TMZ.com Home

21 Savage never hid the fact that he was in the U.S. illegally, and ICE is now trying to intimidate him into leaving the country he calls home ... this according to his lawyer.

Attorney Charles H. Kuck just delivered a blistering attack on the federal agency that arrested 21 Savage Sunday and is holding him for deportation proceedings.

Kuck says his client actually applied for a U-Visa back in 2017 and the application is pending, and ICE has known about it yet took no action until this weekend.

The attorney also takes aim at ICE for putting it out there that 21 Savage has prior criminal charges, suggesting he does not. Point of fact -- Savage pled guilty to felony drug possession back in 2014, but that conviction was expunged last September.

Kuck slams ICE for detaining his client, claiming he is not a threat to his community nor is he a flight risk ... he also has children here.

And, the attorney goes on ... "As a minor, his family overstayed their work visas, and he, like almost two million other children, was left without legal status through no fault of his own." Kuck says his client has "U.S. citizen children" whom he supports and is eligible for relief from deportation.

The attorney accuses ICE of trying to "unnecessarily punish him," claiming the agency is trying "to intimidate him into giving up his right to fight to remain in the United States."

Now, this is interesting ... Kuck says the Visa 21 Savage applied for is based on him being a victim of crime. Kuck tells TMZ, 21 Savage was shot during a 2013 incident where his best friend was murdered. Kuck says he was "severely affected physically and mentally." He goes on to say being a crime victim puts 21 Savage in a position for permanent residence.

Liam Neeson is copping to going on the hunt for revenge decades ago against some "black bastard" ... after a close friend was raped by a black man -- and says the experience taught him a valuable lesson.

The actor says he walked the streets for days with a cosh -- a baton-like weapon -- as he looked for an opportunity to kill a random black man. We're told the incident happened more than 40 years ago. Neeson opened up about it for the first time while talking to The Independent about his new movie, "Cold Pursuit."

He said a female friend had been raped, and although she didn't know her attacker's identity, she knew he was black. Check out the clip ... Liam says he walked outside bars hoping to be approached by a black man so he could "kill him" as revenge for his friend's rape.

Neeson makes it clear nothing ever happened, and says he learned from his "awful" and "horrible" behavior ... revenge isn't the answer.

The super-rich are getting super-richer ... the Kardashian sisters are celebrating like Tom Brady Monday morning after winning $10 million in a legal war over a cosmetics line ... TMZ has learned.

According to docs, Kourtney, Khloe and Kim Kardashian emerged victorious over Hillair Capital Management ... which had sued the sisters nearly 3 years ago. As we first reported, Hillair claimed the sisters didn't hold up their end of a licensing deal ... after it sunk $10 mil into a "Kardashian Beauty" line with Haven.

The K sisters didn't take that lying down -- insisting they had nothing to do with "Kardashian Beauty" -- and the case ended up in arbitration. In the docs, obtained by TMZ, a 3 judge panel completely rejected Hillair's claims and ordered the company to pay Kim and co. nearly $7.4 mil. It also has to fork over another $3.2 mil in interest.

The Kardashians' attorneys don't think Hillair will just cut a check. They've filed the arbitration decision in L.A. Superior Court to get the $10 mil award locked in, but according to the docs ... they fully expect Hillair to fight the decision.

11:00 AM PT-- A source close to Kristoff tells us the actor had checked himself into UCLA Medical Center in January for depression issues ... and had just been released within the last few days.

We're told his depression was linked, in part, to his son, Julian's suicide years ago.

8:50 AM PT -- Kristoff's fiancée, model Kseniya Mikhaleva, reacted to his death, saying ... "How did it happen??? How??? Why did you leave so early???? and left me all alone ..."

Kristoff and Kseniya just got engaged 5 months ago.

TMZ also got the dispatch audio from the fire department, which responded to a call for an "unconscious individual" at Kristoff's home. You'll hear officials use the term "natural causes" -- that only means there was no foul play.

