Brittney Griner Appeal In Russia Denied ... 9-Year Sentence Upheld
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Brittney Griner's 9-year prison sentence in Russia has been upheld ... a court just denied the WNBA star's appeal at a lengthy hearing on Tuesday morning.
The 32-year-old did not appear in person for the proceedings -- but was present via a videoconferencing feed from inside of a cell. She looked downtrodden throughout the process as cameras caught her both sitting and standing behind bars.
Griner and her team of attorneys had hoped officials would overturn a previous ruling in the case, or at the very least, reduce the sentence. They argued the punishment did not fit the crime.
Griner's team, however, had anticipated this outcome. On Monday, her attorneys admitted in a statement that they did not "expect any miracles to happen."
It's unclear if Griner now has any further avenues to appeal the decision.
Brittney Griner Sentenced To Nine Years In Russian Prison, Biden Slams Ruling
As we reported, the basketball player has been in custody in Russia since February -- after she was accused of bringing hashish oil in her luggage at a Moscow airport.
At her trial, she pleaded guilty to the charges -- but insisted she did not intend to break the law.
She was initially sentenced in August.
The United States has called Griner wrongfully detained ... and multiple U.S. officials have said they've offered Russia a significant deal involving a prisoner swap to get her home.
President Joe Biden, meanwhile, said in a statement back in August following her sentence that he and his administration would "continue to work tirelessly" to bring her back to U.S. soil.
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Drake It's My Birthday ... Let's Party!!! Celebs Hit Miami Bash
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Drake celebrated his 36th birthday in true Drake fashion ... bringin' a bunch of big names to the club to party -- and even raffling off some HUGE prizes to the crowd!
Drizzy's big shindig went down Monday night at Sexy Fish in Miami ... and the rapper was giving partygoers the chance at $5k gift cards, $10k in cash, Chanel bags, and even a Rolex!!!
Of course, some people in attendance weren't really in dire need of freebies -- DJ Khaled, 21 Savage, Lil Baby, and Chaney Jones were just a few of the celebs partying with Champagne Papi. "Love Island" stars Emily Salch and Genevieve Shawcross were hangin' too.
Drake ripped a page outta Usher's big money playbook for his big night -- Drake bucks, featuring his face on $500 bills -- were circulating around the venue throughout the night.
The place even changed its name to Sexy Gyal for the night, just for Drake.
Happy 36th!!! And, for anyone who left the joint with a fist full o' cash .. remember, Drake bucks are NOT legal tender. Not yet, anyway. 🤑
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Kanye West Adidas Ends Partnership
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Adidas said they did a "thorough review" of their Yeezy partnership and are expecting to lose $246 million in net income this year by ending the deal.
Kanye West's biggest corporate partnership is over -- Adidas says it's cutting off all business with him, due to his recent antisemitic and bigoted actions.
The German shoe company says, "Ye's recent comments and actions have been unacceptable, hateful and dangerous, and they violate the company's values of diversity and inclusion, mutual respect and fairness."
As result, Adidas says it "will terminate the partnership with Ye, end production of Yeezy branded products and stop all payments to Ye and his companies."
The announcement comes amid worldwide pressure for Adidas to, at the very least, condemn Kanye for repeating antisemitic tropes every time a microphone's been in his face for the last few weeks. During this erratic and disturbing phase he's also unveiled "White Lives Matter" T-shirts at Paris Fashion Week, and claimed George Floyd didn't die from Derek Chauvin's knee, but from fentanyl.
Kanye West Loses Billionaire Status After Adidas Terminates Deal
The hashtag #boycottadidas had been trending on Twitter over the weekend, especially as the company announced the sale of new Yeezy shoes. While other companies, like Balenciaga and Vogue had already cut off their relationships with the billionaire rapper and designer ... Adidas had been silent, except to say their partnership was "under review."
That review actually had nothing to do with Ye's recent rants -- for months, he'd publicly accused the company of ripping off his designs for non-Yeezy branded merchandise, so the relationship was already on ice.
Ye knew his incredibly profitable deal with Adidas was hanging in the balance -- he said so on Friday night ... even as he railed that any backlash against him was only proving his initial antisemitic remark that the Jews were controlling Hollywood and the banks.
