocols, which prohibits players from attending "indoor social gatherings of 15 or more people or entering bars, lounges, clubs or similar establishments."
What's interesting -- despite visiting the club with KPJ, Brown is NOT expected to receive a fine, according to Marc Stein.
The report adds the league's investigation into the incident is officially closed unless further information surfaces that would require the probe to be re-opened.
Brown remains sidelined as he recovers from the incident ... and his timetable for return has not been determined.
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Mike Tyson I'm Fighting Lennox Lewis ... September, Baby!!!
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Evander is out, LENNOX IS IN!!
Mike Tyson tells TMZ Sports ... his next boxing opponent is all lined up and it's a rematch with former heavyweight champ Lennox Lewis!!
"I'm gonna fight Lennox Lewis," Tyson told us Tuesday night on the way out of Catch in L.A. ... "September."
YES!!!
Mike is 54 years old. Lennox is 55.
Remember, Tyson was in talks to rematch Evander Holyfield on May 29 in Miami but the deal fell apart in March because the two sides couldn't agree on money.
So, Tyson's camp continued the search for a big-name opponent -- and according to Mike, Lennox is in!
The two have fought before -- Lewis famously KO'd Tyson in the 8th round when they clashed in June 2002.
In the buildup to the fight, Tyson making some wild threats ... famously saying he wanted to "eat" Lennox's children!
We spoke with Lennox back in February about the possibility of fighting Tyson and he told us he was open to it ... but only "if the public wanted it."
FEBRUARY 2021
Well, clearly enough people made it clear they'd love to see Lennox get back in the ring!
FYI, Lewis is one of the greatest heavyweight fighters ever -- he finished his pro career in 2003 with a 41-2-1 record ... defeating legends like Vitali Klitschko, Evander Holyfield, Shannon Briggs, Ray Mercer, Frank Bruno and, of course, Mike Tyson.
Tyson was 50-6 in his pro career -- but looked AWESOME in his exhibition fight against Roy Jones Jr. in Nov. 2020.
NOVEMBER 2020
CAN'T WAIT!!
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Antonio Brown Re-Signs With Buccaneers ... Days After Settling Sexual Assault Case
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Antonio Brown is officially returning to Tampa ... the star receiver re-signed with the Buccaneers on Wednesday morning, just 1 week after settling his sexual assault case.
Brown was a key part of Tampa's Super Bowl-winning team in 2020 -- he caught a TD in the title game against the Chiefs -- and he had been campaigning for a 2021 return.
And, after AB struck a settlement last week with the woman who had accused him of a 2018 rape, the Bucs clearly felt comfortable bringing the 32-year-old back.
The deal is a one-year contract worth up to $6.25 million, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported. The agreement also includes a $2 million signing bonus, Pelissero added.
Brown -- who released a joint statement with his accuser, Britney Taylor, last week saying "Their dispute is resolved and they wish each other great continued success" -- played in 8 games for the Bucs last season.
The 7-time Pro Bowler caught 45 passes for 483 yards and 4 TDs ... and his quarterback, Tom Brady, made it no secret the wideout was one of his favorite targets.
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Omni Hoverboards Average Joe$ Can Buy, Fly New Craft All By Summer's End!!!
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Marty McFly may be a fictional character with a prop that serves as a cool hoverboard but soon your average (wealthy) Joe may have the chance to actually own one ... 'cause they're ready to hit the market this summer.
Alexandru Duru and Philippe Maalouf, co-founders of Omni Hoverboards, tell TMZ ... their company is very close to bringing a new hoverboard model to market.
This man is living in 2030! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/fgXLCEPldS
— Buitengebieden (@BuitengebiedenB) April 24, 2021 @BuitengebiedenB
That means ... the public will soon be able to buy a limited supply that will be made available summer or late 2021. But, hoverboard riders will have to plunk down a small fortune for the craft. We are told pricing is still a work in progress, but the 10-propellor model is expected to fetch around $36k.
We're told Omni wants to eventually sell an 8-propellor model that could retail for around $27k.
Hoverboards are all the rage right now. As we reported ... some dude was seen zipping through the streets over the weekend. And, for the record, that hoverboard does NOT belong to Omni. But, it sure created tons of buzz that the technology's there to make Michael J. Fox's dream a reality.