Kristoff St. John, star of the long-running soap opera 'Young and the Restless,' was found dead Sunday ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us one of Kristoff's friends went to check on him at the actor's home in San Fernando Valley, and found his body. Police and paramedics were alerted and responded to the house. We're told Kristoff was pronounced dead on the scene.

We're told there was no sign of foul play, however one source says alcohol might have played a role.

Kristoff has played Neil Winters on 'Y&R' since 1991 -- a role that earned him 9 Daytime Emmy Award nominations. He also won 10 NAACP Image Awards.

Kristoff has a tragic and troubled history with suicide. He and his ex-wife, boxer Mia St. John, lost their son, Julian, when he took his own life in 2014, while getting treatment at a mental health facility. Mia and Kristoff sued the facility for negligence. The suit was eventually settled.

In 2017, around the anniversary of Julian's suicide, Kristoff threatened to kill himself with a gun. Cops placed him under a 72-hour hold for psychiatric evaluation.

Mia reacted to Kristoff's death with an emotional post on social media (which she has since deleted), and it's clear she is connecting his death to Julian's. She wrote, "THAT HOSPITAL KILLED OUR SON @TheArtofJulian THEN MY HUSBAND @kristoffstjohn1. THATS WHAT HAPPENED! THEY KILLED MY FAMILY"

After their son's death, Kristoff and Mia founded the El Saber es Poder (Knowledge is Power) Foundation to battle mental illness.

Kristoff was 52.

RIP

The happiest people on Earth are now at the Happiest Place on Earth ... 'cause Tom Brady and Julian Edelman have made it to Disney World after winning the Super Bowl!!!

It's an annual tradition ... the big game's top players try like hell to fight off their hangovers and sleep depravity to make their way to Mickey's theme park to celebrate winning the Lombardi Trophy.

This time ... the Pats' MVP (Edelman) decided to bring his QB along -- and they're clearly having a freakin' blast!!!

The two have already hit up the Toy Story ride -- and had a great debate over who's Woody and who's Buzz Lightyear.

They also got a little lightsaber-training in ... and you'll never guess which guy chose the dark side's red saber!!!

Edelman and Brady will almost certainly be grand marshals in Mickey's parade through the Magic Kingdom later today as well.

How'd Kevin Hart get by Super Bowl security to party with the Patriots on Sunday??

Robert Kraft's son had to personally vouch for him!!!!

It all went down on the Mercedes-Benz Stadium turf after New England beat the Rams ... when the comedy icon was held up on his way to the confetti party.

The video is great ... Hart thinks security is just jokin' around not letting him through the gates -- when he suddenly realizes they ain't!!!

Kevin tries to crack a couple jokes to get through ... but still no dice!!!

Enter Patriots president Jonathan Kraft ... who rolls up to security to save the day -- telling everyone, "He's good! He's good! And, his wife!"

If this all feels familiar ... it's 'cause it is -- remember last year Hart was denied the chance to head up to the stage to celebrate the Eagles' Super Bowl championship???

For his part ... Kevin was able to joke about the whole thing afterward -- penning a social media post with a bunch of laughing emojis.

21 Savage is a living, breathing example of that ol' saying, "fake it til you make it" ... at least according to ICE.

An ICE official told CNN on Sunday ... "His whole public persona is false. He actually came to the U.S. from the U.K. as a teen and overstayed his visa."

The arrest has totally shocked 21 Savage's fans ... who had NO CLUE about his British roots. We did some digging and to be fair, Sav has never claimed Atlanta as his birthplace. In multiple profiles on the rapper ... media outlets have referred to him as being "from" Atlanta or say he "grew up" there.

That said, it sure doesn't seem like he's ever gone out of his way to correct any reports of him being an ATL native. 21 definitely reps Atlanta in his rhymes ... and he's told tales about getting expelled from an Atlanta school for bringing a gun to class.

Still, he's never said he was "born" there.

As we reported ... Sav was arrested early Sunday in Atlanta by what ICE described as a targeted operation. ICE officials say 21 Savage is actually a U.K. national and has been illegally in the U.S. since 2006. They say he came here as a kid in 2005.

