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Adam Levine Scoops Up Ben & Jen's Compound ... For $32 Million!!!
Adam Levine just took a massive piece of property off the hands of recently divorced Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner ... plunking down $32 MILLION for their former family home.
Real estate sources tell us Adam and his wife, Behati Prinsloo, made the purchase at the end of 2018 for the 3-building compound. In total, the Pacific Palisades pad is a whopping 16,000 square feet ... complete with pool, basketball court, gym, screening room and art studio.
The 3.1-acre property never officially hit the market ... the sale was done privately with Kurt Rappaport representing Adam and Behati and David Offer representing Ben and Jen.
When Ben and Jen first split in 2015, Ben lived in a guest house on the property.
It's a massive purchase for Levine and likely a big sigh of relief for Ben and Jen -- who were officially divorced in November -- and still had the burden of selling the place.
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Former 'AI' Host Brian Dunkleman Discloses in Divorce Makes a Living as Uber Driver
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EXCLUSIVE
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Dunkleman says, "I chose to stop doing standup comedy and started driving an Uber so I could be there for my son as much as he needed after our life as we knew it was destroyed."
It seems he's referring to the divorce and ugly custody battle he and his ex-wife have waged over their child.
Brian Dunkleman -- the former co-host of "American Idol" -- is now making a living as an Uber driver.
Dunkleman is in the middle of a divorce with Kalea Dunkleman. He submitted financial docs -- obtained by TMZ -- disclosing his occupation as "Uber driver." He says he started the job in March 2016 and continued to this day.
Brian says he works about 45 hours a week and pulls in around $800 a week.
Dunkleman says he has $2,000 in his checking account. He pays $1,500 in rent per month and his expenses total $1,605 each month.
Brian, who co-hosted with Ryan Seacrest in season 1, says his 5-year-old son, Jackson, lives with him half the week.
The divorce has been dragging on for more than 2 years and the former couple has been locked in a bitter custody battle. He claimed Kalea was an out-of-control alcoholic who was a danger to their son. Brian also claimed she physically abused him. She claimed Brian was physically abusive toward her and called her a "useless bitch."
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'RHONJ' Star Danielle Staub Cops Respond to NJ Home Remove Estranged Hubby Marty
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EXCLUSIVE
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'Real Housewives' star Danielle Staub just got her estranged husband, Marty Caffrey, the hell outta the house ... TMZ has learned.
Sources familiar with the situation tell us police in Englewood, NJ responded to Danielle's home Thursday for a domestic disturbance involving Marty. We're told cops removed Marty, but did not arrest him or charge him with any crime.
Sources close to Danielle tell TMZ ... she went to cops Wednesday night seeking a protective order against Marty, and it was granted Thursday. We're told she feels he is putting her through "emotional torment." There haven't been any physical or direct threats as far as we've heard, but we're told Danielle thinks he's "toying" with her while they've continued living together during a nasty divorce.
Specifically, our sources say Danielle believes Marty has purposely loosened light bulbs, turned off power and cut off hot water sporadically just to screw with her. We're told he has another place where he could live while they hash things out in court, but insists on staying in their home.
Danielle thinks he's trying to drag out the divorce because he's shot down 4 offers to settle ... according to our sources.
As for Marty ... he's denied messing with Danielle -- like when he allegedly listed their home without her knowledge. Marty acknowledges that he received the protective order, but says that it's ridiculous.
Danielle and Marty just got hitched back in May. So much for newlywed bliss.
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Ronnie Ortiz-Magro Files Battery Report Against Jen Harley ... Over Ashtray-Throwing Incident
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EXCLUSIVE
- 9.8K shares
Ronnie Ortiz-Magro has just gone to cops and filed a police report against Jen Harley, after she allegedly threw an ashtray at his head ... TMZ has learned.
