8/17/2010 12:45 AM PDT by TMZ Staff
TMZ has obtained the photos of Mel Gibson's smashed up Maserati -- taken after he crashed the ultra-expensive ride into a rocky hillside in Malibu on Sunday.
The front passenger wheel area is a total mess -- with serious cosmetic and functional tire damage ... which is why the car had to be towed from the scene.
As we first reported, Gibson told CHP officers in the field that he did not know how the car drifted out of the lane and into the hillside. But according to the police report, alcohol was not a factor.
Filed under: Mel Gibson
8/17/2010 12:40 AM PDT by TMZ Staff
Montana Fishburne tells TMZ ... she called daddy Laurence Monday for the first time since she unveiled her plan to enter the world of porn ... and he was none too happy.
Montana says Laurence told her she is unwelcome in his life and wants nothing to do with her ... at least for now. According to Montana, her dad said, "I'm not going to speak with you 'till you turn your life around." Laurence was referring to his daughter joining the ranks of Vivid Entertainment as a porn star.
Montana says Laurence added, "You embarrassed me."
And this parting shot. According to Montana, Laurence said, "You used your last name. No one uses their real name in porn."
Filed under: Montana Fishburne, Laurence Fishburne, Celebrity Justice
8/17/2010 12:25 AM PDT by TMZ Staff
Tila Tequila should have known that the crowd at the Gathering of the Juggalos was going to pelt her with objects ... because according to a member of the Insane Clown Posse, she got a fair warning before the show.
TMZ spoke with ICP member Violent J -- who claims the group informed Tila about a rumor circulating within the Juggalo community that Tila was going to be a target when she performed on Friday night.
Violent J tells us, "We told her about the rumor and she didn’t care" ... noting that Tila informed the group that she wouldn't back out of the performance because she's "not a bitch like that."
Violent J continued, "We paid her before the show and assured her that even if things got
out of hand, she could keep the money if she had to leave the stage."
Obviously things did get out of control -- and Tila took a few shots to the face when the crowd began firing objects at the stage.
J tells us Tila's people have already informed the group that a "lawsuit is underway" -- but ICP insists, "We're not gonna sit back and give her our money.”
Still, Violent J tells us he thinks it's "f*cked up" that the crowd got violent ... saying, "I wish they didn’t throw stuff at her.”
Filed under: Tila Tequila, Insane Clown Posse, Music, Celebrity Justice
8/17/2010 12:15 AM PDT by TMZ Staff
Sherri Shepherd might have the cushiest gig in America -- 'cause according to legal docs she just filed, Sherri only has to work 16 hours a week on "The View" ... and makes some serious bank!
Shepherd just filed an income declaration in her ongoing divorce from husband Jeff Tarpley ... and in the docs, Sherri lists that she takes home $54,767 a month ... and says she only works 16 hours a week -- that works out to about $855 per hour!
Sounds like a sweet deal ... 'til you remember she has to sit next to Elisabeth Hasselbeck the whole time.
Filed under: Sherri Shepherd, The View, Dirty Divorces
8/17/2010 12:12 AM PDT by TMZ Staff
Tila Tequila wasn't the only bloody victim of flying debris at the Gathering of the Juggalos over the weekend -- Method Man was also attacked with a dangerous projectile ... and TMZ has obtained the photos of his bloody face.
According to an eyewitness, Method Man and Redman were performing at the festival Sunday night when someone in the audience threw what looked like "a full beer can" at MM's face -- resulting in a pretty nasty eye wound.
In our video, shot moments after the incident, Redman throws expletives at the crowd before telling Method, "Your face is cut, go take care of that."
But MM refuses to stop the show -- bloody eye and all -- and yells out, "Start the music we're continuing the show, let's f**k these motherf**kers up."
So far, no word from the people behind the concert.
Filed under: Method Man, Fights, Nurse!
8/17/2010 12:10 AM PDT by TMZ Staff
Kobe Bryant's father just lost big in his ongoing battle against the lawyers who repped him when he got fired from coaching a WNBA team -- and it's gonna cost him nearly $80,000.
According to the latest docs in the suit, filed last week in L.A. Superior Court and obtained by TMZ, Joe "Jellybean" Bryant has to ante up a total of $78,816.53 for work his former legal team did during Jellybean's dispute with the L.A. Sparks back in 2007 ... when he got fired.
Kobe's dad may have stood a fighting chance -- but according to the
docs, he never even tried to defend himself ... so the judge ruled against him by
default.
As TMZ first reported, Jellybean's ex-lawyers sued the guy back in January claiming he owed them money for legal fees plus interest -- and last Thursday, a California judge made it official.
Attempts to reach Mr. Bean were unsuccessful.
Filed under: Kobe Bryant, TMZ Sports, Celebrity Justice
8/16/2010 5:30 PM PDT by TMZ Staff
Celebrity super chef Mario Batali is the target of a new, meaty lawsuit -- in which former employees from one of his Los Angeles restaurants claim the "Iron Chef" screwed them out of serious tip money.
