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Brian McKnight says his ex-wife, one of his sons, some bloggers, and a newspaper rolled out a coordinated assault on his reputation to make money from "malicious character assassination" ... at least according to a new lawsuit.

The legendary singer filed a lawsuit claiming he's the victim of a "shockingly dishonest" and "sensational but false narrative" alleging he abandoned his kids and refused to tell his dying son Niko he loved him.

In the lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, Brian says the false narrative was cooked up by his ex-wife, Julie McKnight, and he says it's been peddled by his son Brian Jr., bloggers Marc Lamont Hill and Tasha K, and the New York Post.

MrBeast enabled a sexist culture at his company ... this according to a new lawsuit filed by an ex-staffer on Wednesday. A rep for MrBeast's company adamantly denied the claims.

According to court docs obtained by Bloomberg, Lorrayne Mavromatis -- who says she was hired by Beast Industries in 2022 -- is suing the content creator’s company for wrongful termination, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and more … saying she was let go shortly after returning from maternity leave.

Mavromatis claims the company expected her to work through her parental leave … and even felt pressured to join a call from the delivery room.

The company strongly denied she was pressured to work while on maternity leave. 

TMZ has obtained an alleged Slack message sent to her by a coworker on March 31, 2015, stating, "Amazing! I've moved our meeting 30min as it coincided with our team meeting. But let's connect to discuss the idea you had as well." Lorrayne responded, "Hey Frank, I'll need to cancel and postpone. I'm actually in labor at the hospital as we speak." Her coworker replied, "You shouldn't even be checking Slack now LOL. Sending a big hug and lots of success! Enjoy the most amazing experience of our life." 

In another message, dated May 15, 2025, Lorrayne wrote, "Despite being on maternity leave, I feel like it would be extremely valuable to go with you to make sure everything works out smoothly and to have a Brazilian citizen on the ground with yall for any last-minute things that may arise -- specifically with his team. How would the logistics work through? Would there be a seat available on the jet for me?" 

In her suit, the former staffer also alleges in the complaint that she told her manager she was pregnant and needed to go on leave … but claims the company had no parental leave policy and her supervisor never told her about her FLMA rights.

Bill Cosby isn't backing down from his bid to erase his massive civil court loss ... but accuser Donna Motsinger's legal team says his latest Hail Mary should get laughed out of court.

Motsinger -- who alleges the comedian drugged and raped her in 1972 -- and her attorneys are urging the judge to reject Cosby's request to throw out the jury's verdict in her favor, or grant him a new trial.

According to new court docs obtained by TMZ, Motsinger's lawyers say his motion to throw out the verdict should be dead on arrival because it was filed seven days late.

Even if the judge considers it, her lawyers say Cosby is trying to relitigate issues he's already lost ... including constitutional arguments over California's sexual abuse revival law that were rejected earlier in the case.

Prosecutors trying "American Idol" alum Caleb Flynn for murder say they expect to put his daughters on the witness stand to ask them about the night their father allegedly shot their mother to death inside their home.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, prosecutors in Ohio say they anticipate multiple children testifying in Caleb's upcoming murder trial. We've also seen the witness list, and there are some redacted names.

As we previously reported, Caleb's two daughters were home the night their mother was murdered ... and prosecutors say Caleb pulled the trigger while his kids were in the other room.

D4vd is living a far different life than he was a week ago ... trading his $15,000 a month L.A. rental for a cold jail cell with strict rules.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... the musician, charged with murdering Celeste Rivas, is being held in a segregated single cell. 

D4vd is escorted from his cell to the shower, which he is allowed every other day. The singer is only allowed to make phone calls on the days he is allowed a shower.

Sources tell TMZ that D4vd is allowed recreation time with fresh air, but only 3 hours per week. He has no contact with other inmates during rec time. 

Bryton James’ divorce may be officially over ... but the financial drama from it remains ongoing -- because his ex-wife is now asking the court to make him cut her checks for spousal support.

According to new legal docs obtained by TMZ, the "Family Matters" star's ex, Jahaira James, filed a request for spousal support less than a month after their divorce was finalized.

The former couple's divorce judgment was entered on March 24, and their marital status was officially terminated on Sunday -- restoring both parties to single status. The final judgment also show the court's jurisdiction to order spousal support to either party was terminated as part of the split.

But now Jahaira apparently wants that revisited.

"90 Day Fiancé" star Paul Staehle and his now former wife Karine are dunzo ... the two are officially divorced, TMZ has learned.

According to court documents, obtained by TMZ, the judge in their case signed off on their divorce on April 13 after Karine filed a petition to dissolve the marriage back in February 2026.

The docs say the two separated more than a year ago and have been living apart for more than 60 days.