As we reported, Ronnie and Jen got into a big fight shortly after midnight at a Las Vegas New Year's Eve party at the Hustler Club, and that's where she allegedly hurled the ashtray in his direction, striking him and cutting his nose, lip and forehead. When Jen got home, she found someone had ransacked the place, smashing a flat-screen TV and a vase. They also destroyed pictures and glass frames.
She called the cops and claimed Ronnie was the culprit. Cops named Ronnie a person of interest.
As for Ronnie's police report, we're told his motivation is that he wants Jen to get professional help. He's also worried about the safety of their 8-month-old child.
We're told Ronnie took photos of his injuries and submitted them to cops. We're also told cops took additional pics Thursday at the police station because the injuries were still visible.
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Blind USC Football Player Nails 'Bird Box' Challenge
Wanna see a blind football player nail the best Bird Box Challenge ever?
USC long snapper Jake Olson didn't let the fact that he's blind stop him from getting in on the viral sensation surrounding the super popular Netflix movie, "Bird Box."
What's the BB Challenge? When ya blindfold yourself (a la Sandra Bullock) and (attempt) to perform an everyday task.
The videos have gotten so outta control -- with fans trying to complete dangerous tasks -- Netflix actually had to release a statement pleading with people to be safe.
Olson -- who's been blind since losing his sight to cancer at 12 years old -- hit up a field and snapped the football to his buddy while blindfolded ... and it was perfect.
Of course, dude's been blindly snapping for the Trojans for the last couple of years ... so he's had plenty of practice.
But still ... awesome!
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Rep. Ilhan Omar Makes History on House Floor ... Wears Hijab for Swear-In Ceremony
Ilhan Omar -- one of two Muslim women ever elected to Congress -- made history Thursday when she wore her hijab on the House floor.
The Congresswoman from Minnesota was all smiles as she was sworn in on Capitol Hill ... where she was surrounded by a throng of supporters, many of whom were also wearing hijabs. Omar's no stranger to politics -- she served in the state legislature before making her historic run for Congress.
Omar -- the first Somali-American in Congress -- has also never shied away from her religion in public. In fact, during her victory speech on Election night, she dropped the Arabic phrase, "alhamdulillah" ... which means "all praise to God."
The 37-year-old -- who came from a refugee camp in Kenya some 23 years ago -- ran on very progressive platforms ... such as hiking the minimum wage, universal healthcare and free college tuition.
Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib from Michigan -- the other Muslim woman elected to Congress -- got quite the reception Thursday on the steps to the Capitol.
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NFL's Reuben Foster Domestic Violence Charge Dropped ... Injury Photos
1:24 PM PT -- TMZ Sports has obtained the injury photos of Elissa Ennis -- the woman who claims Foster attacked her ... but apparently, the pics weren't compelling enough for charges to be pursued.
You can see a big red bruise on her cheek and red marks on her chest.
The photos were taken in the aftermath of the Nov. 24 incident -- the woman claims Foster hit her in the face while trying to take her cell phone. She called 911 and cops responded to the team hotel.
Foster's attorney tells us he believes prosecutors dropped the case because of credibility issues.
Remember, after making a claim months ago that he attacked her in February, she recanted on the stand saying she made up the allegations in a fit of anger after being dumped.
And, it got even worse when she appeared on 'GMA' and said she lied about lying on the stand.
Bottom line ... seems prosecutors realize there is no way they could prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt with an alleged victim who has repeatedly lied about the very thing for which Foster was arrested.
8:51 AM PT -- An NFL spokesperson tells TMZ Sports ... "We are monitoring all developments in the matter which continues to be under review by the league."
7:22 AM PT -- TMZ Sports spoke with Foster's attorney Eddie Suarez who tells us he believes the case was dropped due to issues with the witness' credibility.
Suarez says he believes the fact Foster's accuser has changed her story about a previous domestic violence incident multiple times was a factor in the decision to drop the case.
Reuben Foster is off the hook in his domestic violence case ... again.
