Reality TV

Kimberly DePaola -- a semi-regular on "Real Housewives of New Jersey" -- enticed a well-known jeweler to sell her some of his best pieces ... so she could rip off the designs and sell them as her own ... according to a new lawsuit.

Constantino Frangopolous claims he and Kimberly struck a deal -- he would design pieces for her to wear on "RHONJ" ... and she would promote and sell his jewelry to fans of the show.

According to court docs, Frangopolous' designs were not only featured in several episodes ... but Kimberly started selling knockoffs of his designs on her website and in two of her retail stores.

The jeweler claims he asked KD to send him a contract to formalize their deal -- which she never did -- and now he's suing her and Bravo to collect lost profits.

Eddie Cibrian has overpaid Brandi Glanville more than $100k in spousal support ... and he's gunning to get it back -- and his people tell us Brandi is a bald-faced LIAR in trying to spin what really happened.

The former couple is still sparring over money, and they hired a law firm to help figure out who owes what. The attorney sent both Eddie and Brandi this letter which says after a full audit Eddie paid Brandi $114,738 too much in alimony.

Multiple sources connected with the audit confirm to TMZ ... although the document merely refers to the overpayment as "support" ... the overpayment is for SPOUSAL support, not child support.

Brandi has tweeted, "...Mr. fancy new cars&house man is asking ME for child support." We're told that is FALSE. Eddie's people tell us, "It's a complete lie." Furthermore, our sources make it clear child support has nothing to do with the overpayment.

As for how Eddie expects Brandi to pay him back ... according to the lawyer's letter, it will be subtracted from her share of his retirement accounts.

The hard-drinking, hard-partying rednecks of "Party Down South" are a dime a dozen as far as CMT is concerned ... because the network is prepared to cut some of 'em loose if they can't agree on new contracts.

TMZ broke the story ... cast members are holding out for raises before Season 2 starts shooting. Right now they're only pulling down $500 per episode.

Sources close to the show tell us CMT had a conference call last Friday with the cast and their newly hired managers -- and one of the stars, Mattie Breaux, went off ... bitching about salaries, and a plan to shoot seasons 2 and 3 back-to-back.

We're told Mattie eventually hung up, but producers were unfazed -- and are now saying if Mattie wants to quit ... they won't stop her.

We've also learned the cast will get $1000 each to shoot a reunion episode next week ... and they're hoping the new contracts are signed by then.

Now, here's why we're all pulling for Tiffany to get a rise raise ...

Drake sure has balls ... hijacking the mic from one of the founding fathers of modern hip hop during the NBA All-Star weekend.

Drake and Diddy were at Metropolitan club in New Orleans ... along with Nelly, Busta Rhymes, Kevin Hart and Fabolous ... when Drake broke out his tune, "Worst Behavior."

Diddy joined in ... and Drake pulled a Kanye on the rap mogul.

Lamar Odom doesn't just think he can save his basketball career in Spain ... he also thinks he can save his marriage ... and to prove it, he rocked his wedding ring on his way out of the country.

Odom was all smiles as he rolled through LAX on Tuesday ... right before he boarded his plane to Espana, where he'll join a Spanish pro basketball team (Laboral Kutxa Vitoria).

But it was clear he wanted to make a statement about the state of his marriage to Khloe Kardashian -- by wearing the ring on his finger.

As we previously reported, Khloe already filed for divorce ... and wants out of the marriage.

Clearly, Odom is an optimist these days.

Famed choreographer Wade Robson is full of BS when he says he waited years to file a molestation claim against the Michael Jackson Estate on grounds of repressed memory ... so says the Estate's lawyer who wants the case thrown out.

Robson has filed a claim with the Estate asking for $$$ based on his sexual abuse claim, but Estate lawyer Howard Weitzman has fired back in legal docs ... the fat lady sung on Wade 4 years ago.

Weitzman says in order to pursue a claim Wade should have filed his case within 60 days of learning MJ's Estate was in probate court ... and pretty much everyone knew that because it made news around the world.

Weitzman actually got Robson to admit in a deposition he KNEW about the guardianship dispute involving Michael's kids back in 2009 ... so his claim of ignorance just doesn't hold water.

Robson claims he delayed in filing his claim because of repressed memory.

A judge has yet to rule on Robson's right to press a claim.

As we reported, Robson first went on the offensive last year, claiming MJ "performed sexual acts on me and forced me to perform sexual acts on him" from the age of 7 ... until Robson was 14.

Wade had previously denied MJ molested him during the singer's 2005 molestation trial, but says the old testimony was a lie ... and that Michael had engaged in a campaign of manipulation to keep him silent.

Robson is demanding money from the Jackson estate as compensation for the alleged abuse.

Jessica Simpson's dad Joe has found a young man to spend his time with ... and photograph ... shirtless ... in Miami.

The pics were taken Saturday in South Beach, showing 55-year-old Joe getting his tan on with a much younger man ... and then taking shirtless photos of the guy, sprawled out on the sand.

Joe divorced ex-wife Tina in April after 35 years of marriage.

Whatever ... looks like he's having fun.

They've played for popes, presidents and even Whoopi Goldberg ... but this weekend, the Harlem Globetrotters got to pull out some of their best tricks for Britney Spears' kids.

Sean and Jayden James -- who look A LOT like their dad Kevin Federline these days -- got to meet some of the players before their big game at Staples Center in L.A.

