Rape and Sexual Assault

Howard King, the attorney representing a family accusing Michael Jackson of abuse, spoke to TMZ after a dramatic day in court in their fight with Jackson's estate ... and he explained what caused the family's flip from ally to enemy.

Frank Cascio and his siblings reportedly settled for millions of dollars in 2020 with Jackson's estate amid allegations the late King of Pop sexually abused them as children. But in 2024, Frank alleged he signed the settlement under duress.

Today, the Cascio family was back in court with Jackson's estate, represented by attorney Marty Singer ... who claims the Cascios are trying to extort MJ's estate.

This presents a complete reversal from Frank's days as a staunch Jackson defender. So why the change of heart? King says years of therapy helped Frank stop drinking "the Michael Jackson Kool-Aid."

Superstar singer Julio Iglesias is in the crosshairs of prosecutors in Spain, where he's under investigation after two former female employees accused him of sexual assault.

The Spanish High Court prosecutor's office announced the probe Tuesday after Univision and Spanish media outlet elDiario.es published the women's allegations.

Julio's accusers reportedly claimed they suffered sexual assault and workplace harassment while working for him in 2021 at his homes in the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas ... alleging Julio pressured them into sexual encounters and abused them physically and verbally.

Federal authorities are now involved in the Timothy Busfield child sex abuse case ... TMZ has learned.

A spokesperson for the Albuquerque Police Department tells TMZ ... the U.S. Marshals Service is assisting APD as officers work to locate Busfield and take him into custody in connection with the allegations.

Will Smith is literally laughing off accusations of wrongful termination and retaliation brought against him by violinist Brian King Joseph ... according to new video.

Photogs caught up with the Oscar winner Monday in London, where he appeared to be working in some capacity on his new Nat Geo show "Pole to Pole With Will Smith."

Watch the clip ... when the cameraperson asks Will about the allegations brought against him by the former "America's Got Talent" standout, Will laughs right in his face and keeps it moving.

Without even stopping to give any credibility to the question, Will hops in his waiting vehicle while the cameraperson gets buffered by security.

An ex-employee is suing the Anaheim Ducks, claiming she dealt with sexual harassment and other misconduct in a “frat house boys club environment" -- and was then allegedly silenced for exposing it.

Rose Harris, who worked in the Ducks’ IT department, filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the team, the NHL, and the team’s parent company, OC Sports & Entertainment, in the Southern District of New York ... accusing them of colluding to blacklist, defame, and retaliate against her.

8:39 AM PT -- We just got a statement from Will's lawyer Allen B. Grodsky, who says ... “Mr. Joseph’s allegations concerning my client are false, baseless, and reckless. They are categorically denied, and we will use all legal means available to address these claims and to ensure that the truth is brought to light.”

Will Smith is under fire from a professional violinist who is suing the actor/musician for allegedly retaliating against him after he reported a sexual harassment incident.

Brian King Joseph filed the suit this week in L.A. Superior Court, claiming he first met Smith in November 2024 after he was referred to Smith by other artists for a recording opportunity.

Joseph says he went to Smith's home and showcased his talents on the violin, before he was offered to join Smith's music tour, "Based on a True Story," according to the suit.

4:01 PM PT -- The White House is denying a report in the Wall Street Journal that President Trump's Mar-a-Lago spa in Florida used to send teenage workers to pedophile Jeffrey Epstein's Palm Beach mansion.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt tells TMZ … "It's shameful the Wall Street Journal is wasting their once great paper writing up fallacies and innuendo in order to smear President Trump and distract from his historic first year back in office."

Leavitt adds ... "No matter how many times this story is told and retold, the truth remains: President Trump did nothing wrong and he kicked Jeffrey Epstein out of Mar-a-Lago for being a creep."

She continues ... "Now, it's President Trump’s own Justice Department that is releasing hundreds of thousands of pages of documents related to Epstein and his crimes."

Donald Trump's ties to Jeffrey Epstein may be even worse than previously thought ... according to a new report from The Wall Street Journal.

The WSJ says DT's Mar-a-Lago spa in Florida would send teenage workers to Epstein's mansion, despite it being an open secret among the staff that the billionaire would sometimes expose himself during appointments.

According to the publication, the practice stopped in 2003 when an unnamed 18-year-old employee complained that Epstein "pressured her for sex."

Former A&E personality Tony McCollister -- who was arrested on child and animal abuse charges -- has been court-ordered to stay away from the two dogs he allegedly abused in Ohio ... and, specifically, not to have sex with the animals.

As we reported ... McCollister's canines were taken into custody by the Warren County Sheriff's Office -- and are now being well cared for following the December 23 arrest of the former star of A&E's "Neighbors with Benefits," Sheriff Barry Riley told TMZ.

According to legal docs, obtained by TMZ, the judge ordered McCollister to keep at least 500 feet away from not just his pets, but all animals ... and all minor children as well.  The judge notes that McCollister must refrain from "forcing sexual relations" upon his minor children and dogs.

Tyler Perry is being sued by an actor who appeared in "Boo! A Madea Halloween" ... with the actor accusing Perry of making unwanted advances and groping him without consent.