The 14k gold and diamond Lakers championship rings Kobe Bryant purchased for his parents could now be YOURS -- because the jewelry is hitting the auction block ... TMZ Sports has learned.

According to Goldin Auctions, Kobe bought two identical, blinged out rings for his parents to commemorate his first NBA championship with the Lakers following the 1999, 2000 season.

The rings -- which contain 40 diamonds each -- are the same rings the players got after beating the Indiana Pacers. They're legit and they're awesome.

The rings have an interesting backstory ... Kobe's mom, Pamela Bryant, famously tried to sell the rings, along with a bunch of other Kobe memorabilia back in the day ... and Kobe sued to try and stop the sale.

Kobe ultimately agreed to allow his parents to sell 6 items -- including the rings -- and, in 2013, they sold to a private collector (a big Lakers fan) for a total of $280,000.

Now, that collector is ready to part ways ... and went back to Goldin Auctions to make the sale.

The auction is officially underway -- and starting bids are $35,000 for Joe "Jellybean" Bryant's ring and $20,000 for Pamela Bryant's ring. They're expected to fetch hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Kobe and the Lakers won the series 4 games to 2. Shaquille O'Neal was named Finals MVP.

Newsflash to anyone who watched the Super Bowl -- you're officially beefing with Rihanna ... who not only didn't watch the snoozefest in Atlanta but mocked a dude on her flight who did.

RiRi was headed somewhere on a plane Sunday night (prolly somewhere awesome) when she apparently heard a 1st-class cabinmate ask for the Super Bowl to be put on.

She called the dude out on her Instagram Story ... putting a sign that said "weirdo" over his head, then posting a picture of Colin Kaepernick with a diss to anyone who watched the game.

Rihanna has been team Kap all the way in his battle with the NFL ... reportedly turning down an offer to perform in the Super Bowl because of the way she believes the league has treated Colin.

Bow Wow and his GF were in a knock-down, drag-out brawl before they both got arrested ... according to cops.

Kiyomi Leslie Holden called Atlanta PD around 4 AM Saturday to report Bow Wow for assault. She told officers on the scene the whole fight started when they got home from a party. Kiyomi Leslie -- who appears on "Growing Up Hip Hop" -- claims Bow Wow was pissed she was talking to another man at the party, and lit into her about it when they got home.

In the police report, obtained by TMZ, Kiyomi Leslie says Bow Wow hit her in the head, pulled her by the hair, dragged her from her bedroom ... and told her to get the hell out.

For his part, Bow Wow acknowledged being pissed about the other guy ... telling cops she "disrespected him" by hanging "all over another man's body." He claims Kiyomi Leslie called him a "bitch ass n***er" when he complained about her behavior.

He claims he merely told Leslie to leave their home, and placed her bags by the door. He claims Kiyomi Leslie "grabbed a night stand lamp and threw it at him." He says she missed with the lamp, but scratched the hell out of his face ... which is obvious in his mug shot.

An officer on the scene says he saw the lamp on the ground when he entered the bedroom. Cops observed red marks on Kiyomi Leslie's fingers as well as broken fingernails.

TMZ broke the story ... Bow Wow and Kiyomi Leslie were arrested and booked for battery. Kiyomi Leslie says she broke 3 ribs during the brawl.

Kraft had the bling, Gronk had the booze ... and EVERYONE was having a great time at the New England Patriots victory party after the Super Bowl.

TMZ Sports has footage from inside the event -- where you can see billionaire Pats owner Robert Kraft turnin' up with a giant diamond chain around his neck that says, "Champions."

Rob Gronkowski was living his best life too -- sippin' on a bottle of booze somebody passed off to him ... and telling people, "I am big pimpin'."

Snoop was the main performer at the shindig at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Atlanta -- along with The Chainsmokers and Meek Mill.

After the show, Snoop told us Tom Brady personally asked him to perform -- and he obliged ... because you can't say no to the G.O.A.T.

