Raquel Leviss Back to Birth Name ... Call Me Rachel
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Raquel Leviss had an epiphany during her stay in a mental health facility ... she is going back to her birth name, and the reason is deeply rooted in her therapy.
Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... the "Vanderpump Rules" star was very upset her haters in the wake of Scandavol began calling her by her birth name, Rachel.
Although that's her government name, her friends and family began calling her Raquel at a very early age, and the name stuck.
We're told she's spent an enormous amount of time in therapy over the last few months, and her therapists explained to her ... her detractors had weaponized the name "Rachel" to hurt her. She came to realize, with the help of the therapists, that by taking the name back and embracing it ... she neutralized the people who used it as a weapon.
So, from this point on, she's Rachel.
Raquel Leviss Left Mental Health Facility a Week Ago
TMZ broke the story, Rachel left her mental health facility in Arizona last week ... with a staggering bill of $200K.
As we reported, Rachel has not yet signed on for Season 11 of 'VPR.' She's in negotiations with Bravo, and sources connected to her say what remains paramount in the negotiations and beyond is her mental health.
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The rest of the cast has been shooting Season 11 for more than a week ... they all showed up to SUR in WeHo Tuesday night and there were fireworks.
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'Real Housewives of Potomac' Brutal Fight Goes Down in Club!!! Woman Slammed to Ground
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An absolutely insane fight went down between friends of "The Real Housewives of Potomac" cast members ... with fists flying and women getting yanked down by their hair in this crazy video.
This exclusive video, obtained by TMZ, shows the cast breaking up a fight between friend of the show Keiana Stewart and another woman, Deborah Williams while at Zebbie's Garden in D.C. Thursday night for Ashley Darby's fashion line launch.
According to the police report obtained by TMZ, Candiace Dillard Bassett told police someone threw a drink at her ... and Keiana says she was hit in the forehead with a glass before getting pulled down in the physical altercation.
You can see Candiace and Ashley clearly in the video, trying to break up the messy brawl ... which apparently resulted in some spilled blood. We're told cops responded, but no no arrests were made. However, police are still investigating.
Sources connected to the show tell us production had already wrapped when the fight went down, so the crew's cameras didn't capture the fight. As Julia Roberts would say ... big mistake, huge.
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Raquel Leviss Out Of Mental Health Facility ... Astronomical Bill
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Raquel Leviss has been out of the mental facility she called home for 2 months, and the bill is staggering.
Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... Raquel checked into The Meadows in Arizona where she underwent intensive therapy for 2 months.
As for the bill ... our sources say $200,000.
There were lots of folks who never believed she was ever in a mental health facility, but the reality for this reality star ... she was.
She's been out for a week and has been holed up in a friend's house, and is uneasy about venturing out. One source who has spent time with her in the last week tells TMZ, "She is like a totally different person."
She planned on heading to the facility before taping the explosive "Vanderpump Rules" reunion episode, but chose to wrap up the season before heading there.
A rep for Raquel told us she wasn't going to the center for any sort of rehab, but "rather mental health and trauma therapy." Of course, Raquel's taken quite the beating, both online and on the show, over her and Tom's affair.
Lisa Vanderpump told us folks should probably back off ... especially considering Raquel's call to check herself in.
Scheana Shay -- who Raquel claimed attacked her in the midst of Scandoval -- spoke out, too ... with her lawyer telling us, "We obviously recognize mental health is an important issue and wish Rachel all the best in her recovery, but we’d also like her to own up to her false allegations and publicly come out and acknowledge that she lied."
Raquel's former 'VPR' costars -- namely Peter Madrigal and Dayna Kathan -- shared doubts about the seriousness of her mental health treatments ... but Tom called them out, reassuring folks this is the real deal.
The reality series also jumped into filming its latest season last month without Raquel ... but sources told us her team's been in negotiations with Bravo and production to talk about a new contract.
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Rosanna Arquette Crashes Car in Malibu
Rosanna Arquette got into a frightening car wreck in a Malibu shopping center ... but she managed to walk away unscathed, TMZ has confirmed.
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... the actress apparently lost control of her vehicle Tuesday morning and crashed into a building in Point Dume Village.
The accident occurred as Rosanna attempted to park ... while trying to go in reverse, the Malibu Times first reported. Instead, Rosanna's car lurched forward and plowed through three pillars supporting the roof of the structure.
BREAKING: A vehicle crashed into the Point Dume Pavillions shopping center around 9:45 a.m., no injuries were reported, the driver was transported to a local hospital for minor injuries. @LHSLASD @LACoFDPIO are on scene. pic.twitter.com/8z6HTZBJVl
— The Malibu Times (@TheMalibuTimes) July 11, 2023 @TheMalibuTimes
Video posted to Twitter showed the aftermath of the collision and all the damage it caused to Rosanna's ride and the building.