Blake Lively is fighting Justin Baldoni's effort to ban certain evidence from being presented to the jury at their upcoming trial ... including his alleged comments about her weight.

According to court documents, obtained by TMZ, Blake told a judge the alleged remarks about her weight are completely relevant to the case.

In her lawsuit, the "Gossip Girl" alum alleged that Justin -- ahead of a scene in "It Ends With Us" where he had to lift her -- called her personal trainer to inquire about her weight. Justin said he had back problems and needed to be careful. Blake took issue with his call.

Blake argued her claims about the weight-related comments should be heard by the jury when the trial starts in May. She said the information "provides necessary context for evaluating" her claim that he retaliated against her.

The director said the allegations are "irrelevant" and would prejudice a jury ... insisting any comments he made to Blake's trainer have no connection to the alleged smear campaign his team ran against the actress in response to her complaints about on-set behavior by Justin.

Xzibit says he is drowning in tax debt and fighting to have his estranged wife, Krista, make an effort to get a hefty spousal support check to continue their lavish lifestyle ... TMZ has learned.

According to court docs obtained by TMZ, the rapper revealed the State of California said he owes more than $400K in back taxes, and the IRS said he owes around $900K to Uncle Sam. The total of the debt comes to around $1.3 million.

In the docs, the rapper said that his monthly income is $66,547 per month, while he estimates his estranged wife Krista Joiner pulls in around $12,843.

'Mormon Wives' producers are firing back at "Vanderpump Villa" star Marciano Brunette’s claim that paperwork doesn't bar him from suing them ... TMZ has learned.

According to court docs obtained by TMZ, Jeff Jenkins Productions -- the company behind the Hulu reality show -- said Marciano's lawsuit should be thrown out.

As TMZ previously reported, Marciano sued 'Mormon Wives' cast member Demi Engemann and Jeff Jenkins for defamation. Marciano claimed he consensually hooked up with Demi ... only for her to make it appear he sexually assaulted her afterward.

Marciano decided to shoot for 'Mormon Wives' after being asked by his friend/cast member Chase McWhorter, months after he filed his suit. He said he was asked to sign a release after the shoot, which he says he believed was for payment ... but turned out to be an agreement that prohibited him from suing the producers.

The social media star alleging Stefon Diggs sexually assaulted him, who Diggs then sued for defamation, wants the judge in their legal beef to force the NFL star to turn over financial information ... claiming Diggs has been stonewalling him.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Christopher Blake Griffith and his legal team filed a motion asking the court to compel Stefon to produce evidence that Christopher's sexual assault allegations have hurt him financially and otherwise.

Christopher claims Stefon is resisting the discovery process ... and his lawyer says the NFL player "does not get to sue and hide."

The ball is in Jill Zarin's pickleball court ... because a lawsuit has just been filed against her and her boyfriend, Gary Brody.

Noah Springer is suing Zarin, Brody and GNG Enterprises ... with Springer claiming he invested $500K back in 2022 in exchange for a 25% share of a company called Pickle Pro Labs, LLC. He says he was promised a monthly salary of $5K while he and the company developed a machine called the Go-No-Go.

Around May 2024, Springer says he stopped getting paid ... and, around the same time, he claims Zarin and Brody founded GNG Enterprises -- a new company -- without his knowledge.

D4vd was heavily focused on promoting his new album around the time prosecutors say 14-year-old Celeste Rivas was last seen at his home.

TMZ has combed through D4vd's social media pages around the date of April 23, 2025 ... the same day prosecutors alleged D4vd invited Celeste to his rental home in the Hollywood Hills.

D4vd's TikTok page features a few posts on April 23 and in the following days ... and they're all focused solely on the release of his debut studio album, "Withered."

Anna Kepner’s accused killer isn’t showing up in court -- but he is showing his legal strategy ... pleading not guilty while staying out of sight.

The 16-year-old stepbrother -- identified in court docs only as T.H. -- waived his personal appearance at the arraignment Tuesday and entered a not guilty plea. He was originally expected to be in a Miami courtroom Wednesday morning.

The teen, who is now being prosecuted as an adult, is facing first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse charges tied to the death of his 18-year-old stepsister aboard a Carnival Cruise Line ship back in November 2025.

Ivanna Lisette Ortiz -- the woman accused of shooting at Rihanna's L.A. home -- is now completely cut off from her kid … and the judge is leaving barely any wiggle room.

A Florida judge has ruled Ortiz will have zero contact with her child until further order of the court ... the only exception is if the child's father personally approves it. The court ordered the child's father to have 100% time-sharing … meaning full custody and control over the child's day-to-day life.

And this didn't start with Rihanna … Ortiz had already been previously placed on an involuntary psychiatric hold in Florida. She claimed it was based on false accusations, but the judge still flagged concerns.