The food at the party was also lit -- we're talking chicken and waffles, mahi mahi tacos and an OPEN BAR!

He tried. He failed.

A New England Patriots fan tried to sneak into the team locker room celebration after the Super Bowl by taking a security officer's jacket and trying to blend in ... but he got caught.

Several people recorded video as the ACTUAL security team realized there was a FRAUD in their midst.

You can see the real security team question the faker -- and demanding he fork over the jacket immediately.

Atlanta Police Dept. officers were called over to help as the man tried to explain himself -- saying someone had given him the jacket ... but he never ID'd his alleged accomplice.

At one point the man tried to walk away from the situation, but he was stopped by officials who were trying to identify the man. He was a wearing a badge so it shouldn't be too hard.

APD tells us stadium security handled the incident and they're not sure if the man was arrested.

We're working on it ...

Of course, the Patriots have had locker room issues in the past -- investigators found that former TV reporter Mauricio Ortega had been habitually stealing items from Super Bowl locker rooms for years ... including a game-worn Tom Brady jersey.

A woman told police Saturday Soulja Boy kidnapped her but his manager is calling BS ... TMZ has learned.

Sources familiar with the allegations tell TMZ, a woman named Kayla was at Soulja's home in Agoura Hills just outside of L.A. Friday night, but at around 2:30 AM Saturday they began arguing and she was told to leave.

We're told Kayla -- who was apparently dating Soulja -- got in her car, put it in reverse and backed down the driveway, where she clipped the curb. We're told Soujla's assistant was outside and witnessed it, and became "agitated" and the 2 started fighting.

Sources connected to Kayla claim Soulja came out and tried to break the fight up, but Kayla claims he punched and kicked her while she was on the ground, and then took her inside the garage and tied her to a chair with an extension cord.

The sources say Kayla was tied up for 6 hours.

We're told she was released, went home and contacted police Saturday morning. We're told she went to the hospital where she was treated for her injuries and was discharged late Saturday night. She claims she has 3 fractured ribs and a concussion.

Law enforcement acknowledges someone filed a kidnapping report Saturday morning and there is "an active investigation" but they would not divulge the name of the suspect or the alleged victim.

Soulja is on 5-years probation for a weapons conviction. He is not allowed to threaten anyone or possess any deadly weapon.

YG was clearly sad after his Rams got killed in Super Bowl 53 -- but despite only posting 3 measly points, the rap star is staying positive about the team's future.

The SoCal rapper was leaving Mercedes-Benz Stadium with fellow Rams backer Tyga after the game -- and the mood wasn't as lit as they hoped it would be.

The good news ... YG insists Rams Nation is still strong -- telling us he's confident Jared Goff and company will return to the big dance in 2020.

"We good, bro," YG said while sippin' on his drink in the parking lot ... "We made it to the Super Bowl, we're okay."

"Next year, bro."

We also asked YG what he thought about the halftime show and whether he'd ever be down to headline the performance ... and you'll want to hear what he says.

Tom Brady's G.O.A.T.-ness just got even G.O.A.T.-ier, 'cause he and the Patriots have picked up their sixth Super Bowl win ... which looked just as good on the field as it did off of it.

The Pats beat the L.A. Rams Sunday in Super Bowl LIII at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium -- and while the score ended up being a mere 13-3 ... it didn't look like Tom and co. cared all that much by the end of it. A win's a win ... and that makes 6 for Mr. Brady.

Naturally, there was a lot of celebrating on the field immediately afterward. And of course, everyone was trying to get to Tom -- for a hug, or a comment ... or anything. Even Bill Belichick had to paw his way through a crowd to congratulate his QB.

After embracing each other on the field and receiving the Lombardi Trophy -- not to mention all the speeches that come with that -- the team eventually trotted off to the locker room for a champagne shower celebration ... but not before a boom box appeared.

Robert Kraft is reportedly handing out 50-year-old cigars right now in the locker room ... and the champagne followed shortly after. We're told the Pats had 100 bottles of Belaire to kick off the celebration!!