Adidas was especially under pressure to react -- not only as Ye's biggest partner, but due to its founder supporting the Nazi party.
Adidas and Kanye started their partnership in 2013, and his Yeezy brand is widely credited with reinvigorating Adidas in the shoe game. While the company has some huge athletes as brand ambassadors -- James Harden, Lionel Messi and Damian Lillard to name just a few -- Ye's designs were key to the company's recent success, and Adidas' backing allowed him to expand Yeezy well beyond sneakers.
10/25/22
Adidas was the distributor and manufacturer of Yeezy shoes and athletic gear ... so, Kanye currently has no outlet for his creations.
Originally Published -- 4:45 AM PT
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Steve Lacy Destroys Fan's Phone onstage ... In Fit of Rage
1:38 PM PT -- Steve Lacy just posted a statement about the incident, saying, "... shoutout to the people not throwing disposable cameras at me and just coming to catch a vibe and connect :) i had a really good time in nola last night. i hate that the beauty of the connection i have with so many people in the crowd-gets lost when something negative happens."
He continues, "i don’t believe i owe anyone an apology- maybe i couldve reacted better? sure. always. i’m a student of life. but i’m a real person with real feelings and real reactions. i’m not a product or a robot. i am human. i will continue to give my all at these shows. please come with respect for urself and others please thank you love u"
Steve Lacy is a relatively new artist, but he's making one thing clear early ... he won't tolerate things being thrown on his stage -- and made an example out of one fan, and their phone, in particular.
Steve was in New Orleans on Monday night for his Give You The World Tour ... performing "Bad Habit" when a phone tossed from the crowd hits him square in the torso.
Steve was politely profane at first ... stopping the song to instruct the audience not to throw "sh** on his f****** stage" -- even with a please attached.
Then without warning, Steve asks for a fan in the front row's cell phone -- seemingly at random -- only to smash it on the stage, and then storm off.
The crowd was understandably confused and pissed ... as there was still plenty of show left, and some felt they didn't get their money's worth.
A fan in the stands hopped on TikTok following to show ... claiming Steve had grown fed up with the crowd for not really knowing his music, but blamed rowdy NOLA fans in general for typically ruining an artist's experience when they come to town.
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Steve still has several shows remaining on tour ... maybe those future fans will treat him better. 🤷🏽♂️
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Barack Obama Joins Eli, Peyton On 'Manningcast' ... Manning's 'Dream Guest'
Eight months ago TMZ Sports asked Eli Manning who his "dream guest" was for the MNF's Manningcast ... and the 2x Super Bowl-winning quarterback told us it was Barack Obama.
Tonight, 44 joined Easy E and Peyton Manning during the 1st quarter of Monday Night Football ... proving, dreams do come true!
Eli Manning Says Barack Obama Is Dream Guest On 'Manning Cast'
"Mr. President, Eli was approached by TMZ last year. They asked him "who is your dream guest on the show, and he said it was you. I assume you were watching TMZ and felt pressure to come on the show, right?" Peyton joked with B.O.
"I have to confess, TMZ is not on my remote really," President Obama responded, fibbing (we kid) ... “but, I was flattered when I heard about this, Eli."
"Thank you very much. But the main reason I’m on, I think is actually Cooper, he called me up, and after seeing him on those Caesar's ads I thought, how could I turn him down?”
2/12/22
And, it only took the Manning's about 250 days to lock down one of the most famous people in the world.
We talked to Eli in mid-February at a Super Bowl party in Los Angeles, when we asked about his pick for top guests.
“Maybe a President. Barack Obama would be pretty good," Manning told us, saying, "I think we can get him.”
You can and you did. Shoot for the stars, kids.
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Amazon Driver Killed, Apparent Dog Attack in MO
An Amazon driver is dead after an apparent dog attack in Missouri -- with the guy's body being laid out on the owner's property for hours.
Sheriff's deputies were called out to a residential home near Excelsior Springs Monday night, where neighbors reported an Amazon van had been parked in front of a house for quite a long time, with no sign of movement or change.
When they arrived, they found the driver dead on the front lawn, with 2 aggressive dogs also roaming about the grounds near the victim's body ... according to FOX 4 Kansas City.
