Stars In Heat

Demi Lovato has been sued by the group Sleigh Bells for allegedly ripping off their critically acclaimed song, "Infinity Guitars."

Demi's song "Stars" -- released last year as a bonus track in her album "Confident" -- has "virtually identical content" to "Infinity Guitars" ... so claims the group. The lawsuit says, "The combination of the hand claps and bass drum, structured as 3 quarter beats and a rest ... is at least substantially similar in both works."

"Infinity Guitars," released in 2010, was a massive critically acclaimed hit, scoring in Rolling Stone as one of the best songs of the year.

Last November, producers said "We did not use any samples in Demi Lovato's song Stars. Demi was also not involved with the production. She only wrote top line."

Sleigh Bells wants some serious profits from Demi and the other defendants, and they want to yank her song from getting more play.

Ryan Lochte just lost one of his biggest sponsors -- with Speedo pulling the plug on the swimmer in the wake of his embarrassing Rio bathroom debacle.

The mankini company just issued a statement saying, "While we have enjoyed a winning relationship with Ryan for over a decade and he has been an important member of the Speedo team, we cannot condone behavior that is counter to the values this brand has long stood for."

"We appreciate his many achievements and hope he moves forward and learns from this experience."

Speedo also says it will donate a $50,000 portion of Lochte's fees to Save The Children -- a charity which will use the money to benefit children in need in Brazil.

The banned substance that triggered a WWE wellness policy violation for Eva Marie is Adderall, but we're told Eva is adamant she had a prescription, and will appeal the punishment.

As we previously reported, Marie was hit with a 30 day suspension this week for allegedly violating the policy -- which covers everything from substance abuse to annual physicals and cardiovascular health.

Our WWE sources tell us ... all performers are REQUIRED to disclose all medication to WWE officials for company approval.

We're told in Eva's case ... the WWE claims the medication was NOT properly approved, thus the violation.

Sources connected to Eva say she claims she has a legit prescription from her doctor.

We reached out to Eva, and she said ... “I am disappointed that this suspension has occurred, yet understand and respect that WWE upholds their Wellness Policy to the letter and won't compromise on its integrity."

She added, "I violated policy by not turning in portions of required paperwork in the time frame WWE Medical deemed timely. I look forward to my return!”

Ryan Lochte was not the only swimmer who lied to the U.S. Olympic Committee about the so-called "robbery." TMZ has learned all 4 of them told the same false tale.

An official from the USOC tells us the Committee interviewed Lochte as well as Jimmy Feigen, Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger Sunday and all 4 told the exact same lie -- that they were in a cab when robbers posing as armed cops stopped their cab and demanded cash.

We're also told the 4 swimmers were interviewed individually, so they had clearly gone over their story beforehand.

TMZ reported Sunday ... an IOC official told us when they issued the initial denial of the incident occurred they were relying on the USOC, but the USOC official says they did indeed interview the 4 swimmers Sunday and they all told the story Lochte ended up telling on TV.

Ryan Lochte is finally doing a mea culpa for the lie he told on NBC that's become an international incident ... but he kind of doubled down on the version of events he told cops.

Lochte just posted ... "I want to apologize for my behavior last weekend -- for not being more careful and candid in how I described the events of that early morning and for my role in taking the focus away from the many athletes fulfilling their dreams of participating in the Olympics. I waited to share these thoughts until it was confirmed that the legal situation was addressed and it was clear that my teammates would be arriving home safely."

Lochte continues ... "It's traumatic to be out late with your friends in a foreign country - with a language barrier - and have a stranger point a gun at you and demand money to let you leave, but regardless of the behavior of anyone else that night, I should have been much more responsible in how I handled myself and for that I am sorry to my teammates, my fans, my fellow competitors, my sponsors, and the hosts of this great event."

He goes on to say he's proud to rep the USA in Olympic competition and this was a situation that could and should have been avoided.

He adds, "I accept responsibility for my role in this happening and have learned some valuable lessons. I am grateful for my USA Swimming teammates and the USOC, and appreciate all of the efforts of the IOC, the Rio '16 Host Committee, and the people of Brazil who welcomed us to Rio and worked so hard to make sure that these Olympic Games provided a lifetime of great new memories."