TMZ Sports has obtained a court document filed on Jan. 2 which shows the State Attorney's Office in Florida has dismissed the misdemeanor charge against Foster stemming from a Nov. 24 incident with his ex-girlfriend.
Foster was scheduled to appear at an arraignment in Hillsborough County, FL on Thursday morning -- but the hearing was canceled after the notice of termination of prosecution was filed.
Unclear why prosecutors decided to drop the case against the 24-year-old linebacker -- we've got calls out to everyone.
As we previously reported ... Foster was arrested back on Nov. 24 for allegedly roughing up his ex-GF, Elissa Ennis, at the 49ers' team hotel in Tampa Bay.
EXCLUSIVE: Ex-girlfriend of NFL star Reuben Foster recounts alleged assault as she speaks out to @ABC News' @LinseyDavis. https://t.co/IQ2g78h2zS pic.twitter.com/3BWDQbJWuq
@ABC
Ennis said in an interview with "Good Morning America" on Dec. 6 the fight stemmed from her threatening to tell Foster's new GF that he paid for her flight out to Florida.
In 911 audio obtained by TMZ Sports ... Ennis says, "My ex-boyfriend just took my phone [and broke it] ... slapped me in my face and threatened me."
She later repeated, "He took my phone and broke it and slapped me in my face."
Ennis said on 'GMA' that wasn't the first time Foster had struck her ... saying he had also roughed her up on two other separate occasions -- one of which she says she lied about in court to protect the LB.
Foster had been arrested for domestic violence in Feb. 2018 and charged with several felonies for allegedly roughing up the same woman.
But, when Ennis went on the stand in that case, she told the judge she had concocted the story to get back at Foster as revenge for breaking up with her.
The judge dismissed the charges against Foster in that case.
Ennis later said she lied in court to protect Foster because she thought she loved him.
San Francisco cut Foster just hours after the incident in Tampa ... but he was later claimed on waivers by the Redskins, who vowed the LB wouldn't suit up for them until the legal process played out.
Story developing ...
Originally Published -- 6:47 AM PT
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Aaron Schlossberg Sued by Ex-Client ... Your Racist Rant Hurt Our Biz!!!
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EXCLUSIVE
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Aaron Schlossberg is the NYC lawyer who infamously went on a racist rant against restaurant employees for speaking Spanish ... and he's also now the defendant in a lawsuit filed by one of his ex-clients.
Niche Music Group wants Schlossberg to pay for screwing it over, because he was hired to rep the recording label in litigation against Sony Music Entertainment. The rub here ... Schlossberg was hired in January 2018 ... before his racist rant in May went viral.
Niche claims Schlossberg's conduct not only reflected poorly on him, but discredited his clients, and as its legal counsel ... he should have known better.
The label says Schlossberg's off-the-wall attack caused its reputation to take a blow and cost it future business opportunities.
You'll recall, Schlossberg threatened to call ICE on Fresh Kitchen employees when he heard them speaking Spanish on the job.
In the suit, Niche says it had to spend a lot of time and money replacing Schlossberg in order to continue its case against Sony. The label is suing him for breach of contract and legal malpractice ... and wants at least $50k in damages.
We reached out to Schlossberg ... no word back so far.
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Supermodel Bar Refaeli Big Trouble In Little Israel To Be Indicted for Tax Evasion, Money Laundering
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Breaking News
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Officials in Israel believe Bar Refaeli tried to hide more than $6 MILLION from tax authorities ... and now she's been informed prosecutors will hit her with tax evasion and money laundering charges.
Refaeli has been under investigation for years -- authorities believe she tried to get out of paying taxes in Israel by claiming her primary residence was in the U.S. ... and telling U.S. authorities she lived in Israel.
Authorities claim the supermodel was shady with tax officials from 2006 to 2012 -- part of that time was when she was dating Leonardo DiCaprio.
