Real Housewives

Paul Nassif -- Adrienne Maloof's soon-to-be ex-husband -- has sued the former couple's chef ... claiming the cook blackmailed and extorted him after falsely accusing Paul of being a wifebeater.

Paul alleges in his suit ... Bernie Guzman plastered photos of a bruised Adrienne on his Facebook page, with text that read in part, "Adrienne Maloof was pushed to the ground. Punched and beaten." Guzman also wrote, "Now you know who and what he [Paul] really is ... he is a beast." Paul says the claims of abuse are "outrageous and vicious lies."

As for the blackmail and extortion claims ... Paul says he sicked his lawyers on the chef, and Bernie texted back, "Stop harassing me...Have you forgotten I witnessed you beat your wife ... Kids & animals. I have plenty of pretty family photos ... Some not so pretty ... Stay away ..."

Paul believes the upshot of Bernie's text is that if Paul made an issue out of what Bernie said he'd release more damaging pics and allegations.

Paul is suing for unspecified damages.

"Real Housewives of Miami" stars Alexia and Herman Echevarria LOVE to live the high life in Miami -- they just don't wanna pay for it ... this according to a primo country club that is suing them for $160,000 in unpaid membership fees.

Fisher Island Club recently filed a lawsuit against the couple in Florida court -- claiming Alexia and Herman dropped $250,000 (yikes!) to become members back in 2006. They claim that at some point, the couple stopped paying their monthly dues ... and now owe $166,916.49.

FYI -- Fisher is an crazy exclusive club in Miami where well-off members rub elbows on their own private beach, golf course, dining club and spa.

According to docs, Alexia and Herman opted for the most expensive membership -- and besides the $250k to join, they were required to cough up $18,300 per month in dues.

The club says it keeps billing the couple, but no cigar. It's demanding the dues plus interest.

The daughter of "Real Housewives of Orange County" star Tammy Knickerbocker is behind the craziest DUI arrest of recent memory -- after she allegedly rammed several parked cars while super duper drunk ... and then PUNCHED A COP.

According to cops, 23-year-old Lindsey Knickerbocker was popped on December 14 after witnesses told police she had smashed into two parked cars on Balboa Island in O.C.. Witnesses said Lindsey then fled to a friend's house nearby.

When police followed Lindsey to the house, cops say Lindsey punched one of the arresting officers in the stomach. Lindsey was promptly placed under arrest.

Now the insane part -- according to court docs, Lindsey is accused of having a blood alcohol content of .32% at the time of her arrest ... FOUR TIMES the legal limit in California.

Lindsey has since been charged with four crimes -- DUI, driving with a blood alcohol content of .08 or higher, hit-and-run, and battery on an officer.

Here's "Big Bang Theory" star Kaley Cuoco at the SAG awards last night -- and Kim Zolciak as she appeared on an episode of "Real Housewives of Atlanta."

One is known for wiggin' out.

We're just sayin'.

"Real Housewives of Miami" star Lisa Hochstein does NOT have sex for money and she's suing some random woman on the Internet who said that she did.

Hochstein recently filed a lawsuit against a woman named Jessica Lederman -- claiming she suffered "severe emotional distress" after Jessica blasted her in the comment section of an entertainment news website.

According to docs, Jessica wrote "Lisa was an escort who also did soft porn in Vegas" ... in response to an article about Lisa joining the "Real Housewives" franchise..

But Hochstein says it's a bold-faced lie and that she's never been in the escort business or done soft core porn in Las Vegas. Hochstein claims Jessica's remark damaged her reputation and threatened both her employment and social life.

Pretty random to go after someone who commented on a web site ... but to each their own.

Paul Nassif is taking the high road -- rather than bashing his ex, Adrienne Maloof, for dating a much younger man ... he's just happy that she's happy.

Maloof has been seen all over town this past week with her new beau, Sean Stewart, who happens to be 20 years her junior.

But when we saw Nassif last night at RivaBella in West Hollywood, he acted like a perfect gentleman, saying, "As long as she's happy, that's all I care about."

32-year-old Sean Stewart is over the moon about his new relationship with 51-year-old Adrienne Maloof -- telling TMZ, "I'm very happy ... She's a very very very good lady" ... and anyone who criticizes their age difference is just SEXIST.

Stewart was out in L.A . today when he addressed rumors he'd already moved into Adrienne's pad -- just weeks after they started dating -- and he said, it's just not true ... "I actually have my own place."

But things got heated when the topic turned to the couple's age difference -- Stewart said, "If men can date younger women, why can't an older woman date a younger man? It's sexist."

Bethenny Frankel's estranged husband has made it clear ... he's not going down without a fight in divorce court, because he's gunning for exactly the same spoils Bethenny wants from him.

TMZ has learned Jason Hoppy has filed his response to Bethenny's divorce petition, in which he's requesting PRIMARY CUSTODY of the couple's 2-year-old daughter. We broke the story, Bethenny also wants primary custody.

Jason also wants child support from Bethenny -- she wants the same from him.

Jason is asking for Bethenny to foot the bill for medical and dental insurance as well as related expenses for himself and daughter Bryn. In Bethenny's legal docs she asks that Jason pay for her medical and dental bills, as well as Bryn's.

Jason wants Bethenny to maintain life insurance on herself, making both Bryn and him beneficiaries. She wants him to maintain a life insurance policy for her benefit as well as Bryn's.

