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After Sammy Davis Jr. recruited some of Hollywood's biggest stars for an event supporting the Civil Rights Movement, he got a letter of immense gratitude from Martin Luther King Jr.

Now, that letter can be yours for a nice chunk of change. MLK Jr. sent the thank-you note on March 28, 1961 -- after the legendary performer organized a Carnegie Hall show featuring his Rat Pack pals -- Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra -- along with Jan Murray and himself.

That event happened in January, but King mistakenly wrote February in the letter.

The benefit event was considered a tribute to MLK and raised more than $22k for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Yes, that was a lot of dough back then.

The letter commends Sammy and other African-American artists of the day -- like Harry Belafonte, Sidney Poitier and Mahalia Jackson -- for "helping to move the struggle forward." King specifically praises Davis for being a role model and fighting for "the great cause of Negro freedom."

MLK signed it and included a handwritten P.S. asking Sammy for Sinatra's address ... so he could thank him too.

WWE legend Sgt. Slaughter says the company was 100% right to have an event in Saudi Arabia ... saying the decision was about entertainment and not politics.

"WWE Crown Jewel" went down in Riyadh on Nov. 2 -- despite calls from prominent politicians, businessmen and even WWE wrestlers to postpone the event in the wake of the killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

After the event, WWE hailed it as a success -- others have still been extremely critical.

We got the Sarge in NYC, and the 70-year-old told us he's happy the company held the event, saying making political decisions isn't what the WWE is all about.

"We're an entertainment company. We're not anything to do with politics. We're basically there to entertain everybody. Not just the American people, but people all around the world. That's what we do for a living. That's what makes our company so great."

It's a sticky situation ... John Cena & Daniel Bryant -- two of the biggest stars in the organization -- refused to participate in the event ... but stars like Hulk Hogan, Randy Orton and others were happy to participate.

A party for VH1's "Black Ink Crew: Chicago" turned violent when one of the stars got into a fight with a guest ... well, it wasn't much of a fight.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Junior Diaz got into a heated convo with someone during the party in Chicago. During the argument, we're told Junior called the other guy a bitch ... then immediately sucker punched him in the face. In the face!!!

When cops showed up at the Dec. 1 bash ... they found the punchee disoriented and bleeding from the mouth. He was transported to a hospital where he got stitched up.

Our sources say the party was being shot for 'Black Ink' ... although it's unclear if cameras captured any of the fight. Remember, it didn't last that long. Two hits: Junior's punch, then the guy hitting the ground.

We're told Junior had bounced when cops arrived, and witnesses weren't down to talk.

Matt Pinfield has one helluva spirit -- 4 days after he was struck by a car, he's telling the horrific story from his hospital bed ... and it's pretty freakin' inspiring.

The former MTV VJ -- and current host of the radio show 'Flashback' -- joined us Friday on "TMZ Live" from L.A.'s Cedars-Sinai hospital ... where he had multiple surgeries this week, healing from 2 broken bones, facial lacerations and a gruesome head injury.

Matt said one second he was crossing a street to his apartment, and the next he was smashed straight-up into the air by a speeding car. He says when he landed he looked down at his leg ... which was suddenly pretzel-shaped.

The good news, as Matt put it, he's "blessed to be alive." Since the accident ... he says he's experienced an incredible outpouring of love and support -- and it's clear his old MTV fans are still down with him.

Robert Blake has filed for divorce from his third wife, Pamela Hudak, just a year after the two strolled into Beverly Hills City Hall to obtain their marriage license.

Blake filed docs in Los Angeles Friday to call the relationship quits ... the 85-year-old got hitched to Hudak in Spring of 2017. The couple had known each other for decades and even dated years ago.

Blake was accused of murdering his second wife, Bonnie Lee Bakley, who was shot in 2001. He was later acquitted of the crime in 2005. As for his first wife, Sondra Kerry, the two were married for over twenty years before divorcing in 1983.

James Alex Fields Jr., the white supremacist who rammed his car into Charlottesville protesters in 2017, is guilty of murdering Heather Heyer.

The jury returned the verdict Friday in the first degree murder trial, and also found him guilty of 5 counts of malicious wounding, 3 counts of aggravated malicious wounding and one count of failing to stop at the scene of a deadly accident.

