One of the key players who was involved with the secret taping of conversations between Travolta's lawyers and Pleasant Bridgewater just told the court -- although he was in the room next door listening to the conversations, he never heard anyone demand money in return for keeping documents secret.
The testimony is in conflict with the actual tapes, so what Detective Inspector Sean Saunders said in court is a mystery.
The judge just cleared the courtroom.
UPDATE: They're on lunch break now.
30 September 2009
Authorities say the secret police video shows the $25 million extortion plot in all it's glory.
Lawyers for Tarino Lightbourne and Pleasant Bridgewater tried keeping the video from the jury but the judge saw it differently.
We'll let you know how it goes down.
Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale's huge London mansion was broken into this weekend -- but lucky for them, the section of the house where they actually live remained untouched.
The Metropolitan Police in London tell us the home -- where Gwen and Gavin rent out the bottom floor to another person -- was broken into on Saturday night ... check out the huge chunk of the front door that's missing.
Cops say a number of items from the residence on the bottom floor went missing -- but the couple's actual abode upstairs remained untouched.
Stefani was halfway around the world when the break-in occurred -- performing at a concert in Singapore. As of right now, cops say they have no suspects.
The Metropolitan Police in London tell us the home -- where Gwen and Gavin rent out the bottom floor to another person -- was broken into on Saturday night ... check out the huge chunk of the front door that's missing.
Cops say a number of items from the residence on the bottom floor went missing -- but the couple's actual abode upstairs remained untouched.
Stefani was halfway around the world when the break-in occurred -- performing at a concert in Singapore. As of right now, cops say they have no suspects.
The First Republic Bank filed papers in federal court in San Francisco last week, claiming there's a dispute over who can access the funds in Frances Bean Cobain's trust -- Courtney or the Laird Norton Tyee Trustee Company.
The bank put a hold on all withdrawals from the trust -- worth over $1.2 million -- until the court can sort out who's really in charge.
Love's attorney, Keith Fink, calls the filling "childish and vindictive" -- telling us Courtney and the trustee agreed to move the $1.2 mil to a different bank ... but FRB doesn't want to lose such a large account, and just filed the papers to stall the transfer.
According to an article that made the rounds, Pammy is allegedly more than $1.2 million in debt -- including over $600k to a construction company that filed a lien against her.
Pam released the following statement:
"It is true that I am in a dispute with some of the contractors working on my home. This is because after paying millions of dollars to build the house I continue to get bills from the contractors. My lawyers are reviewing the work done to see if the bills are fair. If they are, they'll be paid. If they aren't, they won't be."
But Pam does seem to hint at some financial issues, saying, "Mistakes may have been made in calculating taxes owed and we are now in the process of ensuring that any taxes owed are paid."
Warren Buffet, she ain't.
Britney Spears, two tater tots in hand, invaded the Sugar Factory candy store in Las Vegas this weekend ... and dropped more money on candy than most people do on a new TV.
We're told Brit went buck nutty on the sweets -- three Halloween baskets for her kids, two buckets of Swedish fish and a box of Sugar Factory milk chocolate. Where she really went off was on lollipops: 25 of her own Circus Tour pops for a whopping $25 a piece.
What a sucker.
We're told Brit went buck nutty on the sweets -- three Halloween baskets for her kids, two buckets of Swedish fish and a box of Sugar Factory milk chocolate. Where she really went off was on lollipops: 25 of her own Circus Tour pops for a whopping $25 a piece.
What a sucker.
Finally sporting her elusive diamond engagement ring, Khloe Kardashian left her bachelorette party last night with all sorts of goodies -- including a freaking LEATHER WHIP in the backseat.
So no stripper poles, "midgets" or candy for Lamar ... but S & M toys for Khloe?
Looks like she's already got some whip crackin' experience under her belt...
So no stripper poles, "midgets" or candy for Lamar ... but S & M toys for Khloe?
