'RHOBH' Star Erika Jayne Sued Divorce with Tom's Total Sham ... You're Hiding Money!!!

Erika Jayne and Tom Girardi funded a lavish lifestyle with money intended for plane crash victims and now they're hiding assets with a sham divorce ... according to a new lawsuit.

The "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star and her lawyer hubby are being dragged into court by the law firm Edelson, which is suing him for allegedly embezzling money from a settlement intended to compensate the families of victims of the crash of Lion Air Flight 610.

According to the lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, Edelson -- which also represented the plaintiffs in the Lion Air litigation -- claims Tom used the settlement money to fund his "outrageous lifestyle" with Erika.

Edelson claims Girardi also needed the money to help keep his own law firm afloat, claiming it was is in financial peril from various loans.

And, then there’s this ... Edelson also claims Erika filed to divorce Tom in order to help him hide assets, claiming it believes the November divorce is nothing more than a sham.

We reached out to Erika ... so far, no word back.

'Real Housewives of Atlanta' Stripper Scandal Too Much for Tanya ... Bails on Filming

"The Real Housewives of Atlanta" is known for some steamy scenes, but apparently season 13 gets so wild ... one woman's walking away mid-season.

Tanya Sam -- who's not an official Housewife but a "friend" of the show -- has officially bailed on filming the rest of the current season ... production sources tell TMZ.

As for why ... well, we're told it revolves around Cynthia Bailey's bachelorette party and what Tanya and Porsha Williams did with a male stripper while cameras were rolling ... and what they may or may not have done when cameras shut down.

Our sources say Tanya's not happy about the alleged stripper sex incident being so heavily promoted for the upcoming season, so she stopped filming about halfway through.

We're told she had other issues too -- like her relationship with her fiance and his alleged cheating taking center stage on season 12 -- but the stripper scandal was the last straw.

Our sources say she hasn't officially quit 'RHOA,' but she's done for the new season ... so viewers will notice her drop out after a few episodes.

We're also told that as of right now, Tanya's so ticked off she's not even considering doing the reunion show when the season wraps up.

Season 13 premieres on Dec. 6.

Ex-MLB Great Jim Edmonds Rips 'RHOC' Ex for Partying, Getting COVID ... You Put My Family at Risk!!!

Retired MLB star Jim Edmonds is pissed at his estranged wife for being reckless with COVID -- he claims her partying and jet-setting ways put his family in danger.

Jim's estranged wife, "Real Housewives of Orange County" alum Meghan King, says she's isolating after testing positive for COVID-19. Jim's rep, Steve Honig, tells TMZ ... Jim thinks Meghan has a lot of explaining to do because she attended a major Halloween event in St. Louis before jetting down to Miami, where she continued to party.

So, he says Jim's hardly surprised she announced she tested positive ... but he is pissed.

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Videos and pictures from the Halloween bash show Meghan rubbing elbows with tons of people, the vast majority of whom are not wearing masks.

And, photos from Meghan's trip to Miami again show her with lots of maskless folks. She says she loves feeding her "wanderlust spirit" ... even in a pandemic.

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A source close to the situation claims Meghan came over to Jim's house after her Miami trip to pick up their kids ... after allegedly being exposed to the virus. The source claims Meghan was hugging and kissing the kids, putting not only their children at risk, but also Jim's girlfriend.

Our source claims Meghan's lying about the timing of everything to make it seem like her reckless partying has nothing to do with her positive COVID diagnosis.

We're told after Meghan went public with her diagnosis Sunday, Jim reached out to her directly and expressed disappointment with her lack of responsibility.

Bottom line ... Jim's rep says he thinks Meghan's not acting like a responsible parent.

Joe Giudice I'm Happy Teresa Has a New Guy

Joe Giudice is glad his ex-wife is moving on with her life ... and tells us he's happy Teresa's got a hot new boyfriend. Okay, "hot" is our word, not his.

The ex 'Real Housewives of New Jersey' star tells TMZ ... he's known for some time Teresa's been dating Luis Ruelas, and he's happy to see her with someone new. Joe says his ex-wife's equally happy to know he's moving on too.

Teresa revealed her new flame's identity Monday, and sources close to her tell us she met Luis a couple of months ago at the Jersey shore. We're told they're taking things slow ... not living together, but very happy as a couple.

Remember, Joe and Teresa recently finalized their divorce after 20 years of marriage. They'd separated following his prison release and deportation to Italy.