The 21-year-old hate monger plowed into the protesters as they rallied in response to the white supremacists who had marched through Charlottesville with torches the previous night.

Video of the horrific act of domestic terrorism made it clear Fields was behind the wheel ... the only question was about his intent. Prosecutors needed to prove he intended to maim and kill.

Several of Fields' victims testified during the trial. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for Monday, and he faces the possibility of life in prison.

The man who broke into Taylor Swift's home and used her shower will soon be showering with a bunch of criminals, because he will be sentenced to 6 months behind bars.

The Manhattan D.A.'s office tells TMZ ... Roger Alvarado pled guilty Friday to one count of attempted burglary and one count of criminal contempt.

We're told Alvarado is due back in court December 20 for his official sentencing, which will also include 5 years probation. He will serve the probation in Florida and has been ordered to complete a mental health treatment program.

TMZ broke the story ... Alvarado was arrested in April inside an NYC home owned by Taylor, after climbing a ladder, smashing a window with his hand and climbing in to take a shower before falling asleep in a bed.

George Lopez won't have to answer for allegedly attacking a fan who trolled him with a Trump joke ... the case has been tossed.

A clerk at the Las Cruces Municipal Court in New Mexico tells TMZ ... the misdemeanor battery charge was tossed Thursday after a notice of dismissal was submitted. We're told it was dropped because the alleged victim did not appear in court and did not notify anyone about not showing up.

Therefore, the case is now closed.

TMZ broke the story ... the Trump fan got in George's face with a camera back in October ... prompting George to grab the guy's neck. We were told the guy had been egging on George with pro-Trump comments and yelling "MAGA."

12:40 PM PT -- Venezuelan authorities believe Valbuena and Castillo may have been victims of robbers who throw rocks onto roads to cause cars to crash and then steal from people inside the vehicle.

Yaracuy governor Julio León Heredia announced 4 suspects have been arrested after they were found with the players' belongings.

MLB infielders Luis Valbuena and Jose Castillo were killed in a car crash in Venezuela on Thursday ... after a car they were riding in veered off the road.

According to local reports ... 33-year-old Valbuena and Castillo, 37, were leaving their Venezuelan league game with Cardenales de Lara in Yaracuy when their driver either hit or swerved to avoid a rock ... and drove off the road.

The man driving the car was the chauffeur of their teammate, Carlos Rivero -- who survived the crash.

Photos of the accident have surfaced ... showing the van totally damaged and flipped on its side.

Valbuena -- who most recently played for the Angels this past season -- has been in the majors since 2008 ... and has also played for the Astros, Cubs, Indians and Mariners.

Valbuena hit 25 home runs with Houston in 2015.

Castillo played 5 seasons in the MLB with the Pirates, Giants and Astros.

The MLB released a statement Friday morning, saying, "We are saddened by the tragic news that Luis Valbuena and former major leaguer José Castillo have died in a car accident."

#RIP

Tony Rock says Kevin Hart stepping down as Oscars host is a sign of the times, and believes we'd all be better off if we could embrace "jokes" instead of being offended -- and in this case, he's talking specifically about gay people.

The comedian was outside the Hollywood Improv Thursday night after news broke Hart was bailing on the Academy Awards job following backlash over his old homophobic tweets. Tony thinks Kevin should have apologized AND stayed on as host because it's his best opportunity to flip the controversy into something positive.

He also thinks the LGBTQ community needs to be more accepting of jokes. He believes it's a sign of respect and acceptance. We'll let him explain further ... watch the clip.

Now, several of Hart's old tweets weren't really in the style of stand-up comedy -- they were just straight-up homophobic. It's unclear if Tony was aware of that when we spoke, but that might be why he thinks Kevin owed an apology.

Bottom line for Tony ... a society where you can't tell jokes freely isn't a good thing.

1:23 PM PT -- The Assistant District Attorney just submitted a letter to the judge in response to Weinstein's new docs, saying, "The defendant filed an addendum to this argument ... describing a communication involving this same witness ... when read in conjunction with the grand jury minutes, this is not exculpatory information."

The letter continues ... "The defendant has a misguided and antiquated view of how a rape victim should react after having been assaulted does not change this reality."