Officials say Bar claimed to be living in the U.S. with Leo at the time when she was really living in Tel Aviv under a family member's name, this according to JPost.com.
Bar's parents, Tzipi and Rafi Refaeli, are also expected to be hit with money laundering and tax evasion charges stemming from the same investigation.
As for Bar, her attorney Moshe Mizrahi told Ynet ... Israeli tax authorities are backing out of a deal she negotiated with them in 2009. He also claims Bar "hasn’t hidden anything."
33-year-old Refaeli is one of the most famous models in the world -- gracing the covers of magazines like the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and GQ.
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R. Kelly Lifetime's Defiant ... Our Documentary Will Air!!!
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EXCLUSIVE
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Lifetime's not afraid of R. Kelly -- it's going to air its documentary about the singer as planned despite his threat to sue.
We broke the story ... Kelly's lawyer threatened to sue the network if it airs "Surviving R. Kelly" Thursday night, claiming the TV doc is packed with lies about him being a sex-crazed and abusive cult leader.
Despite receiving a scathing cease and desist letter, a Lifetime rep tells TMZ ... the first part of its 6-part documentary will air tonight as scheduled at 9 PM ET/PT.
The rep adds ... "Lifetime has always been a brand that champions women’s stories." Not hard to read between the lines ... the network believes the women.
"Surviving R. Kelly" will feature people from his inner circle coming forward -- for the first time ever -- with new allegations that Kelly has sexually, mentally and physically abused women.
The singer's calling BS ... saying the subjects made false allegations to become famous. He also claims to have proof the network knows some of the girls are lying.
Regardless, it seems the public will get to watch and decide for themselves ... and let the lawyers for both sides figure out the rest.
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Coachella 2019 Gucci Mane's Typo Not A Mistake After All
12:17 PM PT -- So, maybe it wasn't such a flub after all ... a rep for Coachella just got back to us and says "Gucci Gang" is, in fact, correct ... and now the photo of Gucci Mane has been replaced with one to include Lil Pump and Smokepurpp. Looks like something new for festival goers.
Gucci Mane, meet Gucci Gang -- the name he'll apparently be performing under at Coachella this year ... according to Coachella promoters, anyway.
There's a major typo on Coachella's website right now, which calls the Atlanta rapper "Gang" instead of "Mane." The error, which was published in the lineup announcement Wednesday night and hasn't been fixed yet, threw a lot of music fans for a loop -- namely, having them wonder ... who the hell is Gucci Gang???
At first, people thought it might be a new rap group featuring Lil Pump -- ya know, 'cause of his song "Gucci Gang" -- but when GM's image was attached to the name in a more detailed breakdown of the lineup, it became clear someone just screwed up.
Unless, of course, there's something like an undeclared name change going on ... but we seriously doubt it.
We reached out to Coachella and Gucci ... neither's gotten back to us yet.
Originally Published -- 7:15 AM PST
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Rep. Rashida Tlaib 1st Palestinian-American Congresswoman ... Swarmed for First Day on the Hill!!!
2:00 PM PT -- Here's another fun fact for the history books ... a smiling Tlaib was sworn in for duty on Thomas Jefferson's Quran.
Rep. Rashida Tlaib, the first Palestinian-American woman to serve in Congress, got the A-list celeb treatment -- a full crush of photographers and shouting fans -- as she arrived on Capitol Hill.
We got Michigan's new Congresswoman Thursday afternoon, heading up the Capitol steps where she was swarmed by media, supporters and family members. The latter were not shy about cheering her on for her first day on the job.
Rashida is now part of the 116th Congress and the new-look House of Representatives -- which has swung Democrat -- and she's among the sea of women of color who were voted into office.
IN PHOTOS: Nancy Pelosi, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar and Deb Haaland at the swearing-in ceremony on the floor of the U.S. House pic.twitter.com/iJoEQ7RTZ7
@tictoc
Busy day on the Hill -- swearing in of new members, Nancy Pelosi was just elected Speaker of the House, and some of the new reps are taking selfies on the floor.