Luckily, Rosanna didn't suffer so much as a scratch, but she was taken to a hospital anyway to get checked out.
Cops said no pedestrians were hurt either, and Rosanna was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time.
This isn't the first time Rosanna has gotten into a smash-up. TMZ broke the story ... in 2022 Rosanna rammed her Tesla into the back of a UPS truck in the Palisades Village shopping center. There, too, she escaped physical injury ... however, she suffered emotional distress.
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Richard Simmons Happy 75th Birthday!!! Fans Show Up at House
Richard Simmons has been MIA for nearly a decade, but he hasn't been forgotten on his 75th birthday.
Fans showed up at his Hollywood Hills home, balloons in hand, to wish the fitness guru well. Richard did not come out of the house ... which is the way it's been for years.
Richard hasn't been seen in public since 2014. He was everywhere before that, but suddenly retreated from the public eye.
TMZ produced a documentary in 2022 on Richard -- "TMZ Investigates: What Really Happened to Richard Simmons" -- and after it aired Richard actually responded to fans who were expressing their concern and sending their love.
As we said in the doc, Richard has knee problems and did not want to appear in public when he wasn't at his best. He was also emotionally drained from his nonstop concern for just about anyone who reached out to him for help.
We're told he still goes out in public, but wears disguises good enough to fool even the paparazzi.
Happy 75th, Richard!!!
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Tom Sandoval Doesn't Know How Raquel is Doing ... Makes Duet Pitch to Adele
Tom Sandoval said a lot in what appears on the surface to be a goofy convo ... a lot about Ariana Madix, Raquel Leviss and even Adele.
Let's start with the goofy stuff. A photog mentioned how Adele's been on his radar, even mentioning the 'Scandoval' during one of her Vegas residency shows. Check out the tune he belts out ... we're guessing it's not gonna end up in Sin City.
As Tom was leaving IntoMeSea Spa in Santa Monica Wednesday with reality show alum, Billie Lee ... the photog pivots to a sore subject -- Ariana.
The question is innocent enough ... how does he think she'll do on "Dancing with the Stars?" Tom noodles on it, and he bends over backward to give his ex high praise. Interesting.
And, finally -- and most important -- the photog asked how Raquel is doing. Before he tells the photog he should ask her, Tom kinda slips and says, "I don't know." If he doesn't, that's pretty revealing.
He's mum on whether Raquel is coming back to the show. As we reported, no deal has been made. Raquel and Bravo are in negotiations, and we're told her mental health is paramount over any reality show.
We covered it all in a recent episode of The TMZ Podcast, available on all podcast platforms.
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'Teen Mom 2' Nathan Griffith Busted In Vegas for Battery by Strangulation
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Nathan Griffith can't seem to keep his hands off other people ... because he was just arrested AGAIN for a violent offense.
The former "Teen Mom 2" star was busted Wednesday in Las Vegas and booked into the Clark County Jail for battery by strangulation.
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Vegas cops received a call around 9:15 PM and responded to a home where Nathan was staying. After conducting an investigation, officers placed Griffith in handcuffs for allegedly committing the battery against a family member.
Nathan is no stranger to the criminal justice system. He's been arrested before for serious crimes, such as domestic violence and domestic battery by strangulation.
From 2013 to 2015, Nathan appeared on the reality show, "Teen Mom 2," and was best known for his tumultuous relationship with cast member Jenelle Evans.
The two had a child together and got engaged, but the marriage was called off because of the friction between them.
We covered it all on the latest episode of The TMZ Podcast, available on all podcast platforms.
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Tom Sandoval Cryin' A River At SUR ... While Filming 'VPR'
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Getting back with his "Vanderpump Rules" cast members isn't going smoothly for Tom Sandoval -- new video shows him breaking down during their first night out together, but ya gotta wonder if they're crocodile tears.
Witnesses tell TMZ ... Tom was having a chat with his jeweler pal Kyle Chan at SUR Tuesday night in WeHo. As we reported, the whole cast -- except Raquel Leviss -- was there and, around 9 PM, things took an emotional turn.
Check out the clip, Tom starts wiping away his tears, but it's hard to tell what got him in his feels. Ariana Madix was only a stone's throw away from him, so that could've been a factor.
Another possibility, though, is ... producers told him to look distraught. The lighting wasn't great, so we're not gonna vouch for the authenticity of this cry-sesh. You make the call!