And, get this ... things are going well enough with Luis that Teresa's already introduced him to her 4 daughters with Joe.

'RHOBH' Star Erika Jayne Files to Divorce Tom Girardi

Erika Jayne and Tom Girardi's marriage is over ... or at least she wants it to be, 'cause Erika just filed for divorce.

The singer and 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' star filed divorce docs in Los Angeles County this week -- seeking a dissolution of marriage from her powerhouse attorney hubby -- who's more than 30 years her senior.

It's unclear what she's seeking at this point in terms spousal support -- if anything at all -- but we're working on getting more info. It's pretty shocking news considering they've been together for so long now ... the two got hitched in 1999. Last millennium, folks!

They share no children, but probably have a ton of assets between the both of them after all these years -- they're incredibly wealthy.

Erika became a regular 'RHOBH' cast member starting in season 6, and Tom's made several appearances as well.

Story developing ...

Claudia Jordan, Too Short We Are Not Pro-Trump ... Black Celebs Press Release is Fake News!!!

NOT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE

President Trump is garnering public support from some black celebrities and hip-hop artists, but Claudia Jordan and Too Short want everyone to know they're not part of that group ... despite a very misleading press release.

Here's the deal -- a press release went out Monday about Trump inviting a "prominent group of African-American actors and entertainers" to the White House in December to discuss issues facing the Black community and the President's proposed Platinum Plan.

According to the announcement, the December meeting would be attended by the stars of an upcoming documentary called "Trump vs. Hollywood" -- including rappers Eric B., Money-B, actor Isaiah Washington and the film's director, Daphne Barak. The documentary seems to be very pro-Trump.

That's where Claudia and Too Short come in, as their names are listed as being part of "Trump vs. Hollywood" alongside names of some well-known Trump supporters ... like Kid Rock, Dean Cain and Scott Baio.

It definitely reads like all of the celebs are endorsing the Prez, but as both the 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' star and the rapper point out ... that's not the case.

They both say they were asked to do an interview by Barak and agreed to it, but in no way does that mean they support Trump. Claudia says the film director presented it as talking to people on both sides of the political aisle.

Too Short adds that he's about to go vote -- NOT for Trump -- and says in the past few weeks he's also been asked to fly to D.C. to meet with Trump or hop on a phone call with someone on his team.

He says he rejected both offers and, without naming names, throws some serious shade at fellow rappers who have taken the Trump meeting for what he believes is just a photo op.

Too Short's claim echoes what Rich The Kid recently said too -- that Trump tried to send him a private jet to fly him to his Michigan rally to buy his support.

Claudia says this all appears to be a "mad dash" to get black rappers to endorse Trump, but she and Too Short are warning everyone ... don't be fooled.

Kathy Hilton Signs On for 11th Season of 'RHOBH'

"The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" just became even more of a family affair ... because Kathy Hilton is officially joining the show.

The sister of 'RHOBH' star Kyle Richards and former star Kim Richards -- and of course, Paris and Nicky's mother -- finalized her deal in the last week ... production sources tell TMZ.

We're told Kathy's signed on to be a "friend of the show," which means she'll make regular appearances and possibly do confessionals ... but isn't considered a full-time cast member.

We broke the story in September ... after making brief appearances in past seasons, 'RHOBH' producers made an offer to Kathy to join, but she was mulling it over. Clearly, she decided to pull the trigger.

It's unclear if her addition will lead to any appearances by her children, but production for Season 11 is underway ... so fans will find out shortly.

The Kathy news isn't the only big development on the show -- it was also just announced that Crystal Kung Minkoff will be added to the Season 11 cast list. She's the wife of "Lion King" director Rob Minkoff ... and the first Asian American to join the show.

'RHOA' Star Cynthia Bailey Bravo Bailed on Filming Wedding ... Over COVID Concerns

Cynthia Bailey's wedding had all the makings of a classic episode of "The Real Housewives of Atlanta," but production pulled the plug on filming it at the last minute thanks to the weather ... and coronavirus.

Production sources tell TMZ ... Bravo was set to have a camera crew on location for the 'RHOA' star's nuptials -- which was a planned, outdoor event -- but 2 days before the wedding, Cynthia decided to make it an indoor affair because Hurricane Delta was bearing down on the region.

But, it became a house of cards, because the indoor venue made the network wary due to COVID-19 concerns, and Bravo decided it wasn't safe or appropriate to send staff to film with limited space and an expected 181-person guest list.