According to a lawsuit filed today in L.A. County Superior Court, a former bartender and a former server at Mario's famous Pizzeria Mozza restaurant claim Batali and his business partner ran a tip-stealing scheme.
So how did the scheme work? According to the ex-employees, Batali and his partner created something called a "Wine Program" -- into which they funneled a certain percentage of tips that were paid by credit card ... and kept it for themselves.
The employees claim the practice was also going down at Batali's higher-end restaurant next door, Osteria Mozza. The employees go on to claim that they weren't provided with adequate
breaks and that they weren't paid promptly upon being let go. They're looking for unspecified damages ... which means, 'a lot.'
If you think you've heard this story before -- it's because Batali was
just hit with a lawsuit on the other coast for allegedly running a similar scheme at his
famous NY eatery, Babbo.
A rep for Batali had no comment.
Filed under: Mario Batali, Celebrity Justice
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8/16/2010 3:45 PM PDT by TMZ Staff
Joe Jackson's lawyer claims, his client has not been treated with "dignity and worth" by the judge in the Michael Jackson probate case.
Jackson's lawyer, Brian Oxman, filed papers with a California appeals court, claiming the probate judge was wrong in shutting down Joe's attempt to 86 executors John Branca and John McClain.
The trial judge ruled Joe had no legal standing to object to the duo, because Joe himself was intentionally excluded by MJ as a beneficiary under the will.
But Oxman claims Joe was financially dependent on his son and should therefore have a right to object to the appointment of the men who are making financial decisions for the Estate.
Although Joe is alleging various misdeeds on the part of the executors -- including fraud and embezzlement, which the executors strongly deny -- the lawyer for Michael Jackson's kids claim Joe is actually harming them with all the "procedural wrangling." Margaret Lodise, the kids' lawyer, says Joe only cares about his stake in the Estate and, therefore, he's "the ultimate dog in the manger."
Filed under: Joe Jackson, Celebrity Justice, Michael Jackson, Brian Oxman
8/16/2010 3:15 PM PDT by TMZ Staff
What happened in Vegas between Jesse James and reality TV star Kat Von D is more than just a friendship ... TMZ has learned the two were "very affectionate" during a getaway this weekend.
Multiple sources pretty damn close to the couple tell us the two were seen getting all touchy-feely with each other at the Mandalay Bay hotel ... and had a romantic dinner at N9ne Steakhouse at The Palms.
But here's the rub -- if you know what we're sayin' -- they stayed at another very high end Vegas hotel.
Kat Von D's people are playing the "just friends" card -- but we're told "friends with benefits" is more like it.
His and her tats can't be far behind ... if they can find an open space.
Filed under: Jesse James, Kat Von D, Hook Ups, Hot Vegas
8/16/2010 3:00 PM PDT by TMZ Staff
With one hand wrapped around a Corona bottle ... and the other wrapped around a friend's boob -- Demi Moore flashed her ridiculously toned physique outside a house party in Malibu this weekend.
The world's youngest looking 47-year-old was hanging with her husband Ashton Kutcher ... who appeared to appreciate her intoxicating demeanor ... but eventually confiscated the booze.
Nothing wrong with a little summer day drinkin' near the beach!
Filed under: Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher
8/16/2010 1:00 PM PDT by TMZ Staff
Spencer Pratt has been officially served with divorce papers ... TMZ has learned.
Heidi Montag took the next big step to end her marriage to Spencer by authorizing service of divorce papers. We're told Spencer received and signed the papers last week, which means the divorce can become final exactly six months from the time Spencer got the docs.
Heidi's lawyer, Jodeane Farrell, tells TMZ ... "Both Heidi and Spencer are in agreement to settle their divorce as quickly as possible without the need of a court appearance."
Filed under: Heidi Montag, Spencer Pratt, Heidi & Spencer, Celebrity Justice, Dirty Divorces
8/16/2010 12:31 PM PDT by TMZ Staff
Here's another look at Mel Gibson driving around in his super expensive -- and super awesome -- 2008 Maserati just before he crashed it. Pretty sweet ride.
As we first reported, Mel lost control of his car at around 8:35 PM last night while driving on Malibu Canyon Road. This pic was taken roughly an hour before.
According to the CHP, there is no evidence of DUI.
Filed under: Mel Gibson, Paparazzi Photo
8/16/2010 12:00 PM PDT by TMZ Staff
WWE star Triple H didn't always do his fighting in the ring ... in fact, dude claims he and a gang of WWE wrestlers once clashed with some drunk kickboxers in a real life mega-brawl!
Triple H was hanging at an event in L.A. this weekend to promote awareness for the Muscular Dystrophy Association ... when dude told us all about the 2005 incident that went down in England.
The story is awesome ... and you'll never believe which group emerged victorious!!
Filed under: Triple H, TMZ Sports
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