Movies

The man accused of stealing Frances McDormand's Oscar is looking way rougher around the edges than he did on Oscar night -- he made his first court appearance Wednesday, pleading not guilty.

Terry Bryant went from tux to jumpsuit for his arraignment on a charge of felony grand theft. As we reported, Bryant was arrested for swiping McDormand's award at the Governors Ball.

Bryant and his attorney, Daniel Brookman, might have an uphill battle in this case. He not only posted his own video kissing Oscar Sunday night, but was also caught leaving the ballroom with the statuette in hand as he posed for cameras.

Frances said she didn't want to press charges, but she has no say in the matter. The Academy is technically the victim, and they've asked for the case to move forward.

The man accused of stealing Frances McDormand's Oscar has quite the support system -- including his rabbi, who says the arrest is more about society than a guy allegedly making off with someone's trophy.

Terry Bryant's arraignment was postponed Wednesday morning, but his attorney, Daniel Brookman, held a news conference outside court, where -- no offense, counselor -- rabbi Naomi Levy stole the show.

Levy told reporters Bryant's "story" served as a commentary on our society and its "obsession with its 15 minutes of fame." Hard to figure what the hell she meant ... especially considering the new video showing Bryant brandishing Frances' Oscar Sunday night, as he exited the Governors Ball!

Bryant's attorney said his client will enter a not guilty plea once he gets in front of the judge -- which we're now hearing should happen late Wednesday or Thursday.

He's got one helluva story ... and if Adam Rippon ever gets the "I, Tonya" movie treatment, he wants Meryl Streep to play him on screen!

"She's the most accomplished and ready for the role," Rippon told us on the way out of 'Watch What Happens Live' in New York.

The only problem ... can Meryl hit a triple axel?!

The Olympic figure skater (who's openly gay) says he's been living it up ever since he came back from South Korea -- where he won bronze in the team figure skating event.

Kobe Bryant's Oscar win has gotten mixed reviews amid the #MeToo movement, but Matt Barnes is 100% behind his ex-NBA rival -- giving Bryant mad props for paving the way for sports stars.

"I think it's dope. He's breaking down barriers, still being great," Barnes told TMZ Sports out at Poppy in Hollywood.

Want proof? Matt says things are really coming together for a Huey Newton/Black Panthers biopic he's producing ... and he can't wait to tell "the whole truth" behind the real BP (sorry, Marvel).

The man who pilfered Frances McDormand's Oscar has now been officially charged with the crime of felony grand theft ... and the stakes are years in prison.

The L.A. County D.A. has just filed the case. TMZ broke the story, although Frances has no interest in having Terry Bryant prosecuted, her Oscar is technically owned by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and they want the book thrown at him.

Bryant took Frances' Oscar off her dinner table at the Governors Ball following the ceremony and then videotaped himself with the hardware. It's unclear if he intended to take the Oscar out of the Beverly Hilton.

If convicted, Bryant faces a maximum of 3 years in state prison.

Diane Warren was bummed about losing her 9th Oscar but was NOT gonna let that drag her down.

We got the songwriting legend at Madeo Monday night in Bev Hills and our guy told her he saw her at the Oscars and wanted to know if she thought there were any surprises. She shot back, "You saw me? You didn't see me win. Ninth time. Someday."

It's true ... she earned her 9th nomination for Best Original Song for "Stand Up for Something" from "Marshall." We ask her how many more nominations before she finally brings home a statue.

Watch ... Diane manages to put a good spin on the ordeal and even congratulates someone who was nominated 13 times before finally scoring a win. BTW ... sound mixer Kevin O'Connell was nominated 21 times before he finally won for "Hacksaw Ridge" in 2017.

It's coming, Diane.

Nick Cannon stiffed his crew on his upcoming movie, "She Ball" ... this according to a new lawsuit filed by some of the people who worked on the flick.

Nick -- who wrote, produced, directed and starred in the film -- is accused in the class action lawsuit of failing to pay OT. The lawsuit also claims he failed to give his crew meal and rest breaks.

The lawsuit also says Nick was late in paying wages to drivers, grips, camera operators, lighting crews, location managers and set dressers. In all, the suit says 100 people were shortchanged.

We got Nick out in January -- when accusations first surfaced from angry employees -- and he wasn't too bothered, saying he's just the big name, but the problem has nothing to do with him.

The movie, which also stars Chris Brown, is expected to be released sometime this year.

We reached out to Nick's rep ... so far no word back.

Chris Martin did his girlfriend, Dakota Johnson, half a favor by dropping her off for a coffee run in his nifty golf cart ... but she had to walk to his crib.

Chris and Dakota were out cruising Monday in Malibu, and her pup was riding shotgun, too. He dropped her off at Starbucks, where she ran in and grabbed a couple of drinks -- but then he flipped a U and bolted.

It may not look like the most chivalrous move on Chris' part, but we're guessing there's ZERO shade here -- grey or otherwise.

Even Oprah can't escape the Oprah factor .... heavy lies the crown.

Her Holiness was out in NYC Tuesday and -- with her movie "A Wrinkle in Time" set to premiere Friday -- Adam Glyn asked O if she ever still has to audition for roles. Remember, this isn't her first big feature. Oprah was outstanding in 'The Butler' and "Selma," to name a few.

Ya might be surprised by Oprah's answer, which includes why she got turned down for the 2008 film "Doubt."

Stacey Dash is going to have some stiff competition in her run for Congress, because we've learned one of the most popular politicians in Southern California is about to throw her hat in the ring to oppose her.