The good news -- for Cynthia and 'Housewives' fans -- Bravo still plans to work with her to showcase her wedding in the upcoming season.

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We're told the bride had her own camera crew on hand at the Governors Towne Club in Acworth, GA last Saturday, and she'll provide footage of the ceremony to production.

Cynthia's pleased with this arrangement, and there was less drama with the way things worked out ... so she's totally fine with it.

As for how Cynthia and her new husband, Mike Hill, dealt with the coronavirus risk at their large gathering ... our sources say they took several precautions.

There were temperature checks at the door, guests were required to wash hands upon entry, masks were required unless eating or drinking ... and all confirmed guests had to have negative COVID tests within 5 days of the wedding.

'Real Housewives of NY' Hires Eboni K. Williams ... Cast's First Black Housewife!!!

The "Real Housewives of New York City" is making a little history ... now that producers have hired their first Black cast member in the show's 13-year run.

TMZ's learned the Bravo series hired Eboni K. Williams to join the Big Apple ladies for season 13, which is already in production. The attorney and TV host is ecstatic about her new gig, telling us ... "NYC is filled with successful and dynamic Black women. I’m excited to join this legendary franchise as the first Black housewife. Can’t wait to share a slice of life in this city that hasn’t been seen before."

She added, "Anyone who’s aware of my work knows I don’t hold back. I’m going to keep it just as real here as I do everywhere else."

The 37-year-old Charlotte native co-hosted "FOX News Specialists" before leaving FNC at the end of 2018. For a short time, Eboni co-hosted a talk show on WABC Radio in NYC and currently co-hosts "State of the Culture" on Diddy's REVOLT TV.

Eboni earned her law degree from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law -- and she clerked for Louisiana's Secretary of State and the state's Attorney General. Bottom line ... she can hold her own in an argument, which should come in handy.

As we reported, the show's producers also shot with Bershan Shaw, another potential Black housewife. In the end, they decided Eboni was the better fit as a full-time cast member. We're told it's still possible Bershan will make appearances.

TMZ broke the story ... 'RHONY' wanted to diversify its cast this upcoming season. There was certainly plenty of room to do so with Dorinda Medley and Tinsley Mortimer's departures.

Kyle Richards Alleged Ring Thief Says it Wasn't Her!!! Demands Kyle Apologize

The long-nailed woman who allegedly stole Kyle Richards' ring has pretty solid proof she's been wrongly accused, and wants an "I'm sorry" from the 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' star.

Diana French is a retired pharmacy clerk from L.A. who went viral -- well, her hands did anyway -- after, for some strange reason, actress Diane Keaton shared a photo of her hands ... calling Diana's black nails "too much" and claiming she's a fortune teller.

The nails are up for debate, but Diana says the fortune teller thing is untrue.

Anyway, Richards saw Keaton's post, and believed she recognized one of the rings Diana's wearing as her mom's stolen ring ... which got swiped back in December 2017 when Kyle and her husband's home was hit by burglars.

SORRY, KYLE
@daddiebrown / TikTok

After Diana went viral for all the wrong reasons ... her granddaughter took to TikTok to clear her name.

She also defended herself by going on "Inside Edition" with even more proof the ring belongs to her ... including old photos of her wearing it, and the original appraisal from FORTY years ago.

Kyle had gone public with her search for the stolen ring, but to be fair, she never accused French of theft. She thought French might have purchased the ring from a pawn shop, and was going to offer to buy it back from her.

So yeah, it seems like the fortune teller pharmacy clerk is in the clear, but now she's waiting on an apology from Richards ... and Keaton.

Kyle Richards Rock Solid with Hubby, Mauricio ... Internet Buzz Be Damned

Kyle Richards and her husband, Mauricio Umansky, aren't split, separated or heading for divorce, because -- brace yourself for this -- sometimes social media rumors are just that.

Sources directly connected to the couple tell TMZ ... "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star and her real estate agent hubby are not only doing well in their marriage -- they feel closer than ever due to the pandemic.

If ya hadn't heard ... a single tweet by a reality TV fan speculated Kyle and Mauricio were separated, and that's why her sister, Kathy Hilton, is in talks to join the cast. The unfounded theory caught fire 'cause that's what the Internet does.