Mario Rodriguez -- a model and actor -- filed the lawsuit against Perry and Lionsgate Films Thursday in California ... claiming he first connected with Perry in 2015 after a gym trainer approached him and told him Perry wanted to meet him.

Rodriguez claims Perry called him later the same day, and that Perry told him he was writing a new movie which might contain a part for him. Rodriguez says he told Perry he didn't have any acting experience, to which he allegedly replied ... "You know, Mario, I'm not a bad person to know and have in your corner."

12 sick men from New Jersey ended up on Santa's extra naughty list after they were busted for trying to meet up with a minor for sex earlier this week.

Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone announced the successful mission called "Operation Bad Santa" took a dozen dudes aged 23 to 65 years old -- including a middle school teacher and youth program coordinator -- to the slammer after they traveled to a residence expecting to find an underage child for sexual activity. During the multi-agency effort, officers posed as minors on social media and messaging apps, and persuaded the men to meet them at the undisclosed Middlesex address ... where they were consequently cuffed.

The operation involved several police departments, the Department of Homeland Security, and the FBI Newark. It took place between December 8 and December 15.

President Trump's name just came up in the Epstein Files in a huge way ... there's an FBI document where someone apparently told authorities Trump and Jeffrey Epstein raped a female.

The claim is part of an unclassified FBI intake form from October 2020 ... and the document says someone called the FBI National Threat Operations Center Unit to report potential information related to Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell.

In the intake report -- essentially a detailed summary of a tip received by FBI personnel from a civilian -- there's a redacted name that states "he raped me" in reference to Trump. A redacted name is also quoted as saying, "Donald J. Trump had raped her along with Jeffrey Epstein." The age of the alleged victim is unclear.

10:27 AM PT -- A rep for Kevin Spacey tells TMZ ... “The 2002 trip to Africa with President Clinton to support AIDS causes and meet Nelson Mandela remains a genuine highlight in Kevin’s life. The fact that the plane was owned by Jeffrey Epstein is immaterial considering it was three years before Epstein was ever investigated. Whatever wrongdoing may have been taking place in the background has nothing to do with Kevin, any more than a hotel guest is responsible for actions occurring in a neighboring room. Kevin never saw or spoke to Jeffrey Epstein or Ghislaine Maxwell ever again.”

Kevin Spacey -- who vehemently called for the release of the Epstein Files this summer -- has been included in the trove of pics just released today.

In the image released by the U.S. Department of Justice ... the "American Beauty" star leans on the back of a chair alongside Bill Clinton, appearing to be in mid-conversation. They're standing in a room before a conference table littered with pads and writing utensils, suggesting they're preparing for a meeting of some sort.

According to CNN, the pic was taken inside the Cabinet Room of the Churchill War Rooms -- which is an underground bunker in London.

Clinton reportedly took Epstein's private jet on a humanitarian trip to Africa with Spacey in 2002.

Bombshells will likely be cropping up for days after a massive dump of Epstein Files began to be released Friday ... and now we have some high-profile names never-before associated with the disgraced financier.

In a new pic released by the U.S. Department of Justice ... Michael Jackson and Diana Ross are pictured on a plane with Bill Clinton and another person whose face is redacted.

It's not known whose plane they were on or where they were going.

While Diana and Bill flash smiles, Michael stares blankly with Bill's hand draped over the King Of Pop's shoulder.

Jeffrey Epstein framed nude photos of Ghislaine Maxwell and other women and displayed them inside his Palm Beach home ... and you see his overly-sexual interior decorating on full display, and new video from inside his pedophile lair.

The video is part of the Epstein Files release, and the grainy, old school footage is a tour through his Florida home ... it's like "MTV Cribs" but with a convicted pedophile.

Epstein's got a framed photo of Ghislaine on a beach, plus other nudes of some females who look like models. There's even a miniature replica of his plane, the Lolita Express.

Strangely, there appears to be a dental chair and equipment in one of the rooms ... similar to what we saw on his private island.

Never-before-seen photos show late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein in his element ... snuggling up to a very young-looking female on a sofa.

The images are from the Epstein Files being released by the U.S. Department of Justice ... and there are several photos showing Epstein cozying up to an unidentified female on a couch ... it's unclear if she's underage.

Epstein has his arms around her, and they are horizontal, side by side on a couch ... wearing clothes. Her face has been redacted to protect her identity, indicating the government considers her a victim.

12/20 -- 7:55 AM PT -- Corey Feldman's lawyer Neville L. Johnson tells TMZ ... Feldman had no involvement with the documentary and is currently looking into how the footage was obtained in the first place.

He's also denying Haim "molested" him ... saying that idea is a "sensationalized mischaracterization of the statements made in the film."

Corey Haim's mother is blasting Corey Feldman for claiming her son "molested" him back in the day ... she says Feldman is lying about her late son for attention.

Haim's mother, Judy Haim, tells TMZ ... shame on Feldman for "creating another lie to poison people's heads and keep himself relevant."

In a new documentary, "Corey Feldman vs. The World," Feldman claims Haim molested him when they were filming 1987's "The Lost Boys."

Haim died in 2010, and Judy points out her son is not here to defend himself against what she says are bogus claims from Feldman.