R. Kelly Pleads Not Guilty To New Sex Assault Charges

Published
060619_r_kelly_livestream_kal 6/6/19
CLAIMING HIS INNOCENCE

7:42 AM PT -- The hearing is over. Kelly entered a not guilty plea on the new charges and will be back in court at the end of the month.

7:13 AM PT -- Kelly has just arrived, flanked by his usual crew as he strutted into the Chi-town courthouse.

R. Kelly is back in a Chicago courthouse for a hearing on the new round of sexual assault and abuse charges he's facing ... and TMZ is streaming live.

The embattled musician will be present Thursday, along with his attorney, Steven Greenberg, for his arraignment. Greenberg, tells us his client plans to plead not guilty to all 11 charges.

As we reported ... Kelly was hit last week with 11 felonies related to sexual assault and various abuse in Illinois. The Cook County State's Attorney's Office charged him with 5 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, 4 counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault and 2 counts of criminal sexual assault.

In legal docs, Kelly is accused of forcing contact between his penis and the alleged victim's mouth and committing an act of sexual penetration on a victim listed only as "J.P." The alleged incident occurred in January 2010, when the victim was under the age of 18.

Kelly's crisis manager, Darrell Johnson, had already told us his client denies all accusations and maintains his innocence. Hence, the not guilty plea today.

Thursday's hearing, which is set to begin around 7:30 AM PT, is separate from the 10 counts of aggravated sexual abuse Kelly is already facing in Cook County. There are also 3 federal probes underway -- 2 in New York's Eastern and Southern Districts and another in the Northern District of Illinois.

Originally Published -- 6:44 AM PT

Justin Bieber Just a Bump in the Road Or a Big Ol' Dent in My Van!!!

Published | Updated

Justin Bieber had a little chat with cops in Hollywood Wednesday afternoon, but it wasn't his driving that drew them out to an accident scene ... it was his hired driver.

Bieber's limo van was involved in a 2-vehicle accident that would normally be just a tiny fender bender -- if the freakin' van wasn't so huge! Looks like the back end of a Hyundai Sonata met the side panel of Justin's ride. Unclear who initiated the contact, but police were there to talk to all parties ... and possibly take down an accident report.

Officers spoke to Bieber, but again ... he was just a passenger. Law enforcement tells us both parties exchanged info and went on their way. No harm, no foul. In other words: this is why you pay insurance premiums.

Bieber's gotta know it coulda been way worse. It's a sweet van and all, but it ain't worth $2 million. Tracy Morgan knows what we're talking about!

Too soon?

Golden State Warriors Epically Troll Drake ... Warming Up To Pusha T Diss Track!!!

Published | Updated

The Golden State Warriors are taking their beef with Drake to new levels, and hitting back where it hurts ... Pusha T.

With Steph Curry warming up on the court at Oracle Arena before Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors ... the pregame playlist featured Pusha T's diss track, "The Story of Adidon."

As you know ... Drake had MASSIVE BEEF last year with Pusha T, with both rappers going back and forth at each other with diss tracks. Saying things got heated is an understatement.

Waiting for your permission to load Soundcloud audio.

So, why are the two-time defending NBA champion Warriors taking shots at Drake???

Drake's a HUGE Raptors fan ... and he's been thrusting himself into these Finals with his courtside antics during Games 1 and 2 in Toronto. Dude even got into it with Warriors stud Draymond Green after the Raps took Game 1.

The Warriors are obviously fed up with Drake ... because after they won Game 2 to even the series, stars Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson heckled him outside their locker room, calling Drake a "bum ass."

With the series shifting to Oakland for Games 3 and 4 ... the Warriors seem intent on trolling Drake even more.

CMT Music Awards Honoring Women of Country ... Huge Surprise Ensemble In The Works!!!

Published

Country stars Brandi Carlile and Tanya Tucker will take the stage together tonight at the CMT Music Awards, but the girl power will only grow from there ... TMZ has learned.

Sources close to the show tell us ... during Carlile and Tucker's performance of the latter's 1972 hit, "Delta Dawn," the ladies will be joined on stage one-by-one by 6 more popular female artists -- a mix of country legends and rising stars.

We're told it's CMT's tribute to the power of women in country music, and the special guest performers will include Martina McBride, Trisha Yearwood, Lauren Alaina, Deana Carter, Rae Lynn and Carly Pearce.

Our sources say the ladies will join in on "Delta Dawn," but we imagine they'll put their own spin on it ... and it's certain to be a showstopper.

Brandi and Tanya's collab comes on the heels of Carlile producing Tucker's upcoming album, "While I'm Livin" ... her first new music in 17 years.

The CMT Music Awards air live Wednesday night from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville at 8 PM ET.