We're told Britney wasn't at the game -- but her father was ... so the kids got some quality time with grandpa.

As for the game itself, the Globetrotters took on the Washington Generals ... and won.

Stupid Generals ... they just can't pull it together!!!!

BTW -- sweet Doug Martin jersey!

Brooklyn Tankard -- one of the stars of Bravo's "Thicker than Water" -- won't be winning any Mom of the Year awards ... she just got popped for allowing her kid to skip school.

Tankard -- known as "Queen Brooklyn" on the show -- was stopped by cops in Murfreesboro, Tennessee for a traffic offense ... and a license check turned up some outstanding warrants ... including one for "Failure to Cause Child to Attend School."

According to court docs ... Tankard's 10-year-old daughter, Diamond, had 16 unexcused absences from school ... and had another 35 unexcused tardies.

So they arrested Brooklyn for not forcing her kid to go to school.

11:20 A.M. PT -- Kate just told TMZ she lied about the threats, saying "I regretfully tweeted while my emotions were high that I was being threatened by Michael with a knife, this was not the case." Major tells us she made it up because she feared Michael would take her son away.

Michael Lohan went ballistic and brandished a knife last night during his fight with baby mama Kate Major saying, "I'm going to kill you, bitch!" -- at least that's what Kate told cops -- but Michael's 911 call tells a different story.

TMZ has obtained the police report regarding the altercation last night at Michael's Florida house ... after Michael called 911, claiming Kate was drunk and acting erratically around their one-year-old son.

According to the report, when police arrived, Kate told them Michael had falsely accused her of drinking around their baby and a fight broke out. That's when Kate claims Michael grabbed a knife and threatened to kill her with it.

Kate told police she locked herself in a bedroom to get away from him ... and he tried to kick the door down. When he failed, Kate claims Michael went outside to the bedroom's sliding glass doors and made stabbing gestures at her.

Kate claims she tried to call police ... but her phone was broken ... even though she still managed to send out a bunch of tweets.

Kris Jenner has one word for people who think her estranged husband is changing his sex.

We got Kris last night at Mr. Chow in Malibu -- which by the way is where Bruce Jenner is now living full-time.

The rattler that took a deadly bite out of "Snake Salvation" pastor Jamie Coots will not be killed ... in fact, the family will deploy the snake during next Saturday's service ... TMZ has learned.

Coots was bitten Saturday while he was preaching to his congregation and died after refusing medical help ... believing he was protected from the venom by God's power.

Jamie's son Cody tells us, the family still believes in God's protective power against snake venom -- despite his father's death -- telling us his dad felt it was much better to die from a snakebite than a stroke or car accident ... in fact, for him a snakebite was "God's way."

Cody -- who will take over as pastor -- says, "It was God saying, this is how you wanted it, and it's your time to go ... If he didn't plan [to die this way] he would have stayed alive."

As we reported ... even though using snakes during religious services is illegal in Kentucky, the police chief told us he would NOT enforce the law.

Omarosa has become the embodiment of reality show evil ... but in a radical turn, we've learned she's running for the L.A. Unified School District to better the lives of children.

The ruthless "Apprentice" star tells TMZ she's passionate about helping kids out of poverty and making them safe.

Here's the thing. Omarosa doesn't have kids ... so what, you might ask, makes her qualified? She tells us she's the Educational Director for the L.A. Clippers Youth Camp, she's helped women and children at an L.A. mission and she just got her certification as an LAUSD teacher.

We're guessing there will be lots of dirty tricks in the campaign. The election is June 3.

Michael Lohan's girlfriend claims he's threatening her with a knife and threatening to take their infant son -- and now police are on scene ... TMZ has learned.

Kate Major blasted Lohan on Twitter Monday evening ... claiming she had to lock herself and their one-year-old son Landon in a bedroom while a knife-wielding Lohan tried to break down the door.

Threatening to take our son. What judge would rule for. him??? Stuck inside a house with this guy? He has a knife

— Kate Major (@k8major) February 18, 2014

Sources close to the couple tell us Michael is the one who called 911 when Kate started acting erratically ... and locked herself in the room.

We're told officers want one of them to leave the house immediately -- but Michael isn't budging because he thinks Kate is drunk ... and doesn't want to leave her with the baby.

We just spoke to Michael who claims Kate's been drinking again ... and it got so bad she tried to kill herself over the weekend. Lohan tells us he's worried about the welfare of their child and says he'll attempt to get custody of their son if she doesn't get help.

During Kate's twitter rant ... she addressed the suicide saying, "Someone trying to kill u is worse than trying to kill yourself ! #udontscareme."

Kate also vowed to never let Michael take their son away from her.

"Snake Salvation" pastor Jamie Coots was breaking the law when he was bit by a deadly rattlesnake during church services ... but the police chief tells TMZ ... he's doing the Christian thing by turning the other cheek.

Middlesboro Police Chief Jeffrey Sharpe concedes a Kentucky law makes it illegal to handle or display reptiles in religious services. But Sharpe says he doesn't care what the law says ... as far as he's concerned the government doesn't have any business meddling in religious affairs.

Sharpe says he will NOT enforce the law ... period.

What makes it even more spectacular is that she's walking around in skintight leather pants.

Mind you baby Eric made his debut at 6 lbs 7 oz.