Officers reportedly shot one of the dogs outside, but then they both scurried inside through the home's front door. First responders later killed both animals. We don't know what breed they were, or where their owners were at the time.
The driver's injuries are believed to be consistent with a dog attack, but the Sheriff's County Office has yet to confirm an official cause of death. A medical examiner will weigh in, and the incident is under investigation.
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James Corden Sorry Again for Acting Like a Jerk at Restaurant ... I Wanna Make It Right
James Corden took his father's advice and formally apologized on-air for his obnoxious behavior at an NYC restaurant, putting the issue to rest ... hopefully!!
The TV host kicked off his 'Late Late Show' Monday by pointing out that his dad -- who was in the audience -- instructed him to own up to his mistakes after he retracted an earlier apology to Balthazar owner Keith McNally.
And, like a dutiful son, that's exactly what Corden did. "Whenever these sorts of moments come my way, I like to adopt quite a British attitude. Never complain, never explain. But, as my dad pointed out to me on Saturday, he said, 'Son, you did complain. So you might need to explain.' Look, when you make a mistake, you have to take responsibility."
Corden then went into apology mode, recounting what happened at the French brasserie in 1 of the 2 incidents where he was described as a "Cretin." He said he was having a meal at Balthazar in SoHo a few weeks ago ... and a server three times came to the table with the wrong order for his wife, who has food allergies.
The comic said he made a "rude comment" to the waiter "in the heat of the moment," which he finally acknowledged was WRONG. "I didn't shout or scream. I didn't get up out of my seat. I didn't call anyone names or use derogatory language. I have been walking around thinking that I hadn't done anything wrong, right? But, the truth is I have. I made a rude comment and it was wrong. It was an unnecessary comment. It was ungracious to the server."
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Corden also briefly mentioned the other incident in which he lost his cool after finding a hair in his food. He said he called McNally right away and apologized profusely after the restaurant owner posted to IG that Corden was banned for his bad behavior.
As we reported ... McNally later rescinded the ban, but then Corden retracted his apology during an interview with the New York Times. In response, McNally told TMZ that Corden should "apologize to the young servers he abused," declining to say if the ban would be reintroduced.
That option now seems to be off the table.
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Erika Jayne Accuses Kathy of Using Gay Slur in Aspen ... Kathy, Others Deny It
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Erika Jayne is making a big accusation against Kathy Hilton in the 'RHOBH' reunion finale ... claiming she heard Kathy utter a homophobic slur, but Kathy flat out denies it happened.
Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... during the reunion finale Erika accuses Kathy of making a homophobic comment back when the cast went to Aspen. We're told Erika claims Kathy used the slur against someone the cast was around earlier this season, but production cameras were NOT rolling when the alleged incident happened.
Our sources say production investigated Erika's claim following the Aspen trip, but found it's basically a case of she said, she said -- Erika's word against Kathy's.
That being said, we're told Erika's allegation was not edited out of the reunion finale -- which airs Wednesday -- and in the episode, Kathy is adamant she never used the epithet and says Erika's a liar.
Kathy has others backing her up ... our sources say after Kathy's strong denial, several other 'RHOBH' stars spoke up in her defense. Interestingly, we're told Kathy's sister, Kyle Richards, is sitting quietly next to Kathy during the back and forth with Erika ... more evidence of their fractured relationship.
TMZ broke the story ... the sisters are barely on speaking terms after filming the reunion shows, and Kathy insists she won't return next season if Erika and Lisa Rinna do.
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'Entourage' Creator Doug Ellin Hell Yes, Let's Boycott Adidas ... Silence On Kanye Is All About Money!!!
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7:29 AM PT -- Adidas has officially cut ties with Kanye, making the announcement Tuesday morning ... looks like the boycott will be avoided.
"Entourage" creator Doug Ellin says Adidas staying silent about Kanye West has everything to do with money, and therefore, he sees a boycott as the best way to apply pressure.
We got Doug Monday in WeHo, where he told us the German shoe company's silence -- as other brands cut ties with Kanye -- speaks volumes about whose side it's backing. He adds we should all be on the same page when hate's in play.