Truth is ... Omni's past models and most hoverboard competitors last about 1 to 3 minutes in the air, which is why most hoverboard clips on social media are short. The new model could stay airborne for 30 minutes.
Omni has been at it for some time now trying to get its hoverboards off the ground. In 2015, its mark-1 prototype earned a Guinness record by traveling a total distance of 905 feet.
Omni's hoverboard also delivered the game ball at the Portuguese Cup Final back in 2017. Pretty cool visual, for sure ... but the Omni founders do warn caution that while it's cool to see a hoverboard zip through the streets ... it's safer to hover over water.
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Moneybagg Yo New Album, New Show Rates ... Here's What I Wanna Buy!!!
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Sounds like Moneybagg Yo's new line for any promoters looking to book him for live gigs is, basically ... "New album, who dis?" -- and he says they better be ready to spend top dollar!!!
We ran into the red hot rapper Tuesday at LAX, where we congratulated him on his new album, "A Gangsta's Pain" -- which is getting tons of praise, and also jacking up his rate for shows. Moneybagg confirms it's a cool $200k to book him now.
That's a huge leap from where he was just a year ago ... check out what MBY says he used to charge not too long ago. Not to get all math-y on ya -- but it's an 80% increase!
Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.
You can see Moneybagg's crowds have gotten exponentially bigger over the past year or so. Not just that, but he's starting to gain some ground with new, broader audiences ... due, in part, to appearances on the 'Tonight Show' and elsewhere.
Clearly, things are going well for him -- and it also sounds like he's being smart with his money ... telling us he definitely does some spending, but throws some in the bank as well.
Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.
Since he likes to flaunt a bit, we had to ask ... as his stacks continue to pile up, what's the big-ticket item he's eyeing???
His answer might surprise you a bit -- seems like he might wanna dip his toe into real estate, but on a larger scale than just one new crib.
Do we hear ... Landlord Yo???
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NRA Honcho Wayne LaPierre Elephant Hunt Vid of Brutal 'Sport' ... And His Shoddy Aim
This is gonna be stomach-churning for some ... video of NRA exec Wayne LaPierre and his wife hunting elephants in Africa, and his lack of marksmanship at crunch time made the brutal event even more inhumane.
The disturbing footage shows the LaPierres in Botswana during a 2013 trip, and as they trek through the bush with guides and a couple of friends, they find what they came to kill -- an adult elephant grazing nearby.
The New Yorker and The Trace obtained this video of Wayne taking aim at the animal and taking it down with a single rifle shot -- but one of the guides said the bull wasn't dead, and instructed Wayne on where to aim for the kill shot. The National Rifle Association's Executive VP took 3 more shots -- from about 20 feet away -- but couldn't put the poor elephant out of its misery.
The guide finally asked someone else in the group to make the shot.
Later that day, it was Wayne's wife, Susan's turn, and she killed an even bigger elephant from closer range ... as it seemed to be staring right at her. It's hard to see any "sport" in what happens in this video.
According to the New Yorker, the video was supposed to be used for a TV show called "Under Wild Skies," but never saw the light of day ... due to the NRA's concerns about a PR blowback. Both Wayne and his wife celebrated with smiles, hugs and high fives after their kills. Susan is seen cutting off the elephant's tail and shouting, "Victory!"
BTW, the hunt was totally legal -- Botswana auctions off 100+ elephant hunting licenses each year which typically cost tens of thousands of dollars. The 2020 hunting season was canceled because of the pandemic. Sadly, the country reportedly plans to issue nearly 300 licenses this year to make good with last year's hunters.
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Jon Taffer THE ROARING 20s ARE COMING TO SIN CITY ... And Buffets are Coming Back Too!!!
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Jon Taffer says things are looking up after the pandemic decimated Vegas ... but he's not focusing on the world-famous strip, he says it's all about helping the little guys.
The "Bar Rescue" star joined us Tuesday on "TMZ Live" and told us why the smaller joints catering to Sin City locals need his help, and why business that survived coronavirus closures and restrictions could soon cash in big time.
Jon says the upcoming season of "Bar Rescue" is all about Vegas, because the City had one of the country's highest unemployment rates during the height of the pandemic ... with the hospitality industry taking the brunt.
The way Jon sees it ... major hotels and businesses on the strip will be just fine, but the bars targeting locals off the strip are in need of rescuing, and he's ready to get to work.