We've learned Compton Mayor Aja Brown will announce on Thursday that she is running for Congress in the 44th District ... which covers Compton, Watts, San Pedro and North Long Beach.

Our sources say Brown had no intention of running as late as a week ago -- the day Dash announced she's running for a seat in the House of Representatives. We're told a number of members from the California Congressional delegation contacted Brown and urged her to run against Dash.

Brown has been an ambassador for Compton, often praising people like Kendrick Lamar who grew up in her city and went on to greatness.

A source who has interacted with Brown tells TMZ the Compton Mayor has privately groused that Dash is "running for notoriety" and has no relationship with the district.

Brown -- a Democrat -- is a super-popular mayor whose voice has been strong on various issues, including protecting food programs and housing initiatives.

We're told Brown herself feels it's by no means a shoo-in that she'll win, because of almost unparalleled voter apathy in the district. We're told, although she thinks the district is heavily democratic, the Republicans just get out and vote more often.

Jamie Foxx couldn't believe Frances McDormand temporarily had her Oscar stolen away from her at an after-party -- but he's got an easy fix for all future winners.

Jamie was leaving Mr Chow Monday night in Bev Hills when our photog asked if he'd heard the crazy news ... that Terry Bryant jacked Frances' golden statue at The Governors Ball, before security stepped in and called cops.

As we reported ... Bryant swiped Frances' award off her table and was kissing and posing with it on camera before he was apprehended, and the hardware was returned to its rightful owner. He was charged and booked for felony grand theft by police.

Jamie -- who won an Oscar for "Ray" back in 2005 -- was stunned by Frances' ordeal ... and told us how he avoided that kinda nightmare on his big night.

Pam Anderson says ride-hail apps shirk their responsibility and shift blame to their users ... and that's why she implores you to read the fine print.

Pamela is back with a new PSA -- obtained in advance by TMZ -- and takes ride-hail apps to task for making its users assume all the risk with the long and dreaded terms and conditions ... which, btw, is the title for her third PSA.

She first went after ride-hail apps, like Uber or Lyft, back in November for not properly vetting its drivers. She went after them again in January and tied them to the #MeToo movement.

Gary Oldman's ex-wife would like to give the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences the Oscar for Best Hypocrite for doling out awards to her former hubby and Kobe Bryant.

Donya Fiorentino -- who was Gary's 3rd wife and married to him for 4 years -- expressed frustration with the Academy Monday on the heels of her ex and Kobe walking away with golden statues ... Best Actor and Best Animated Short, respectively.

She tells TMZ ... "Congratulations, Gary and congratulations to the Academy for awarding not one but two abusers with Oscars. I thought we had evolved. What happened to the #MeToo movement?"

Fiorentino accused Gary in '01 of physically and emotionally abusing her during their marriage -- and claimed in court docs that he once beat her with a phone. In the docs, obtained by TMZ, Gary said they were struggling over the phone, and that it accidentally hit her when he let go.

Jimmy Kimmel compared Harvey Weinstein's expulsion from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to the only other guy to get kicked out ... and the ex-member is cranky over it.

We spoke with actor Carmine Caridi -- who was the butt of Jimmy's Oscars joke this weekend -- and he tells us he feels like he got a raw deal with no heads-up or discretion.

As we reported ... Kimmel compared Harvey's Academy scandal to Caridi's -- his membership was revoked in '04 for sharing movie screeners -- but Carmine says he didn't appreciate his name being brought up next to Weinstein's, even if it was all in good fun.

Caridi, who's 84 years old, tells us he thinks the side-by-side name dropping makes him out to be some sort of pervert. He also claims he was never formally charged in regards to his own expulsion, and even says he and Weinstein aren't the only ones to have been booted.

We did some digging on that -- it appears he and Weinstein are, in fact, the only ones to be publicly ousted from the Academy ... but Caridi insists there's been others.

11:42 AM PT -- Law enforcement sources tell us the thief was apprehended by cops just before he got on an escalator to leave the event.

The guy who stole Frances McDormand's Oscar has been arrested ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us the man who swiped the Best Actress statue from Frances' table at The Governor's Ball Sunday night has been booked on felony grand theft.

The thief was photographed with the stolen hardware just before he was nabbed. Frances noticed her Oscar was MIA from the table and notified security at The Governor's Ball at the Hollywood & Highland Center. Security found the guy with Oscar in hand and turned him over to cops when they arrived.

Frances took home the award for Best Actress for her role in "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri."

Kobe Bryant celebrated an amazing victory Sunday night ... winning an Oscar and, incredibly, the celebrities in the audience had a case of selective amnesia.

Kobe took home the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film for "Dear Basketball." The audience cheered Kobe ... some even rose to their feet for a standing O.

Interesting ... considering the majority of the audience were wearing Time's Up pins. You may recall -- although a lot of the people who came out after the ceremony didn't -- Kobe was arrested in 2003, charged and brought to trial for rape. The case fell apart when the alleged victim stopped cooperating with prosecutors. Kobe subsequently settled for a reported $5 million, though he denies paying her a cent.

Kobe was Teflon at the awards ceremony. Not so for Ryan Seacrest, who was shunned by some celebs even though he hasn't been sued, arrested, charged -- and was cleared by an E! investigation.

And James Franco was essentially exiled from the Oscars -- again not arrested, charged, nothing.

So, why did Kobe get a pass? We spoke with a bunch of stars including Shawn Mendes, Bebe Rexha, Colin Hanks and others who claimed they had no knowledge of his past. Some just made jokes.