Looks like she's already got some whip crackin' experience under her belt...
Britney Spears will share 50/50 custody with Kevin Federline at least through the end of the year -- TMZ has learned.
An L.A. County Superior Court judge extended the order that was initially put in place for Britney's concert tour. Under the terms, Britney gets to travel with Sean Preston and Jayden James and must provide K-Fed with a place to stay if he wants to follow them on tour.
Sources tell us the sealed order is very detailed, but Britney gets minimum 50/50 custody and at times even more.
As for Kevin, in addition to the $20,000 a month Britney pays him in child support, he gets between $20,000 and $25,000 a month when the kids are outside of California.
At the end of the year the judge will reevaluate custody. We're told it's looking like a 50/50 split is the way of the future.
An L.A. County Superior Court judge extended the order that was initially put in place for Britney's concert tour. Under the terms, Britney gets to travel with Sean Preston and Jayden James and must provide K-Fed with a place to stay if he wants to follow them on tour.
Sources tell us the sealed order is very detailed, but Britney gets minimum 50/50 custody and at times even more.
As for Kevin, in addition to the $20,000 a month Britney pays him in child support, he gets between $20,000 and $25,000 a month when the kids are outside of California.
At the end of the year the judge will reevaluate custody. We're told it's looking like a 50/50 split is the way of the future.
There are photos of them together earlier this month, looking like a reconciliation was possible. But we're told Kelis is moving forward with the divorce and the November 20 hearing is still on.
Kanye is being prosecuted for breaking a paparazzi camera at LAX on September 11, 2008. The L.A. City Attorney has charged him with 3 misdemeanors -- vandalism, theft and battery.
We've learned last Friday, Kanye's lawyer, Blair Berk, went to the judge and won a delay -- a pre-trial hearing was set for this month but it's now pushed back until October 23 -- hopefully for Kanye, when attention deficit disorder sets in and the public moves on to another celebrity meltdown.
Here's the problem ... even the mighty Blair Berk can't stop Kanye. The question: Can she contain him?
Stay tuned...
Travolta told the jury in the Bahamas extortion case that Jett was autistic and suffered seizures every 5 to 10 days. Travolta said, "He was autistic. He suffered from a seizure disorder."
Travolta testified the seizures would last 45 seconds to a minute.
Travolta testified his nanny woke him up at around 10:15 AM on January 2 and told him his son was unconscious in the bathroom. Travolta says when he went downstairs, he saw Jett on the ground and one of the caretakers was doing chest compressions.
Travolta says he performed CPR on Jett, ultimately to no avail.
Kelly Preston was in the courtroom as John testified.
More updates as the testimony unfolds.
UPDATE: John and Kelly just walked out of the courthouse and got into an SUV. We're told the court is taking a lunch break. Travolta is expected to return later this afternoon.
An Irish entertainment company called "Grooveyard" claims they were looking to book talent for October concerts in Belfast and Dublin, when they struck a deal with a NY-based company claiming to rep Lady Gaga.
In the lawsuit, Grooveyard claims they shelled out $320,000 to book Gaga -- but now they believe the guy who took the check may not rep Gaga after all. Here's why:
Grooveyard claims after they began promoting Gaga's shows -- mega-promoters AEG Live hit them with a cease and desist letter, stating AEG has the sole authority to book Lady G.
So now, Grooveyard is pissed, confused ... and demanding their money back in a million-dollar lawsuit filed in NY State court.
What's the lesson here? Don't give someone $320,000 unless you know -- for sure -- who they are.
We reported this morning that the legal docs describe Anna Nicole and Dr. Khristine Eroshevich naked in a bathtub together. Authorities claim the two women had a personal relationship "that crossed the boundaries of professionalism."
The documents are very specific: "One photo showed both naked women embracing while looking at the camera. In another photo, Dr. Eroshevich is sitting between Anna Nicole Smith's legs while Anna...was in a more reclined position.