MLB's Mike Clevinger Jimi Hendrix Tattoo On Finger ... Pops Out Of Glove!!!

Published

MLB hitters now have something interesting to look at while Mike Clevinger is pumping fastballs their way -- a sick tat of Jimi Hendrix's face on the stud pitcher's finger!

The Cleveland Indians superstar just got Hendrix's mug inked on his left hand's pointer finger Tuesday ... and the art is pretty awesome.

It's an image of Hendrix's stoic face ... and it's placed so strategically -- it pops out of Mike's glove when he's on the mound!!

Clevinger has yet to say why he got the piece done, but he did post Hendrix's famous "If 6 Was 9" lyrics with photos of the ink, saying, "let me live my life the way I want to."

Of course, batters will have to wait a few more weeks to get an up-close look at the tat ... Clevinger's still a month or so away from returning from a back injury.

But, when he gets back ... enjoy the view of Hendrix's face -- and that nasty slider!!!

Offset Ignores Autograph Hound's Lawsuit ... Takes the 'L' by Default

Published | Updated

Offset is gonna lose some cash because he apparently lost track of one lingering legal issue -- the beatdown his security put on an autograph seeker after last year's Met Gala.

TMZ got the wild video of the May 2018 incident ... the 'grapher was trying to get Cardi B's John Hancock after the gala ... only to get his ass kicked by a bunch of guys he believed to be Cardi and Offset's hired muscle.

050818_migos_fight_kal 5/8/18
THE VIOLENT BEATDOWN

The overzealous fan, Giovanni Arnold, filed a lawsuit and had asked a judge to grant him a default judgment back in April of this year. He said Offset hadn't said a peep in response to the lawsuit ... and the judge granted his wish this week.

It's unclear how much Offset is on the hook for now, or if he plans to challenge the default judgment in court. Considering Cardi's been taking care of business on her end -- she was sued for this as well, and has been responding -- we imagine Offset will fight it.

050818_migos_fight_extended_kal 5/8/18
THE BEATDOWN

When the ass whooping went down last year ... Cardi's camp said the guy was being super aggressive in trying to obtain the autograph. In one video clip ... you can hear Giovanni egg on CB and Offset's entourage.

050818_migos_victim_kal 5/8/18
BEATDOWN AFTERMATH

Giovanni was loaded onto a stretcher and transported to a hospital. Neither Offset nor Cardi actually put hands on him, FWIW.

Swae Lee Jay-Z's the G.O.A.T. ... Lovin' That Billion Dollar State of Mind!!!

Published | Updated

Swae Lee's showering Jay-Z with some big pimpin' props for becoming hip-hop's first billionaire, and it's also giving him all the feels ... cause the 23-year-old wants to be next.

We got one half of the hip-hop duo Rae Sremmurd out Tuesday night in NYC and asked him about Forbes newly minting Hova as the first rapper billionaire. The mag totaled up all of Jay's income from multiple business ventures and officially inducted him into the 3-comma club.

Check out the vid ... Swae says Jay's new money status has inspired him, and he thanks the OG Roc-a-Fella for paving the way.

Worth nothing, for Swae and other young'uns, if they're following the blueprint ... Jay-Z's music catalog is pretty low on his list of assets.

Again, apologies to Dr. Dre ... Forbes

Barbara Corcoran Billionaire Jay-Z, Come Be a Shark!!!

Published

Barbara Corcoran, one of the "Shark Tank" big wigs, says she's got big plans for Jay-Z ... now that he's a freshly minted BILLIONAIRE!!! Just don't ask her about it more than once.

Barb was out Tuesday afternoon in NYC when our photog asked what she thought about Jay's accomplishment -- becoming the first rapper to reach a billion-dollar net worth. She did not knock the hustle ... telling us if anyone deserves it, it's him because of he's so hardworking.

Then, the next logical question -- how 'bout getting him on "Shark Tank"? Barbara tells us plainly ... why the hell not?! She even says she'll put in a good word for him for a future guest spot.

Considering Barbara's rep for a tough-love business mentality, it's no surprise she gave our guy the nunya-beeswax treatment when he tried to dig a little deeper on her recruiting process for Mr. Carter.

Jigga famously rapped he's not a businessman ... he's a business, man. But, watch Babs -- she gave us her own take on business, and minding it!!!

Madonna Loses Court Appeal To Block Sale of Tupac Letter

Published | Updated

Madonna just whiffed on her chance to shut down the sale of an old jailhouse letter from Tupac ... and now it looks like she's gonna have to watch as tons of her personal items hit the auction block.

According to new legal docs obtained by TMZ ... Madonna just lost her appeal to slam the brakes on the sale of the letter. A New York State Appeals Court ruled Madonna can't pursue claims against Darlene Lutz, her old pal and art consultant, or GottaHaveRockandRoll.com -- the online auction house to which Lutz consigned the items for sale.