He sees money as the sole reason Adidas has kept quiet -- so, if people stop buying their gear ... the hope is that will make the honchos understand the harmful impact of Ye's antisemitic remarks.
As we reported, Kanye's been losing brand deals left and right ... including Johnny Depp's attorney, Camille Vasquez, who was brought on board last week to handle his business matters. After he doubled and tripled down on his bigotry, she told her firm she'd no longer work with the rapper.
What's more, a rally in L.A. Saturday supported the rapper's comments, with members of the group throwing up Nazi salutes at passing drivers.
Doug is sick of the dangerous tropes about Jewish people having all the power, and he's urging everyone to understand the severity of Kanye's words.
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ELVIS PRESLEY Buyer Can't Help Falling in Love With $5.65M Desert Home
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The home where Elvis and Priscilla Presley honeymooned looks like it's about to get a new owner ... someone willing to pay a pretty penny to live like the King of Rock and Roll.
Our real estate sources tell us an offer's been accepted for the Elvis Honeymoon Hideaway in Palm Springs.
The crib hit the market earlier this month with a $5.65 million listing price, and we're told the seller accepted an offer Thursday, though the sale is not yet complete.
The 4-bedroom home is famous because Elvis leased it in 1966 for a whole year, which set him back $21,000 -- ridiculously cheap for 2022, but in '66 that was a small fortune.
Elvis and Priscilla were supposed to tie the knot at the property on May 1, 1967 ... but after the press got wind of the wedding plan, Elvis and Priscilla changed course and went to Sin City for a classic Vegas wedding.
The house has a ton of history -- Elvis and Priscilla were, umm ... busy in Palm Springs because exactly 9 months after their wedding, Lisa Marie Presley was born. That's some honeymoon!
The 4,695 square foot home features rock walls, a floating fireplace and terrazzo flooring ... and like any good desert home, there's a huge backyard pool with a view of the mountains.
Famously dubbed the "House of Tomorrow," the property is a PS landmark ... it's known to draw Elvis fanatics, tourists and architecture aficionados.
Marc Sanders of Compass had the listing.
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Celebs On Halloween Group Costumes With the Fam!!!
Celebrities usually like to hit up the club on Halloween wearing a costume that's too hot to handle ... but some take a different approach -- makin' the spooky season a family affair!!!
Ryan Lochte, Alec Baldwin, Kevin Jonas and more have teamed up with the rest of their fam in the past to pull off some killer group costume choices ... needless to say, they go ALL out.
"Saved by the Bell" actress Tiffani Thiessen sparked some magic with her husband Brady and their 2 kids ... dressing up as some beloved 'Harry Potter' characters.
Model Arianny Celeste struck a pose with her family ... going to infinity and beyond by dressing up as Buzz, Woody, and one of the Little Green Men from 'Toy Story.'
See? Halloween can still be wholesome ... if you're into that sorta thing.
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Roy Jones Jr. Fighting NDO Champ ... Gets Celebrity Boxing Opponent!
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Roy Jones Jr. has fought some big dudes ... but never anyone this big!
TMZ Sports has learned 53-year-old Jones Jr. will fight Robert Wilmote, AKA NDO Champ, a social media star and IFBB bodybuilding professional on January 28 in Miami.
We're told there will be five one-minute rounds.
NDO Champ (it stands for "No Days Off") is 38-years-old ... and stands 5'8". He reportedly weighs around 230 pounds.
Wilmote, who was born in Liberia and came to the U.S. as a kid to avoid civil war, is absolutely massive ... and has competed in many big bodybuilding competitions over the years, including 2nd in the Super Heavyweight division at the Arnold Classic in 2019.
Robert hasn't competed in several years but said just yesterday he planned to return to the stage soon.
He also has some fighting experience ... and has even sparred with Andre Berto.
Obviously, when it comes to the boxing experience ... he's brand new to the sport compared to RJJ -- one of the most talented pugilists to step foot in a ring.
Roy last fought in November 2020 ... in an eight-round exhibition fight against Mike Tyson. The fight was ruled a draw.
Fight goes down in less than 100 days!
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Guess Who This Monster Athlete Turned Into!