In the third photo, Anna Nicole Smith has her ankles on each of Dr. Eroshevich's shoulders while they are holding hands and their clasped hands are resting in the area of Anna Nicole Smith's vagina posing for the camera."
More than a year ago we saw a photo of Anna Nicole and Dr. Eroshevich, naked in a bathtub with a sex toy nearby. We did not publish the photo.
In new court docs, the special agent claims the nannies, who worked in Smith's Bahamas home, claimed "Stern and Dr. Eroshevich would crush pills, heat them to turn them into liquid and inject Smith."
The nannies told the agent, "after taking the pills or being injected Smith would be 'like you were drinking,' often falling in the house, and sleeping for two or three days at a time."
A source connected to Stern tells TMZ the nannies are not credible.
19 September 2009
It's all over the "dance" portion of Ellen's show -- according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Nashville, record execs claim they have never received a single penny for the hundreds of songs Ellen's danced to over the years.
The people behind the "Ellen" show say DeGeneres had nothing to with the case adding, "This matter does not involve our host, Ellen DeGeneres , who as everyone knows is a huge music enthusiast and advocate, and had no knowledge of issues regarding the use of music in the show."
Scott Rowe, spokesman for the show's Telepictures Productions, wrote in an e-mailed statement that the company has been working with the record labels for months to resolve the issue and remains willing to resolve it on "amicable and reasonable terms."
The record companies -- including Arista, Atlantic, Capitol Records, Motown, Sony Music Entertainment, Virgin Records and Warner Bros. Records -- didn't specify a particular dollar amount ... but we're guessin' it ain't gonna be cheap.
Paula Abdul has finally broken her silence about American Idol's decision to replace her with Ellen DeGeneres -- releasing the following statement:
"AMERICAN IDOL is a fantastic show that offers an invaluable platform to young talent. Ellen DeGeneres is wildly funny and talented in her own right. I wish her and the show only the best of luck."
Earlier today, DeGeneres told Ryan Seacrest she hoped "Paula is OK" with the decision.
Sounds like Ellen doesn't have anything to worry about.
"AMERICAN IDOL is a fantastic show that offers an invaluable platform to young talent. Ellen DeGeneres is wildly funny and talented in her own right. I wish her and the show only the best of luck."
Earlier today, DeGeneres told Ryan Seacrest she hoped "Paula is OK" with the decision.
Sounds like Ellen doesn't have anything to worry about.
Cobain's widow just unleashed a serious Twitter attack on Activision -- the game developer -- saying they never got her permission to use Kurt's image ... and she wouldn't have given it to them if they had asked. Here's a sample:
"not in twenty JILLION years would i EVER have allowed this and this islethal."
"we get NO money for this, travesty, Frances gets NO money for the rape."
Love is no stranger to lawsuits ... we'll let you know when she takes this thing to court.
UPDATE: Activision released the following statement:
"Guitar Hero secured the necessary licensing rights from the Cobain estate in a written agreement signed by Courtney Love to use Kurt Cobain's likeness as a fully playable character in Guitar Hero® 5."
Sources employed by the M.T. "kingdom" tell TMZ that Posh brought her children -- and a couple of bodyguards -- to enjoy a feast and a medieval show at the Buena Park, CA location this past Saturday night.
But before the jousting and the sword fighting came to a close, Posh and her crew left the show early -- and multiple sources tell us she didn't leave a tip for the server who took care of the group.
And now for the "Bad Medieval-Themed Closing Line of the Day" -- Looks like getting a tip from Posh is harder than pulling a sword from a stone!
Attempts to reach Posh's rep were unsuccessful.
In California, Jackson's immediate family could sue for the economic loss they have suffered by Jackson's death -- e.g., the financial support Jackson could have provided had he lived. Here's the problem -- Jackson's death may actually be an economic gain.