Tuesday's court ruling opens the door for the sale of some of Madonna's intimate personal items, including the breakup note from her ex-boyfriend, Tupac.

As we reported ... last year a judge tossed out Madonna's lawsuit to stop the sale, saying a release she signed way back in 2004 means she couldn't sue over the letter's sale.

The appellate court upheld the judge's ruling in a 5-0 decision, saying Madonna's claims are blocked by the "very broad" release.

In his handwritten breakup letter, Tupac confesses he ended his sexual relationship with Madonna because she's white. Next month, it's finally going up for auction.

We reached out to Madonna's reps for comment ... so far, no word back.

Ex-NBA Player Terrence Jones Insane Hoops Fight Nut Shots and Dancing!!!

Published

It looked more like a WWE match than a basketball game ... and ex-NBA player Terrence Jones was at the center of it -- trading nut shots, vicious clothesline fouls and dance moves(!!) in one of the craziest on-court altercations of all time.

The ex-Kentucky Wildcats star -- who played for the Rockets and several other teams in the NBA -- now plays in the Philippine Basketball Association's TNT KaTropa ... and got into it with Calvin "The Beast" Abueva of the Phoenix Pulse in a game over the weekend.

It all started when Abueva knocked Jones down with about 7 minutes left in the game ... and TJ retaliated with a shot to the family jewels.

While Abueva recovered, Jones celebrated as Yung Joc's "It's Goin Down" played over the PA system (seriously, everything about this video is perfect).

Of course, a dude with a nickname like "The Beast" isn't gonna just let that slide ... so he retaliated with a clothesline on Jones after grabbing a rebound.

And, what did Abueva do right after??? He danced his face off.

The Beast was suspended indefinitely and fined 50,000 pesos (about $1k) for the hit ... and Jones was fined a total of 70,000 pesos for the whole altercation.

No word on who won the fight, but TNT KaTropa won the game,114-88.

Young Thug I'd Never Let My Daughter Drive ... She Wasn't With Me!!!

Published | Updated

1:46 PM PT -- Young Thug has broken his silence about a video that shows his young daughter behind the wheel of a moving vehicle, and he seems to be putting the blame squarely on the adult his kid was with in the clip.

YT writes, "Never would I put my child's life in danger nor anyone else's life,i am out of town that video is clearly in Atlanta." He goes on to say, "I am a very safe man, especially when it come down to my kids. I am very smart, last thing I'm looking for is clout/fame I have both."

He finishes by adding, "Plus she (his daughter, we assume) wouldn't dare even ask me could she drive a car... But it'll be handled 'expeditiously.'"

It's unclear who his child was with during the joy ride, as Young Thug doesn't mention anyone specifically. Presumably, though, the kid was with her mom ... and it sounds like papa's gonna have a convo with someone about pulling stunts like this in the future.

8:50 AM PT -- A source close to Young Thug says his daughter was with her mother and driving just outside her home in Georgia. We're told no one else was in the area and she only drove for a short time ... less than 30 seconds. Young Thug was not aware of the situation.

One of Young Thug's young daughters -- who seems to be under 10 -- drove a car on a public road while an adult sat right next to her, recording the dangerous incident.

The video surfaced on social media, reportedly showing one of YT's children -- this one a little girl -- behind the wheel of the car, and slowly driving down a residential road. The child is IN the driver seat, NOT on someone's lap ... and is struggling to see above the steering wheel.

At one point, an adult hand reaches in to assist with steering, and that person is recording the video. There's no audio.

It's unclear who the adult is, but it appears to be a woman's hand and not Young Thug's.

Several celebs commented on the video after it was posted on The Shade Room. Tyrese said, "I'm almost sure DFCS is gonna see this." Ex-NBA star Matt Barnes chimed in, "Stupid" -- and 'Love & Hip Hop' star Milan Christopher simply said, "Oh he going to jail."

We've reached out to Young Thug's camp for comment on the disturbing video ... but no word back yet.

Originally published -- 7:20 AM PT

Jonas Brothers Suckers for Total Mayhem!!!

Published

The Jonas Brothers mania is very, very real -- almost 15 years into the game, and the premiere of their new documentary drew a crazy crowd of wild, screaming fans.

Joe, Nick and Kevin had to feel better than ever about their decision to reunite when they showed up Monday night outside L.A.'s Regency Village Theatre to celebrate the documentary, "Chasing Happiness."

The Jonas fellas weren't alone, either -- Kevin and Nick were accompanied by their wives, Danielle and Priyanka Chopra, while getting off the bus ... and the ladies got the rockstar treatment too.

Sophie Turner didn't arrive with her hubby, Joe, but rest assured she didn't miss the movie -- she just met him on the way in ... and she also looked fantastic.