We're told the fan is just dead wrong, and the couple has been happily spending more time together since COVID-19 changed the way we all live. Well, not all of us live this way -- while they're working from home together, they've been bouncing between their pads in L.A., Palm Springs and Aspen.

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In fact, Kyle and Mauricio were all over each other Monday after a bike ride in Aspen. They also recently took a trip to Cabo together.

Our sources say Kyle's enjoying a break from shooting 'RHOBH' as well because production of the show takes up so many hours -- so she and Mauricio are making the most of it.

Caitlyn Jenner & Sophia Hutchins In Talks to Join 'RHOBH'

Sophia Hutchins and Caitlyn Jenner have signaled publicly how much they want to be part of 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' ... and now we're told they're actively trying to make it happen.

Sources close to the gal pals tell TMZ ... Sophia recently sat down for dinner with former 'Housewives' castmate Eileen Davidson, and they talked about the show and the possibility of Sophia filling a vacancy.

We're told they also chatted about Eileen's experience on the show and Sophia got enough good feedback that she decided 'RHOBH' was something she wanted to do.

Our sources say Sophia's camp reached out to production and the sides have been talking about the possibility of her joining the show, possibly as a main cast member ... and Sophia's roommate Caitlyn would also make appearances.

Sophia seems like a good fit ... she knows Lisa Rinna socially, and Caitlyn knows Harry Hamlin ... so it could be organic for them to come aboard.

COUNT ME IN!!!
TMZ.com

We got Sophia outside Craig's in West Hollywood and she was coy about joining the show, but our sources say Caitlyn advised Sophia to pursue a spot and wants to be a "friend of the show" herself.

As you know, Sophia and Caitlyn live out in Malibu, but that wouldn't be unprecedented on 'RHOBH' ... a lot of the housewives have lived in the 'Bu, including Denise Richards.

We broke the story ... Kathy Hilton is also in talks to become a series regular, but hasn't pulled the trigger on Bravo's offer.

As for Sophia and Caitlyn, our sources say nothing has been signed but they are hoping to snag spots.

Claudia Jordan Sues Wine Co. Things Aren't 'Just Peachy' ... I Got Fired for Supporting BLM!!!

Claudia Jordan turned Just Peachy wine into a booming brand, then got left high and dry because she supports the Black Lives Matter movement ... or so she claims in a new suit.

The former 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' star is going after Biagio Cru and Estate Wines, because she claims she was wrongfully fired in late 2018 over her public support of justice for Black people and speaking out against unlawful police treatment.

According to the docs -- obtained by TMZ -- Jordan claims she entered into an agreement with Biagio in 2016 to work together, in which she would promote Just Peachy in return for 3 percent ownership of the brand and 3 percent of all the money it hauls in.

Claudia says the campaign kicked off in 2017 and was a huge success over the following year. She claims sales were dramatically boosted due to her involvement in the strategy and marketing ... and the brand became synonymous with her name.

Despite all that, Claudia claims Biagio tried to terminate its contract with her in late 2018 and stopped paying her. She alleges this was due to her support of BLM, and even says Biagio commented that her social media posts against police brutality of African-Americans were "too slanted."

According to the suit -- filed by attorney Christopher Brown -- Biagio stopped sending her financial statements in 2018 and cut her off. Claudia also claims Biagio continues to use her association with Just Peachy to its advantage while denying it struck a deal giving her ownership.

The company claims it elected to part ways with Claudia for "legitimate, non-discriminatory reasons; namely, dissatisfaction with Ms. Jordan’s ability to boost sales in relevant markets" ... but she believes it was over her political views on racial issues.

She's suing for breach of contract and is seeking hundreds of thousands or more in damages.

Biagio Cru says it will "vigorously defend against the false claims asserted by Ms. Jordan and will pursue any and all appropriate legal actions associated with false and defamatory statements published by Ms. Jordan."

NeNe Leakes I'm Not Coming Back to 'RHOA' ... Andy Cohen Responds

SO SAD TO SAY GOODBYE
UPDATE

2:51 PM PT -- Andy Cohen says he's going to miss NeNe on the show, and calls her an "icon of the genre" along with a "gif and catchphrase machine."

UPDATE

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UPDATE

Andy -- aka "Buttercup" to NeNe -- points out that she has been his most frequent guest on 'Watch What Happens Live' and is always a blast ... and he hopes to work with her again soon.

Rumors have circulated for months, but now it's official -- NeNe Leakes will not be returning to "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" ... she says so herself.