It's already becoming clear Michael Jackson is more profitable in death than he was in the last years of his life. Therefore, even if lawyers proved Dr. Murray and others were responsible for Jackson's death ... they could still come up with goose eggs.
The family could also recover for non-economic damages such as loss of companionship and love. The problem -- in California, if the lawsuit is based on malpractice against a medical provider, these damages would be limited to $250,000 total.
The final possibility -- if the family could prove the defendants acted with malice, they could get punitive damages. "Malice" includes proof of "despicable conduct." The family could also win punitive damages if the defendant is convicted of felony homicide. But in California, punitive damages have to bear some relationship to damages for economic or non-economic losses. Typically punitives are limited to nine times those damages.
It ain't as easy as it seems.
Still no verbal confirmation on her "rumored" pregnancy -- but after checking out this photo of Gisele ... do we even need one anymore?
Sporting what appears to be a growing baby bump, the 29-year-old helped move furniture at her and hubby Tom Brady's Boston home on Tuesday.
Although Gisele or Tom have never said a word about a new Bun in the oven, the Brazilian stunner is reportedly due in December.
Sporting what appears to be a growing baby bump, the 29-year-old helped move furniture at her and hubby Tom Brady's Boston home on Tuesday.
Although Gisele or Tom have never said a word about a new Bun in the oven, the Brazilian stunner is reportedly due in December.
16 September 2009
Finally, Victoria Beckham had a reason to wear that pouty look on her face -- her Porsche broke down in Culver City yesterday!
Don't worry -- within minutes, a tow-truck came and saved the day ... and she was back home with her fleet of 1,000 other ridiculously expensive cars she could aimlessly drive around in.
Don't worry -- within minutes, a tow-truck came and saved the day ... and she was back home with her fleet of 1,000 other ridiculously expensive cars she could aimlessly drive around in.
TMZ obtained his official MTV contract -- filed with the courts back in '07 because he was a minor. The docs show that when Sheckler was 17-years-old, dude was making $9,617.70 an episode for his reality show "Life of Ryan."
The docs had to be signed by his guardian and the president of his company, Ryan Sheckler Inc -- both of whom happen to be his mom.
But Ryan wasn't the only kid from his family cashin' in -- his brothers Kane and Shane also got paid for their sidekick roles, each were $1,500 a show.
Not a bad gig for a couple of kids.
The drama began back on August 1st, when Bahamian police claim Mark Anthony Hamilton broke into Kravitz's home and allegedly stole several items.
Hamilton was arrested on the morning of August 9, but authorities say he managed to escape police custody hours later -- after cops had already put him in shackles.
After an island-wide manhunt -- in which Hamilton was considered "armed and dangerous" -- cops finally found the dude and threw his ass back behind bars.
Last week, Hamilton faced a judge and plead not guilty to breaking-and-entering -- but he plead guilty to evading arrest. Now, Hamilton is locked up and awaiting trial. He's been denied bail.
As for Kravitz, his reps told us "Lenny is out of the country recording, but he's aware of the situation and is letting the law handle it."
He might not be in the trenches, but Diddy has joined the student protests at Howard University through his Twitter page.
Diddy -- who went to school at H.U. back in the day -- has been firing off several messages to the waves of students currently protesting over housing and financial aid packages.
For the last two hours, Diddy has been sending messages like, "NO JUSTICE! NO PEACE!!! Let me know if yall need me to come down there yall! I got yall BACK! Let's go!!!"
And just to be clear he's not encouraging violence, Diddy then wrote, "Do what we did and take IT OVER!!!! Let's go! And do it in a peaceful way but DO IT!! ... If your at HU go to the A building now and make sure they feel you!!! And send me updates!!! Let's go!"
School spirit never dies.
Diddy -- who went to school at H.U. back in the day -- has been firing off several messages to the waves of students currently protesting over housing and financial aid packages.