Harvey Weinstein says the woman alleging he raped her sure didn't act like it, because she showed up at HIS movie screening just hours after the alleged rape.

Weinstein's legal team fired off a letter informing the judge in his rape case ... they've found an email between Weinstein's assistant and a friend of the alleged victim, and the timing is key ... they say.

The email is an invitation to attend a screening for one of Weinstein's projects. It was sent to an unidentified woman -- her name's been redacted -- and said she could bring 3 guests with her.

The invitee responded to Weinstein's assistant, "I'm going just with (name redacted)." According to Weinstein's attorney, Ben Brafman, the guest she was bringing is one of the alleged victims.

The alleged rape happened the morning of March 18, 2013 -- and the email exchange happened later that afternoon. Brafman says the friend confirms she and the alleged victim not only attended, but met up with Weinstein at the screening.

Brafman insists this is "strong evidence that she was not raped" -- why would an alleged rape victim "go out of her way to spend time with her 'rapist' merely hours" after the alleged attack?

TMZ broke the story ... the friend is a new witness who claims the alleged victim was "hooking up" with Weinstein for "a very long time" and she never heard the alleged victim say anything bad about Weinstein.

6:40 AM PT -- The hearing's over. Prosecutors wanted Cardi's bail to be set at $2,500, but the judge released her with no bail and said he didn't think the rapper was a flight risk.

The judge DID give Cardi a stern warning to have NO contact whatsoever with Baddie Gi and Jade. After issuing protective orders for the alleged victims, the judge told Cardi "no contact" includes making threats or comments on social media about the bartenders.

She's scheduled to be back in court next month.

Cardi B's not messing with the judge in NYC, she showed up bright and early for her court date ... dodging some serious legal trouble.

The "Money" MC was swarmed by photogs as she showed up for the arraignment in her strip club beatdown case -- 4 days after missing the scheduled date. As she made her way through the crowd, she asked ... "Am I this famous?" That's a yes, Cardi.

TMZ broke the story ... the judge gave her an extension on Monday, and warned if she didn't show on Friday there would be a warrant issued for her arrest.

Cardi's accused of unleashing her posse back in August on two strip club bartenders -- Baddie Gi and Jade -- who she suspected slept with her husband, Offset.

She was arrested and booked in October for assault and reckless endangerment ... both misdemeanors.

She's waiting to address the court right now. We'll keep you posted.

Cuban Doll, the female rapper Offset allegedly tried to rope into a three-way with his supposed mistress, tells us she's definitely not at fault for his breakup with Cardi B.

We got Cuban out Thursday night at Topanga Mall ... and she's adamant she NEVER hooked up with Offset, and never even spoken to CB's hubby.

The denials don't end there, because Cuban tells us she had no idea Offset was trying to have sex with her and says she wasn't even aware of his alleged threesome fantasy before it went public.

As we reported ... Cuban was thrust into the middle of Cardi and Offset's split after alleged text messages surfaced appearing to show Offset looking to set up a menage a trois with Cuban and his supposed sidepiece, Summer Bunni.

We broke the story ... Summer tearfully expressed remorse for hooking up with Offset not long before Cardi gave birth, but there's no crying coming from Cuban.

And, get this ... Cuban says Cardi recently reached out to her, and there's no beef between them.

Michael Blackson's got a few interesting points about the fallout from Kevin Hart being chosen to host the Oscars, but he's certain, no matter what ... Kevin's gonna be just fine.

We got the comedian outside Boulevard3 in Hollywood Thursday night and asked about Kevin stepping down from hosting after being slammed for old homophobic tweets.

Blackson goes to bat for his buddy (they're back on good terms), telling us all black comics have said offensive things in the past -- even the legends -- and the Academy should have been well aware of that.

Blackson says the Oscars is just as at fault for this debacle, because it either offered Hart the job without looking up his past ... or ignored it. Either way, Mike feels Kev's response should have been enough to remedy the situation ... but no such luck.

The Ghanaian native also points out there was actually one perfect black comedian who never said anything wrong, and well ... look where he's at now.

Anyway, Michael's not worried about his friend ... because he says Hart's still rich and doesn't need the hosting gig.