Before this kid was shreddin' the gnar and grinding the skatepark bowls, he was just a novice rider ... boarding the San Bernardino Mountains and watching his dad surf the San Diego waves.
This slick guy appears to be a smiling fella ... however, he's deemed as a monster on the slopes, and has 5 Olympic medals to show for it! Even though he recently retired from his sport, he isn't afraid to show you on Insta that he's maintained his ripped figure.
Need one more clue? He made a cameo in "Friends With Benefits" with Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis.
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TYCOON RAINER SCHALLER Missing Plane Crashed ... But No Confirmation on Deaths
Rainer Schaller -- who owns Gold's Gym, among other brands -- is still missing after his plane disappeared off the coast of Costa Rica, and his gym's parent company says the plane crashed.
The RSG Group issued a statement Monday confirming Rainer, his family and two others were on board the plane when it crashed.
There is still no official word if Rainer died ... though there are reports two bodies were found, plus luggage and pieces of the twin-engine plane.
The airplane wreckage was found at sea, so the situation does not sound good.
As we reported ... Rainer's flight disappeared overnight Friday, with the plane vanishing off the coast of Costa Rica on a flight path from Mexico.
Rainer is the founder and CEO of RSG Group, which operates a string of gym chains across the globe, including Gold's, John Reed and McFit.
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Leslie Jordan Dead at 67
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3:17 PM PT -- A tow truck just removed Leslie's car from the scene, you can see heavy damage to the front passenger's side, with his wheel almost totally taken off.
1:50 PM PT -- A rep for Leslie Jordan posted on Jordan's IG, saying "the love and light that Leslie shared will never go out and we invite you to share your memories and comfort each other during this time. In the coming days we will be giving a glimpse of a project Leslie was really proud of and was looking forward to sharing with the world."
Leslie Jordan, the beloved actor and comedian has died.
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ Jordan was driving in Hollywood Monday morning when it's suspected he suffered some sort of medical emergency and crashed his BMW into the side of a building.
Leslie was famous for his work on popular TV shows like "Will & Grace," "Hearts Afire," "The Cool Kids," "Call Me Kat" and "American Horror Story."
LJ became a social media sensation during the pandemic, with his silly video posts helping him skyrocket from about 80,000 Instagram followers to a whopping 5.8 million. He told us on "TMZ Live" his secret was just being himself -- a silly, funny, goofy, happy-go-lucky senior citizen.
Following his viral pandemic fame, Leslie appeared on CNN's New Year's Eve 2021 countdown, ringing in 2022 with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen.
Leslie also acted in movies, including ... "The Help" and "Ski Patrol" and he made guest appearances in tons of TV shows like "Murphy Brown," "Ugly Betty," and "Boston Public."
10/22/22
On Sunday, Leslie posted a video on Instagram of himself singing a hymn.
SEPTEMBER 2022
The last time we saw Leslie out in public was pretty recently ... our photogs got him just last month, gauging his reaction to Elton John and Britney Spears releasing a new song together.
Leslie was 67.
RIP
Originally Published -- 11:13 AM PT
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Armie Hammer Sued by AmEx ... He's Dodging $67k Balance!!!
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3:19 PM PT -- A source with direct knowledge tells us this was a joint account Armie Hammer had with his estranged wife, Elizabeth Chambers, we're told it'll be resolved as they iron out the final details of the divorce.
Armie Hammer has hit the pause button on his acting career, and big potential paydays ... and now a credit card company's coming after him for a fat balance they say he owes.
American Express is suing the disgraced actor, claiming he owes upwards of nearly $67,000 for unpaid charges and/or cash advances, plus balance transfers. Unclear when he allegedly racked up the balance, but AmEx says he's had the account since 2011.
AmEx claims they've demanded he pony up in the past -- but they say Armie hasn't satisfied the balance ... and now, they're taking him to court over it.
2011 is right around the time Armie's career started blowing up. He was fresh off a great performance in 'The Social Network' and had booked a role in 'J. Edgar.' Thereafter, his fame skyrocketed ... only to come crashing down in 2021 amid allegations of sexual misconduct.
As of a couple months ago, it appears he's been working down in the Caymans selling timeshares.
Originally Published -- 3:05 PM PT