"There has already been too much said and too many valuable resources dedicated to what happened last weekend, so I hope we spend our time celebrating the great stories and performances of these Games and look ahead to celebrating future successes."

The statement is clearly crafted to thwart police efforts to have Lochte prosecuted. The biggest problem the swimmer faces ... going on TV, trashing the city by claiming armed men posed as cops robbed him as he was innocently taking a cab back to the Village.

Ryan Lochte told the U.S. Olympic Committee the same lie he told NBC, and he now faces possible discipline in addition to criminal charges ... TMZ has learned.

Sources close to Lochte and familiar with the situation tell us, Ryan repeated the story to USOC officials ... that he and his fellow swimmers were in a cab going back to the Olympic Village when men posing as cops robbed them and took their wallets.

The USOC and the IOC took heat Sunday after Lochte told the lie on TV. However, we're told once it heard the reports, the USOC got in touch with Ryan immediately, who said the story was untrue and the USOC passed that info to the IOC.

We've now learned after Lochte went on TV, USOC officials talked to him and he repeated the concocted story line and verse.

TMZ has also learned Lochte is preparing an apology to the U.S. and Brazil.

"Total Divas" star Paige got an unpleasant gift on her 24th birthday -- she got suspended for 30 days for violating the organization's talent wellness policy, WWE just announced.

The suspension, a first for the wrestler, will begin Thursday.

It's unclear what triggered the violation.

The news comes the same day her BF and WWE superstar Alberto Del Rio got suspended for violating the same policy.

Katt Williams officially has a new legal battle on his hands, now that the L.A. City Attorney is charging him with misdemeanor battery for allegedly punching a woman ... TMZ has learned.

We broke the story ... Williams was arrested at Sportsmen's Lodge restaurant in Studio City after a female employee accused him of attacking her. Law enforcement sources say it all started when Katt felt disrespected at how the woman was speaking to him.

We're told when cops arrived, they noticed visible minor injuries on the woman and cuffed him.

Katt's heard this before -- many times -- but if convicted, he faces up to 6 months in jail.

Two airports in Cali want Mariah Carey's boobs up out of their faces -- they're banning the billboards she commissioned because they're way too sexy.

Mimi's returning to Vegas later this month, and to promote the show we're told she shelled out thousands for an inviting photo shoot that were going up on billboards near Burbank and Orange County airports -- huge takeoff spots for the Vegas-bound L.A. crowd.

Problem is ... the airports have big issues with Mariah's boobs, barely covered by a gold sheet. We're told even Caesars, where Mariah will be performing, wants a censored version of the billboard.

Mariah, we're told, is pressing for the original in all its glory.

We're with her.

MLB superstar Albert Pujols is being sued by his own cousin -- who claims the L.A. Angels slugger ruined his life and aspiring baseball career by wrongly labeling him as a murderer.

The man behind the lawsuit is Wilfrido Juan Pujols -- Albert's cousin -- who was the passenger in a 2007 police chase in Missouri in which his car struck and killed a man.

Wilfrido's older brother was behind the wheel that day -- and was charged with multiple felonies including 2nd degree felony murder. Wilfrido was NOT charged with a crime. In fact, he claims he was trying to STOP his brother, who was messed up on drugs and booze.

The mother of the victim wrote a message to Albert's foundation in 2014 -- accusing the MLB star and his wife of financially aiding the brothers who she claimed "murdered" her son.

Albert's wife, Deidre, responded to the message with a statement condemning BOTH of the brothers -- saying, "These two young men have ruined many lives."

The victim's mother posted Deidre's statement on her Facebook page.

Wilfrido says it was that statement that has destroyed his reputation -- because people now think he played an active role in the deadly incident.

In his lawsuit, Wilfrido says the statement was approved by Albert -- and ruined his reputation in the baseball community and derailed his playing career.

Now, he wants the Pujols to shell out more than $27 MILLION to make things right ... don't hold your breath.

T.I. says he's not a bad restaurant owner ... he just hires bad, and that's why his Atlanta eatery has crashed and burned.