Lots of folks think of buffets when they think of Vegas, and Jon says those are coming back to life too ... with vaccines playing a key role.
You can see Jon's full interview Tuesday on "TMZ Live" (check local listings) -- he's hoping this summer provides a repeat of the roaring 20s.
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Britney Spears' Parents Jamie's Lawyers Blast Lynne ... You're Making Matters Worse!!!
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Britney Spears' father, Jamie, is going after her mother, Lynne, for objecting to the legal fees linked to the singer's conservatorship ... claiming Lynne has no idea what she's talking about and is not looking out for their daughter's best interests.
Jamie's attorneys at Holland & Knight LLP filed new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, calling out Lynne for "raising objections to fees related to matters that she has no knowledge of."
This is in response to Lynne filing legal docs last week objecting to 4 months of fees totaling $890k and requesting about a quarter of that be returned to Britney's estate. Lynne alleged the law firm was doing unnecessary and improper work as part of a "national media tour" to combat negative coverage.
But, Jamie's lawyers are clapping back, saying that their fees are legit and she's causing undue delay and expense while "stirring up more unnecessary media attention.
Holland and Knight adds ... "Lynne Spears is the one who exploited her daughter’s pain and trauma for personal profit by publishing a book about [Britney]," referring to her 2008 book, "Through the Storm."
Jamie's lawyers go on to accuse Lynne of making misleading and "seriously flawed objections" to H&K's fees, specifically her gripe about media-related matters.
H&K says Britney is a world-famous entertainer and adds, "this Conservatorship has always been, and continues to be, the subject of increasingly intense media scrutiny both in traditional news media as well as on social media and most recently documentary films." It claims its media-related work is necessary and litigation-based.
Jamie's lawyers are asking the court to reject Lynne's claim.
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Conor McGregor Makes Surprise $500k Donation After Charity Spat With Dustin Poirier
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Conor McGregor is putting $500k to a good cause after all ... with the UFC superstar making a surprise donation to help kids in south Louisiana this week.
Remember, Dustin Poirier blasted McGregor earlier this month ... saying Conor never made a sizeable donation to Dustin's "The Good Fight Foundation" as promised back in October 2020.
The 2 stars publicly railed each other ... with Conor accusing Poirier of running a shady operation ... and Dustin claiming McGregor's camp was ducking his calls about the matter. Poirier later apologized for making the situation public.
1-1 July 10th we will settle the score! Excited for the Trilogy with @TheNotoriousMMA but wanted to address this first. pic.twitter.com/03GaPPSfeH
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) April 14, 2021 @DustinPoirier
Now, it appears McGregor is still looking to help out ... by shelling out half a million dollars to the Boys & Girls Club of Acadiana, which is located in Poirier's hometown of Lafayette, Louisiana.
It's worth noting -- Dustin's foundation has worked with this B&GC location in the past. We're told that despite all the drama, Conor still wanted to help out ... resulting in the $500k donation.
The B&GC is ecstatic to receive the help ... saying, "This investment is a gamechanger! Thank you, Conor, for helping to ensure that our kids have what they need to grow and thrive this summer!"
The club says the donation will help fund the 2021 summer camp and other recreational activities throughout the area.
So ... hatchet buried?? Who knows. A rep for Poirier tells us Dustin and his foundation were not involved in Conor's donation.
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Patrick Peterson Pays Off Teammate W/ Sweet Donation ... To Take Jersey #7
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Forget Rolexes, presents and cash ... Patrick Peterson just paid his new teammate for jersey #7 in a WAY cooler fashion -- making a sweet donation to the guy's former high school!
The new Minnesota Vikings corner -- who rocked #7 during his college days at LSU -- wanted to sport the digit in his first year away from the Arizona Cardinals this season.
The problem? Quarterback Nate Stanley already had the number ... and Peterson didn't want to just railroad the 2nd-year man for the uniform.
So, Peterson made a trade ... in exchange for paying for new shoulder pads for Stanley's alma mater, Menomonie High School in Wisconsin, Nate gave up the jersey!
And, Patrick was stoked about the transaction ... joining Bryant McFadden on their "All Things Covered" podcast and explaining why he has so much love for the number.
"Once [the NFL] passed that new rule where skill positions were able to wear any number between 1 and 49, it was only right," said Peterson, who wore #21 with the Cardinals.