Lots of them brought their kids to work too. Great for photo ops, but if we're keeping it real ... they've got a lot of work to do. Government shutdown, anyone?
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Johnny Manziel Kanye's Afraid of Drake
Johnny Manziel says he's right in the middle of the Kanye West vs. Drake beef -- since it's all going down in Calabasas -- and he's convinced Yeezus is scared.
You already know the backstory ... Kanye went off on Drake publicly this weekend when he realized the rapper still followed Kim Kardashian on IG. He took his gripe to Twitter where he posted about 75 million tweets about the situation.
Since Manziel is friendly with Drake -- and lives around the corner from Kanye and Kim in Calabasas -- he talked about the situation on his Comeback SZN podcast on Barstool Sports.
"It's all happening right around the corner," Manziel said ... "So, I'm in the middle of it right now. I can't wait to see it unfold a little bit more, but [Kanye] is triggered!"
He added, "It sounds like Kanye is a little worried about Drake. Like he's going to call someone to beat him up or something."
Seems Manziel is right ... remember, Kanye suggested that Drake threatened his family during a Twitter spat a few weeks ago.
"You threatened the safety of me and my family," Kanye tweeted on Dec. 13 ... "Never threaten north saint and Chicago's dad bro."
Kanye continued ... "So drake if anything happens to me or anyone from my family you are the first suspect. So cut the tough talk."
Manziel says he's not sure if the beef is real -- but he's convinced if Drake and Meek Mill can bury the hatchet ... Drake can make peace with Kanye too.
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Queen Guitarist Brian May Blast Off With My NASA-Inspired Song ... It's Outta This World!!!
Queen guitarist Brian May is here to make you super pumped about outer space and science, because he just dropped a theme song for NASA's New Horizons mission ... and it rocks!
Brian's famous for playing lead guitar for the classic rock band, but he's also an astrophysicist who's been working with NASA's New Horizons team as it sends a probe to the outer reaches of our solar system ... and he's combined his two passions to create a mission anthem that's cooler than Pluto!
Brian dropped the New Horizons tribute song on New Year's Eve, coinciding with the NASA spacecraft reaching Ultima Thule in the icy Kuiper belt ... and we gotta say, the track stacks up pretty well to Queen's soundtrack for "Flash Gordon."
As for the story behind the song ... Brian was reportedly reluctant to work his rock star magic when a New Horizons colleague asked him to write a song for the mission, because Brian felt it was almost impossible to rhyme with Ultima Thule.
Brian says he eventually started hearing music in his head sounding like "an object plummeting through space" and his creative juices started flowing and the song was born.
We're guessing Freddie Mercury would've been down with the space-themed jam too.
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Sinbad on Louis C.K. He's Shooting Himself in the Foot ... But Don't Tell Comedians Who to Joke About!!!
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EXCLUSIVE
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Sinbad thinks Louis C.K. is dangerously close to losing his mind and pulling a Michael Richards, but he still believes it's a terrible idea to start censoring comedians.
We got Sinbad Thursday outside The London Hotel in NYC and asked the comic if he and his peers are running scared in 2019 with all the instant backlash on social media.
It's pretty clear he doesn't support Louis' decision to mock the kids who survived the Parkland, FL mass shooting -- he describes him as shooting himself in the foot -- however, Sinbad firmly believes you can't tell comedians who they can and can't joke about.
i mean he's like a RW comic now. hes milo pic.twitter.com/QYOGI7TrGa
@jackallisonLOL
Sinbad basically compares C.K.'s set to Michael's infamous racist tirade and says anyone can lose their mind at any point. He says he was actually at the Laugh Factory the night Michael started shouting the n-word.
Sinbad isn't making excuses for Louis, but insists it's on the audience to let comics know when they've crossed the line -- and ya gotta hear Sinbad's advice for pissed off crowds.