T.I., who owns Scales 925, faces eviction for months of unpaid rent.

We're told the rapper left a manager in charge of the business while he was tending to his music business, touring and making appearances.

T.I. feels betrayed, because things got so bad 12 employees filed a lawsuit for more than $50k in unpaid wages.

According to the docs ... one of the managers siphoned off money to line his own pockets ... causing employees' checks to bounce. Employees also claim they were coerced to work for hours off the clock.

T.I. is so in the dark he has no idea how much he owes in back rent.

Thomas Gibson may have nothing but time on his hands, because we're told show execs are thinking of axing him from the show.

Production sources tell TMZ, the honchos have had it with Gibson and his antics. TMZ broke the story he's been suspended for 2 weeks after kicking a writer in the shin.

Now our sources say writers for the show are crafting a story line for next season that eliminates Gibson's character altogether.

We're guessing writer/co-exec producer Virgil Williams -- the guy who was kicked -- is participating with glee.

Our sources say if Gibson does return he will never work as a director again ... his duties will be limited to acting.

Ed Sheeran straight up jacked the heart of Marvin Gaye's famous panty-dropping song, "Let's Get It On" ... so claims Gaye's co-writer's heirs in a new lawsuit.

Sheeran stands accused of ripping off the melody, harmony, and rhythm compositions from "Let's Get It On" for his smash hit, "Thinking Out Loud."

Ed Townsend and Gaye co-wrote the song. Both are dead, and Townsend's heirs are now suing Sheeran, claiming he lifted key parts of the '73 classic and used them in 'Thinking.'

Sheeran's been accused of similar tactics in the past. He was sued back in June for allegedly ripping off chunks of another songwriter's work for his song, "Photograph."

We've reached out to Sheeran, so far no word back.

Tyga better not run into cops today, because if he does they'll arrest him.

Kylie's BF was a no-show in court Tuesday, where he was supposed to appear so lawyers for his former landlord could grill him about his finances. The landlord got a $480,000 judgment against the rapper who fell way behind on rent and left the Malibu home in shambles. Tyga hasn't paid the judgment, so the landlord wants to know where Tyga's hiding his assets.

Attorneys for the landlord were in court today, explaining the landlord was upset over stories he saw that Tyga bought Kylie a $200,000 car for her birthday, which he claims is a fraudulent transfer of assets that should go to satisfy the judgment.

The judge issued a bench warrant, which means Tyga could go to jail.

The rapper's finances have been curious for a long time. He's had cars repoed, he's been evicted, but he still lives like a king. He recently rented a mansion for $46k a month.

A woman claims she got run over by an electric cart at AT&T Stadium during a Beyonce show ... and she's pointing the finger at the S.F. Giants.

It all went down in 2014 -- Jay Z and Beyonce were headlining the "On the Run" tour ... when Sateja Parulekar says she was mowed down by a staffer zipping around the venue on an electric cart.

Parulekar says she suffered serious injuries in the crash -- and is holding the Giants and Live Nation responsible (she claims the driver was a Live Nation employee).

In her lawsuit, filed in San Fran, Parulekar says San Francisco Giants Enterprises is responsible for operating the ballpark -- even during non-baseball events -- and should've been more careful with cart safety.

NFL linebacker Torrey Green says he is completely innocent in all 4 sexual assault cases -- but wants to apologize to the Atlanta Falcons for the "distraction" his legal issues have caused.

TMZ Sports broke the story ... the former Utah State standout is being investigated for allegedly raping several women in 2015. The Falcons cut him Thursday as soon as they learned about the allegations.

Green has hired a crisis manager -- Zack Teperman of ZTPR -- who says he's 100% confident Green will not only be exonerated, but continue his NFL career.

"Our client Torrey Green would like to apologize to Arthur Blank, Dan Quinn, Jeff Ulbrich and the entire Falcons organization for this distraction and the unfortunate accusations," Teperman says.

"At this time Torrey has complete faith that any further investigation will prove his complete innocence and he will be exonerated."

"It's a shame his name is being dragged out there in the media and that this young man’s bright future in the NFL is taking a major hit."