On the other hand, Ariana was looking pretty happy and chatting it up with the ladies at the same time Tom got weepy -- but separate 'VPR' cameras were rolling on both scenes.
Remember, Tom, Ariana, and other cast members all stepped into SUR to watch James Kennedy DJ and to grab dinner with Lisa Vanderpump ... marking the first time this season the whole cast has been seen under the same roof.
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Scheana Shay got into it with Tom outside the restaurant that night, and you could hear her shout at him, "If you hadn't f***ed Raquel," before walking away.
All the repeated tongue lashings -- which started during the reunion special taping -- could be pushing Sandoval over the edge, or he just knows 'VPR' is now the biggest reality show ... and he's got a role to play.
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Raquel Leviss Still Negotiating with Bravo ... No Deal in Place
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There's still a major piece of the puzzle missing on Season 11 of "Vanderpump Rules," because we've learned Raquel Leviss is still NOT signed on.
Sources with direct knowledge of the negotiations tell TMZ ... Raquel's people are "talking" to Bravo, but the deal is not done.
There have been various media reports indicating Raquel has already signed on. Those reports are not accurate. They're still negotiating.
Our sources say there's one thing that remains paramount in any possible return to "VPR" -- Raquel's mental health.
As we reported, Raquel has been in a mental health facility since mid-April, in the wake of all the fallout and hate as a result of Scandoval.
The cast has been shooting -- sans Raquel -- over the last week or so. They were all together Tuesday night at Sur in WeHo, shooting and arguing as per usual.
We covered the "VPR" drama on a recent episode of The TMZ Podcast, available on all podcast platforms.
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'Gold Rush: White Water' Dakota Fred Hurt Dead at 80
Dakota Fred Hurt, one of the stars of the Discovery show, "Gold Rush: White Water," is dead after a brief battle with brain cancer.
Dakota Fred died Tuesday, according to a statement from his family ... this only 4 months after he was diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer. The fam says Dakota Fred fought his cancer battle "courageously" and died with loved ones by his side.
Dakota Fred's loved ones say they are remembering Dakota Fred as someone who "touched many lives and was loved and supported by many" ... while 'Gold Rush' says "his joy for life and adventure was contagious."
Dakota Fred got his start gold mining in North Dakota way back in the day, and that's how he ended up mining for gold in Alaska on 'Gold Rush.'
He appears in the show's first 4 seasons.
A fan favorite, Dakota Fred and his son, Dustin, returned to the franchise in 2018 with their own spinoff show, "Gold Rush: White Water," this time dredging for gold in whitewater collection pools at the base of Alaskan waterfalls.
Dakota Fred was 80.
RIP
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Tom Sandoval & Ariana Madix Hit Up SUR at Same Time ... As 'VPR' Cameras Roll
Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix can't avoid each other -- they're back to sharing the same space publicly for the first time since the explosive "Vanderpump Rules" reunion, and yes ... producers got it all on camera.
The whole 'VPR' cast flocked to SUR Restaurant in WeHo Tuesday, where James Kennedy was DJing -- apart from Tom and Ariana, Tom Schwartz stepped in ... as did Katie Maloney and Scheana Shay. Sources on the scene tell us the boss lady, Lisa Vanderpump, was there too, hosting a dinner for the whole gang.
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Tom and Ariana weren't spotted together while at the spot, but they were for sure under the same roof ... so there's gotta be some tension there.
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Sandoval might have dodged Ariana, but he and Scheana got into a pretty intense argument -- it's hard to hear most of the conversation, but at one point you definitely hear her shout, "If you hadn't f***ed Raquel" ... before storming away.
As we reported, TMZ obtained footage of the Toms getting into a bit of a heated argument this week as the cameras rolled, so it seems the beating Sandoval's been taking since his affair with Raquel Leviss will continue into the next season.
In other words ... they're giving 'VPR' fans exactly what they want.
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Dog the Bounty Hunter Launches Homophobic Tirade 'We Don't Need No More Sissy Men'
Dog the Bounty Hunter went on a homophobic rant that was fire, brimstone and very revealing.
The former reality TV star was interviewed Tuesday with his wife, Francie, talking about faith and religion before he set his sights on the LGBTQ+ community.
The show's host, Sharell Barrera -- who apparently runs an online Christian ministry -- brought up transgender children and LGBTQ+ kids expressing their sexuality.
Dog jumped on it ... saying we as a society have to stamp all that out, going on to say
"Jesus was not a sissy" -- and that we don't need any more "sissy men."
When it comes to the month of June, Dog says ... "The pride comes before the fall." He wasn't done ... moving on to same-sex relationships, particularly men with men, and dropped the antiquated refrain ... "God made Adam and Eve ... not Adam and Steve."