The Brothers announced the release of their Amazon documentary a few months ago, and it officially premieres Tuesday on the streaming platform. Big week for them, as the album, "Happiness Begins," drops Friday.

The documentary focuses on the guys' relationships -- so plenty of Sophie, Priyanka and Danielle -- and the group finally coming back together after the long hiatus.

Shaq Praises Drake's NBA Finals Antics ... 'He Knows What He's Doing'

Published
060419_shaq_kal
ALL ABOUT THE DRAMA

So, Shaquille O'Neal was on his way to the gym in L.A. ... when all of a sudden he got caught up IN JONAS BROTHERS MADNESS!!!!

It's hilarious ... Shaq starts off asking our guys why hundreds of people are screaming and going crazy across the street -- and when he finds out it's all because of a Jonas Bros. event, he LOVES IT!!

But, we also talked hoops with Shaq ... specifically about Drake, who's been heavily criticized for taunting Golden State Warriors players and going crazy on the sidelines during the NBA Finals.

"Drake is a smart guy," Shaq says ... "He knows what he's doing. It's called marketing, people!!"

Shaq also tells us he thinks the criticism of Drake is a load of crap -- and compares Drake to Clippers' chairman Steve Ballmer, who's famously animated at Clippers games.

"[Drake] is just having fun, having a good time ... as a guy sitting there watching on TV, it's very entertaining."

Shaq also weighs in on the NBA Finals drama between the Warriors and the Toronto Raptors -- and explains why this series is GREAT!!

But again, the best part of the clip is Shaq's unbridled passion for Nick, Joe and Kevin -- even though he only knows one of their names!!!

Fab 5 Freddy on Central Park 5 No Forgiving Fairstein Until She Apologizes ... Same Goes for Trump!!!

Published

Fab 5 Freddy says Linda Fairstein was "evil" to the Central Park 5, and until she says sorry for her misdeeds ... she deserves every bit of backlash she's getting.

We got the hip-hop legend outside a West Hollywood cafe, and asked about Ava DuVernay's new Netflix series about the case, "When They See Us." As a native New Yorker, Freddy said he remembers the case well -- specifically how the boys were convicted in the media, even before the verdicts.

Freddy says Fairstein -- as head of the sex crimes unit of the Manhattan D.A.'s Office -- knowingly ruined the kids' lives by interrogating them under duress to get false confessions. He says she needs to admit that publicly if she wants the public's forgiveness.

Even though all 5 were exonerated in 2002, Fairstein has maintained she got the case right.

Freddy says that's why he's also backing the #CancelLindaFairstein. She went on to become a successful author, and the movement calls for boycotting publishers and distributors of her books ... east until she shows contrition.

He's also pissed about Donald Trump, who infamously took out newspaper ads at the time calling for NY State to reinstate the death penalty for the Central Park 5. Freddy says the now-President should be big enough to apologize now.

Fat chance ... Trump said in 2016 he still believes the wrongfully convicted men are guilty, despite all evidence to the contrary.

Danielle Bregoli Hospitalized for Serious Stomach Issues

Published

Danielle Bregoli fell incredibly ill after boarding a flight -- with intense stomach pain -- and it got so bad, she had to get off the plane and head to a hospital.

Sources close to the rapper tell us, Bhad Bhabie was at the Fort Lauderdale airport Monday morning and boarded a flight to L.A. when we're told she started having bad stomach cramps, which she's been experiencing the past few days.

Our sources say after she got seated on the plane, the pain got worse so she spoke to the flight attendants about what she was feeling. Her team decided it was best for her to get off and get checked out.

We're told her security team took her to the hospital where she underwent testing, but everything came back negative. She's been advised to rest for a few days, and her rep tells us she's back at home and will try to return to L.A. Tuesday.

Some folks on social media posted that they saw Bregoli looking "irritated" and "not happy" at the airport Monday morning. We're told it was due to her health issues.

Fergie I Want My Old Name Back!!! ... No More Duhamel

Published | Updated

Fergie wants to go back to the way things used to be ... and be called Stacy Ann Ferguson.

According to legal docs obtained by TMZ ... Fergie's asking the judge to restore her former name. She made the request in divorce docs where she also asks that the judge terminate the court's ability to award support for both her and Josh Duhamel.

TMZ broke the story ... she legally switched to her stage name -- Fergie Duhamel -- back in August 2013. At the time she had been married to Josh for nearly 5 years.

As we first reported ... Fergie filed for divorce on Friday. It came as no surprise at the time ... they've been apart publicly since September 2017 when they announced they were breaking up. According to the new docs ... the couple lists the date of separation as April 1, 2017.

Fergie's also asking for joint and legal custody of their 5-year-old son, Axl.