The longtime 'RHOA' star just posted a video stating it clearly -- she's made the call to NOT be a part of season 13. NeNe says she made the difficult decision after an "extremely long, exhausting, tiring, emotional" contract negotiation.

NeNe stresses things were emotional for both sides during the process, and fights back tears before reflecting on her time with the show ... which started for her back in 2008.

Though Leakes only explicitly says she's out for season 13, her message suggests this is more of a farewell for good.

She says ... "I'm just so happy that I can say that I was part of a genre that opened up a door for Black ensemble reality shows. I want to thank everybody that has looked up to me over the years. I want to thank Bravo for all the memories. Thank you to the cast for all of the memories."

The video NeNe posted on her YouTube page includes her 'RHOA' highlights from over the years.

In August, NeNe went on a tweeting spree amid her contract negotiations and seemed to call out her castmates for not protecting her or standing up for her ... though she didn't name names.

NeNe is one of the reality series' biggest stars, known most for her friendship/falling out/reconciliation with Kim Zolciak-Biermann ... and her rivalry with Kenya Moore.

'RHOA' is currently in production for the upcoming season on Bravo.

A spokesperson for the network tells TMZ ... "We wish Nene all the best in her future endeavors and thank her for sharing her journey for over a decade with the fans of 'The Real Housewives of Atlanta.' She’s been instrumental since the start and will truly be missed, and maybe one day she’ll hold the peach again."

Originally Published 2:18 PM PT

Kathy Hilton In Talks to Join 'RHOBH' As Series Regular!!!

Kathy Hilton has an important decision to make ... we've learned she's been invited to get in on the action in the upcoming season of "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills."

Production sources tell TMZ ... 'RHOBH' producers have approached Kathy about joining the show. She wouldn't be brought on as a full-time cast member, instead, we're told she'd be a "friend of the show" and make regular appearances.

The offer's out, but we're told Kathy hasn't made a decision ... our sources say she's definitely interested, but hasn't decided if she'll pull the trigger.

The move would make sense for Kathy, who has longstanding ties to the show.

As you know, Kathy's sisters with 'RHOBH' star Kyle Richards and former star Kim Richards, plus Kathy's appeared on the show in previous seasons.

And, there's this ... there were rumors last year about Kathy joining the show, and Kyle said she would be happy to have another sister on "RHOBH." She says Kathy's super funny and would be a great addition.

Paris Hilton's mom was never a housewife or "friend of the show: ... most of her appearances were short and sweet, but now Kathy's got a real chance to be one of the gals.

Stay tuned.

NeNe Leakes Not Planning to Sue Bravo ... Despite Apparent Bad Blood

Rumors of a looming discrimination lawsuit against Bravo has absolutely nothing to do with NeNe Leakes whatsoever ... TMZ has learned.

A source close to the reality star tells us ... NeNe is in no way ramping up to file suit or any type of legal action against Bravo at this time, nor is she "teaming up" with other women of color who might be considering such a move. Any notion to the contrary simply isn't true.

We're told NeNe is focused on herself and her own career right now -- specifically, fleshing out her newly announced show with E!, "Glamsquad Showdown," while also trying to work through negotiations with Bravo on potentially coming back for another season of 'RHOA.'

We're also told that NeNe is seeking a larger role in the NBCUniversal TV-sphere, and that those talks take a while. So no, she ain't biting the hand that feeds in the meantime.

As for why folks might've thought something was brewing with NeNe in the first place ... well, that might have to do with her own words and a whole lot of innuendo. NeNe herself has alluded to mistreatment during her tenure there, both explicitly and implicitly.

She recently hopped on her YouTube channel to air some grievances about how she felt some of the showrunners and execs were treating her differently than some of the other ladies come reunion time. Not only that, but she also fueled intrigue when she dropped some suggestive comments about the 'Vaderpump' racism scandal from a few months back.

On top of that, former 'RHOA costars of hers, like Eva Marcille, have also been throwing NeNe's name around when mentioning this supposed lawsuit that's coming down the pike.

She recently did just that while talking on Rickey Smiley's morning show ... and while she didn't exactly connect the dots, one could assume NeNe was in on the suit by the way she was talking.

Fact is, there is no connection ... period. Seems like NeNe still has plans with Bravo on the horizon that she very much wants to keep intact.

A Bravo spokesperson said they were not aware of any lawsuit.

Old news is old news!
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