"I always wore it in high school, I wore it in college. I always felt comfortable with it. And that's what I felt started me. So it was only right to go back to my roots and rock that seven."
The move could be a huge one for Peterson and the Vikes ... when Patrick donned that number back at LSU -- he became one of the greatest defensive backs in college football history.
No pressure for this season!
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Tom Brady, LeBron James Rare Cards Sell ...For $1.72 Million Each!!!
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G.O.A.T. players fetch G.O.A.T. numbers .. and that's why LeBron James and Tom Brady's trading cards just sold for a combined $3.44 million at auction!!
A King James '03-'04 Upper Deck "Exquisite Collection" Rookie Patch Autograph card -- 1 of only 99 ever made -- sold for $1.72 million ... a record for the super coveted card.
The card -- rated a mint 9 -- comes complete with an LBJ autograph ... and a rookie patch from one of James' rookie Cleveland Cavaliers uniforms.
As for the 7x Super Bowl champ, the Brady 2000 Playoff Contenders #144 Signed Championship Ticket Rookie card -- graded a near mint 8.5 by Beckett -- it also sold for $1.72 million.
Both cards closed Saturday night on the Goldin Auctions website ... after weeks of fierce bidding.
The scary part ... GA founder Ken Goldin says he expects prices to continue to rise.
"Prices for cards across sports like golf, soccer and hockey, and for trading card games like Pokémon, have absolutely taken off and we’re just scratching the surface!”
So, yeah ... it's way past time to find those old shoe boxes and go through your card collection!!
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Kanye West 'Grammy Worn' Shoes Sell For Record $1.8 Million
Kanye West has the Midas touch ... a pair of shoes he wore during his performance at the 2008 Grammys just sold for a record 7-figure price.
The prototype Nike Air Yeezy 1 brought in a whopping $1.8 million in a recent private sale, according to Sotheby's, which brokered the deal.
Kanye famously wore the kicks, known as the "Grammy Worn" Nikes, at the 2008 Grammy Awards, when he performed "Hey Mama" and "Stronger."
The $1.8 million sale price completely shatters the record for the most expensive pair of sneakers ever sold ... it's the first pair to sell for over $1 million, nearly tripling the previous high of $615k for a pair of 1985 Nike Air Jordan 1s Michael Jordan wore when he broke a backboard during a preseason game in Italy.
MJ's record didn't last long ... those kicks sold last year, and now Kanye's got the top spot.
Ye and Mark Smith designed the size 12 shoes, a combination of Nike and Yeezy signature brandings. There's a classic Nike Swoosh, plus a Yeezy forefoot strap and a bright pink "Y" medallion lace lock.
So, who is dropping nearly $2 mil on a pair of used shoes -- it's not a single lucky sneakerhead. Sotheby's says the buyer is RARES, a sneaker investment marketplace ... so, chances are these shoes will sell again at some point. Start saving up!
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The Kid LAROI Banks $4.2 Million in New Sony Deal!!!
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The Kid LAROI is still a few months shy of turning 18, but he has many reasons to celebrate early ... and we're thinking a Benjamin Franklin-themed party is fitting after his new deal with Sony.
The Australian singer, songwriter and producer known for hits like "Without You," and his collaboration with Juice WRLD on "Go," finalized a contract that will pay him $4.2 million in advances alone ... according to his minors contract.
The Kid LAROI -- gov't name Charlton Kenneth Jeffrey Howard -- got $1.2 million immediately after signing the deal. He's also getting $1.75 million after his publisher gets the deal approved by the court ... and another $1 million payable in 12 monthly installments after that.
In the docs, obtained by TMZ, it says KL will get another $250k on the 1 year anniversary of the deal -- and all of that is before his royalties kick in.
The Kid LAROI became known to mainstream audiences when the late rapper Juice WRLD mentioned him while on tour Down Under. They eventually collaborated on a couple of tracks ... and LAROI's singles soon started gaining serious traction in the U.S.
So there I go..... oh hey @thekidlaroi @KingMoxuTIkTok pic.twitter.com/ppnDNvir2V
— Miley Ray Cyrus (@MileyCyrus) April 20, 2021 @MileyCyrus
His popularity's still on the rise ... 'cause even Miley Cyrus recently teased an upcoming remix of LAROI's 2020 single "Without You." She uploaded a 20-second clip featuring the track and headlines of her past relationships.
That'll be even more cheddar in The Kid's bank.