For the last two hours, Diddy has been sending messages like, "NO JUSTICE! NO PEACE!!! Let me know if yall need me to come down there yall! I got yall BACK! Let's go!!!"
And just to be clear he's not encouraging violence, Diddy then wrote, "Do what we did and take IT OVER!!!! Let's go! And do it in a peaceful way but DO IT!! ... If your at HU go to the A building now and make sure they feel you!!! And send me updates!!! Let's go!"
School spirit never dies.
An Oscar-winning rabbi is condemning the actions of Jane Fonda, Danny Glover and Eve Ensler -- claiming their decision to boycott the Toronto International Film Festival is "an attack on the heart and soul of Israel."
It's all over a program featured in the festival called "City to City" -- which honors Tel Aviv's 100th anniversary by spotlighting 10 Israeli films.
Fonda, Glover and Ensler have decided to boycott the festival and signed their name to a letter sent to festival officials -- a letter that claims Tel Aviv was built on "thousands of destroyed Palestinian villages" and that the program "ignores the suffering of thousands of former residents and descendants."
Now, Rabbi Marvin Hier of the Simon Wiesenthal Center is blasting the the actors -- and everyone else who signed the letter -- claiming "Whoever would sign on to a campaign like this would support the complete destruction of Israel."
Hier -- who's won two Academy Awards for documentaries -- added, "People who support letters like this are people who do not support a two-state solution. By calling into question the legitimacy of Tel Aviv, they are supporting a one-state solution, which means the destruction of the State of Israel."
"I applaud the organizers of the festival for celebrating on the 100th anniversary of Tel Aviv. If every city in the Middle East would be as culturally diverse, as open to freedom of expression as Tel Aviv is, then peace would long have come to the Middle East."
UPDATE: Jane Fonda just issued the following statement to TMZ:
"I, in no way, support the destruction of Israel. I am for the two-state solution. I have been to Israel many times and love the country and its people."
It's all over a program featured in the festival called "City to City" -- which honors Tel Aviv's 100th anniversary by spotlighting 10 Israeli films.
Fonda, Glover and Ensler have decided to boycott the festival and signed their name to a letter sent to festival officials -- a letter that claims Tel Aviv was built on "thousands of destroyed Palestinian villages" and that the program "ignores the suffering of thousands of former residents and descendants."
Now, Rabbi Marvin Hier of the Simon Wiesenthal Center is blasting the the actors -- and everyone else who signed the letter -- claiming "Whoever would sign on to a campaign like this would support the complete destruction of Israel."
Hier -- who's won two Academy Awards for documentaries -- added, "People who support letters like this are people who do not support a two-state solution. By calling into question the legitimacy of Tel Aviv, they are supporting a one-state solution, which means the destruction of the State of Israel."
"I applaud the organizers of the festival for celebrating on the 100th anniversary of Tel Aviv. If every city in the Middle East would be as culturally diverse, as open to freedom of expression as Tel Aviv is, then peace would long have come to the Middle East."
UPDATE: Jane Fonda just issued the following statement to TMZ:
"I, in no way, support the destruction of Israel. I am for the two-state solution. I have been to Israel many times and love the country and its people."
The day after Rihanna made her mark, East Side Ink was issued a citation by the the NYC Department of Health for "operating with an unlicensed tattoo artist on site."
It's unclear how much the tat shop had to pay in fines, but we're told it could run anywhere between $200-$2000.
Here's the background: People had asked Brown about the fact that Oprah did "a show on abuse, inspired by Rihanna." Chris replied:
"I commend Oprah on being like, 'This is a problem,' but it was a slap in my face. I did a lot of stuff for her, like going to Africa and performing for her school. She could have been more helpful, like, 'Okay, I'm going to help both of these people out.'"
We called Oprah to see how she felt about Brown's statement, and her rep sent us the following response:
"Oprah is very appreciative that Chris Brown performed at her school but she takes domestic abuse very seriously. She hopes he gets the counseling he needs."
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