He then said anyone who was "coming for your children" would have to get past Jesus' blood and shotgun shells first.
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Tom Sandoval No Bad Blood With Adele, Despite Diss
Tom Sandoval says he has no issue with Adele despite her dragging him over his cheating scandal ... and she's far from canceled in his world.
The "Vanderpump Rules" star was out Tuesday in the San Fernando Valley when a pap asked him about Adele dissing him last month during her Las Vegas residency.
Remember ... Adele asked the crowd what exactly Tom did for a living other than cheat on his girlfriend on reality TV, and she wasn't impressed by his music career.
Tom's taking it all in stride though ... saying he understands why Adele would have a negative view of him based purely on 'Scandoval,' which he feels is no fault of hers.
While Tom says he's never been to an Adele concert, he wouldn't turn down an opportunity to see her perform just because she gave him a hard time.
Tom Sandoval Back Filming 'Vanderpump Rules' After 'Special Forces' Shoot
Tom's obviously had a lot worse said about him -- mainly from costars, and especially his ex, Ariana Madix -- so, it makes sense he's basically unbothered by Adele joining the chat.
Plus, as he explains, filming the new 'VPR' season is the real challenge.
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Kourtney Kardashian Expecting and Lookin' Great!!! Baby Bump Out in Hawaii
Kourtney Kardashian definitely has that pregnancy glow ... because she was looking stunning while having some fun in the Hawaii sun.
KK took the kids to the sandy beaches of Kauai Tuesday, showing off her baby bump while wearing a cheetah print swimsuit. Looks like everyone was havin' a blast on their outing -- herself included.
It's unclear what the tropical trip is for, but Kourt's daughter, Penelope, just turned 11 a few days ago, and it could also be a babymoon -- however, Travis Barker is missing out, if that's the case ... since Blink-182 is still on tour.
As we reported, Kourtney revealed baby #4 during Blink's L.A. concert last month ... holding up a sign with the happy news -- a nod to the band's "All the Small Things" music video.
The couple later revealed they'd be having a boy during their gender reveal ... shooting blue streamers into the sky after a drumroll by TB himself.
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BTW, Kourtney also showed off her bump week, looking as fantastic as ever -- so, expect to see more of her as she awaits her next bundle of joy.
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Kim Zolciak Posts Thirst Trap ... After Calling Off Divorce
Kim Zolciak has a new lease on life (and love) -- which she seems to be signaling to the world with a sneak peek at her rockin' mom bod.
The 'RHOA' star posted some footage Monday night on her Instagram where she's whipping her hair around after a salon visit and looks very happy with the results ... as she thanked the owners of the joint.
Of course, the obvious image here that stands out -- besides her golden locks -- is her cleavage, because she posted the vid wearing just her bra, and Kim's cups runneth over.
Thirst traps from 'Housewives' are nothing new, but the timing of this one is interesting. Obviously, Kim just patched things up with her husband, Kroy Biermann, and called off their divorce ... which had gotten very ugly very quickly.
If this were a week ago, everyone would assume Kim did it to get under Kroy's skin -- but now that they're mending fences ... we're guessing she's just feeling good, and wanting to show she's looking good too.
It's a vibe.
Like we reported, Kim and Kroy are working through their issues the old-fashioned way -- just talking every day, without any 3rd party help.
A friendly reminder ... Kroy's got a hot wife!
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'RHOBH' Cameras, Ladies Back Into Action ... Shooting Pick-Up Scenes After Kyle & Mauricio Split
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"The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" is quickly jumping back into production for pick-ups to chase the buzz surrounding Kyle Richards & Mauricio Umansky's split ... TMZ has learned
Sources connected to the reality series tell TMZ the crew is going back to film more of season 13, and the ladies will begin shooting this week.
It's unclear how long the women will be back in front of the camera for, but we're told it won't be a terribly long shoot schedule ... the main goal is to get the fallout and talking points around the breakup.
The season originally wrapped filming in May, but clearly, producers felt it was worth it to get cameras back up.
You'll recall, People first reported last week that the 2 were pulling the plug on their 27-year marriage -- claiming they've been separated for some time but were keeping things friendly while living under the same roof.
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Kyle and Mauricio put out a joint statement after news broke, denying the breakup rumors ... although admitting it's been a rough year for them. They also spent time together during the 4th of July.
Kyle even claimed she was not a single gal when asked by photogs last week ... but there must be something juicy going on behind the scenes -- obviously enough to warrant these pick-ups.
We covered the drama in a recent episode of The TMZ Podcast, available on all podcast platforms.