And last but not least ... Jason wants "exclusive use and occupancy of the marital residence." Surprise -- Bethenny wants that too.

Ah, one last thing. He wants her to pay for his lawyer, accountant, etc.

This one's not gonna end nicely.

It's official ... newly single Adrienne Maloof is dating Rod Stewart's son Sean -- who's nearly 20 years her junior -- but she tells TMZ, "Age is just a number."

Adrienne tells us, she met 32-year-old Sean very recently through a mutual friend. Sean had wanted to pitch her a business idea and the two just hit it off.

TMZ posted a video of Sean and Adrienne leaving a Bev Hills restaurant together this weekend -- and Adrienne says it was just one of several recent dates. But she adds, the two are keeping things casual for now.

Adrienne -- who is 51 -- isn't bothered by the age difference either, telling us, "It's about how good of a person you are ... [Sean] is a very funny guy. He's very giving, he mentors at the mission, works with at-risk children, and gives his time and money to get children off the streets."

"Real Housewives of Miami" star Alexia Echevarria says she was inundated with medical bills after her son's tragic car crash and now she's suing her insurance broker for $2 million ... claiming her massive bills are all their fault.

Echevarria filed a lawsuit in Florida court against a company called Garcia Lorenzo & Associates ... claiming they dropped the ball when it came to executing her insurance policy.

Echevarria's 13-year-old son was in a "catastrophic" car accident back in 2011 which landed him in the ICU with severe bodily injuries, including a brain injury. In the suit, Alexia says thanks to GL's shoddy coverage, she was faced with millions of dollars in medical bills.

Echevarria claims that when she signed with the company back in 2008, she asked for a special type of extra coverage -- the exact coverage that would have helped curb the costs from her son's accident. She claims the company carelessly left it out.

Sheree Whitfield is in hot demand ... at least her bank account is ... because the IRS says the former "Real Housewives of Atlanta" star owes them over $40,000 in back taxes.

According to docs, Uncle Sam filed a tax lien against Sheree in Georgia for unpaid taxes in the years 2009 and 2010 to the tune of $41,752.83.

The feds aren't only ones after her bank account. As TMZ first reported, Sheree was recently ordered by a judge to fork over $119,000 to her former divorce lawyers, for an unpaid legal tab.

Bills, bills, bills ... someone's gotta pay 'em.

Newly single "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Adrienne Maloof has seemingly moved on with a new man (and he's barely a man) in the form of Sean Stewart.

Yes, it seems the new couple -- whose age difference is nearly 20 years -- went out for a night on the town, hitting up the popular Beverly Hills restaurant Crustacean last night.

Bethenny Frankel means business, even in divorce. She wants Jason to pay child support and a lot more ... TMZ has learned.

TMZ broke the story ... Bethenny filed for divorce last week against Jason Hoppy. Now we've learned ... Bethenny -- who is reportedly worth between $25 million and $55 million -- has filed legal docs asking for the following from Jason:

--- Child support ... retroactive from the date she filed for divorce
-- Medical, dental, optical, therapeutic, and orthodontic expenses for HER and her child
-- Life insurance that makes both her and the kid beneficiaries

She also wants Jason -- who made lots of money in real estate -- out of their marital residence for good. Bethenny is asking for exclusive occupancy.

And there's more ... Bethenny wants primary physical custody of 2-year-old Bryn.

Bethenny also wants the judge to enforce their prenup dated March 23, 2010 ... signed 5 days before they got hitched.

A source connected with Bethenny tells TMZ ... "This is a preliminary step to move the process forward. She wants to work this out privately and amicably. All Bethenny cares about is that it works out the best way possible for Bryn."

"Real Housewives of Orange County" star Vicki Gunvalson almost didn't make it to 2013 -- her body recently went barreling down a mountain like a rogue snowball ... which left her in the hospital with a nasty case of whiplash.

Vicki tells TMZ ... she was on a ski run in Park City, Utah just before the New Year ... when a snowboarder abruptly cut her off and caused her to tumble face first down the mountain, thrashing her neck around in the process.

Vicki managed to get back up and finish the course ... but as a precaution, ski patrol called an ambulance to take her to the hospital -- giant neck brace and all -- where doctors determined she had a bad case of whiplash.

Vicki tells us, she's recovering nicely ... and will follow up with an OC doctor soon.

Bethenny Frankel is taking her split from Jason Hoppy to the next level ... she's filed for divorce, TMZ has learned.

According to court records in New York, Frankel began the divorce process by filing a summons for divorce -- the first step in the divorce process -- earlier this week.

Kelsey Grammer continued his real estate fire sale today -- putting his Beverly Hills mansion on the market for $7.25 million ... just 8 months after he and his wife Kayte moved into it.

Kelsey picked up the 6,000 sq. ft. pad for $6.5 million last April as a gift for Kayte and their daughter Faith -- but then his show "Boss" got axed, and Kelsey went into downsize mode.

In addition to this 6 bed, 7.5 bath home ... Kelsey's divorce settlement with Camille Grammer calls for the sale of their 10,000 sq. ft estate -- also in BH -- another home in Malibu ... and their mansion in Beaver Creek, CO.

Everything must go!!

Kelsey's hoping to turn a little profit on the BH home with the $7.25 mil asking price -- he bought it for $6.5. If the purchase price is a little high ... you can rent it for $30K a month instead.