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"Deadliest Catch" captain Sig Hansen is reeling in more heat for his alleged spit-fest on an Uber driver.

Waheed Lawal -- Sig's Uber driver during the night in question -- filed suit against the reality star and his son-in-law, Clark Pederson, for allegedly unloading saliva on the back of his head and kicking the crap out of his car. Lawal admits he refused to take cash for the trip, it's against Uber policy, and says that's what set them off.

Sig was arrested afterward, and his criminal case is still pending.

Lawal's suing for assault and battery. And get this ... his wife's a plaintiff too, claiming loss of consortium. In other words, the couple isn't having sex anymore due to his injuries.

Sig's previously apologized for the incident. Not enough for Lawal, obviously.

John Salley has a message for LaVar Ball -- I can take Big Baller Brand to the next level!!!

Here's the deal ... Salley is a part-owner in Q4 Designs -- an apparel company that manufactures everything from shoes to shirts and more.

The NBA legend says he's been actively trying to lock down a meeting with LaVar in an effort to join forces and he's confident they can work out something ASAP.

"I'm trying to get Big Baller Brand to let us make the shoes," Salley says.

'Bachelor' contestants looking to kick the tires on Arie Luyendyk Jr. need look no further ... his ex-gf is spilling the beans, and she makes him out to be quite the racy gentleman.

We spoke to Sonia Rockwell, an actress on "Being Mary Jane," and although she's happily in a new relationship, she gives Arie a ringing endorsement for his 'Bachelor' suitors.

Sonia and Arie broke up about a decade ago but during the 5 years she dated him, Sonia got to know him like the back of her hand -- like if he's sentimental (yup!) and spontaneous (hell yeah).

She's got advice on how the future 'Bachelor' winner should approach Arie's love for racing. If ya didn't hear by now ... Arie raced professionally, and his dad's a 2-time Indy 500 winner.

Start your engines!

The cats who call the Hemingway House in Key West home are all safe and accounted for after the bulk of Hurricane Irma spared the island city ... TMZ has learned.

Staff members that work at the Hemingway House tell us all 55 cats -- and the people who stayed behind to care for them -- are a-okay at the property ... which itself is still standing and suffered no major structural damage.

We're told all 10 Hemingway occupants, including manager Jacque Sands, lucked out big time since Irma left significantly less destruction than in the other Keys. Sources tell us while there are a few trees down on the estate, everything else at the house appears to be fine.

The Hemingway House also avoided major flooding. A source at the National Weather Service tells us Key West only saw a water surge of about 3 feet as opposed to the 15-20 feet anticipated throughout the Keys as Irma approached. We're told Key West was in the eye wall -- the strongest part of the hurricane -- for 2 hours. Water has begun to recede as Irma moves north.

As a result, those at the house are not currently inundated by water unlike Miami -- but are staying inside until winds die down.

Miami is starting to look like a city that's underwater due to massive flooding from Hurricane Irma ... and some of the footage of the city is insane.

Streets in downtown Miami are literally becoming rivers, and even shops and storefronts are getting buried in water. This video shows store owners looking at rising currents right outside their own window.

Sources at the National Weather Service tell us the surge of water in Miami has gotten as high as 6 feet.

The city is flooded beyond recognition, and is even starting to cause damage to some structures. A piece of American Airlines Arena has been torn down from the high velocity winds. Two cranes at the top of a high-rise in DT have snapped off as well ... but luckily didn't plunge down below.

And as you might imagine, trees are falling over left and right in Miami and surrounding areas.

Richard Branson's private Caribbean island was virtually decimated by Hurricane Irma ... and TMZ has learned there were some animal casualties.

TMZ obtained these photos, which vividly show the power of the storm on Necker Island. The main house was all but destroyed and some of the surrounding structures are gone.

As we reported, Branson and his crew weathered the storm from a basement and they all survived.

Branson had an awesome menagerie of exotic animals on the property and we're told a number of them didn't make it through the hurricane ... but many did. We're told 250 flamingos are going strong, as are 60 lemurs.

We're told all of the parrots and toucans also survived. Our Necker Island sources say Branson converted his wine cellar into an animal hospital and shelter for the injured, weak and scared.

Branson shared some photos and video of the wreckage himself Sunday, and it only confirms the damage to his home.

He says he's now mobilizing aid efforts in Puerto Rico.

Swae Lee might be a real crowd pleaser onstage, but he ain't no water bottle thrower -- which is why he says he's countersuing the guy accusing him of just that.

We got Swae Friday at LAX and asked him about a new lawsuit from a Michigan man suing Rae Sremmurd -- Swae and his bro, Slim Jxmmi -- for allegedly chucking water bottles into the crowd at one of their shows last year ... and leaving him with a busted nose.

Swae's not only denying that account ... he says he's firing right back with a lawsuit of his own, 'cause 3,000 shows prove the dude's wrong ... according to him, anyway.

He's pretty confident here -- but the question is ... cashing his checks before they clear?

DeRay Davis has a funny way of explaining his on-set blow up with Tamar Braxton last week ... which involves board games, family, and only a partial denial.

We got the comedian Saturday night at Bootsy Bellows in WeHo, where we asked about his beef with Tamar on the set of "Hip Hop Squares" ... where he jokingly accused her of lip-syncing, and eventually threatened to get his sisters to beat her ass after an argument.

DeRay says the story's BS -- well, only part of it actually. He admits he and Tamar got into a spat, but that's only because they were competing ... and Tamar's a cheater, according to him. He denies threatening to sic any of his six sisters on her.

Conor McGregor continues to chill in Ibiza, in grand style.

Conor, baby mama Dee Devlin and his son, C.M., Jr., hung with family members aboard a yacht he can more than afford after pocketing around $100 mil for Floyd Mayweather fight.

Conor and his brood have been on the boat since attending a friend's wedding last weekend on a Spanish island.

He may be the greatest showman in all of sports, but when you strip it down he's just kinda an ordinary dad.

Hillary Clinton thinks Donald Trump's Inauguration speech was actually a rallying cry for white nationalists ... and she blurted that out on national television.

HC was being interviewed by CBS Sunday, reflecting on her election loss (again) when she started describing the conundrum of whether she oughta show to Trump's Inauguration -- y'know, 'cause she lost to him ... but is also a former First Lady.

That's when she gets to her "out of body" experience on the platform listening to Trump's first speech as Prez ... which she calls a "cry from the white nationalist gut."

Basically ... she thinks Trump squandered an opportunity to unite the country, and instead played to his base with harsh rhetoric ... and, apparently, white nationalist sentiments.

We'll let Hil (and Trump) speak for themselves.

Boxing star Adrien Broner went ballistic on the Vegas strip Friday night ... violently shoving a woman and knocking a dude out cold.

TMZ Sports obtained the video, which starts with Broner taking pics with fans. Moments later he snaps, but it's unclear why. The former world champ appears enraged as he walks near the MGM.

A female companion tried to calm him down, but Broner isn't having it and shoves her, sending her flying backward. Then he uncorks a ferocious knockout blow to a guy who went down for the count.

It's unclear if Broner knew the guy, or if he just got in his line of fire.

We're told security talked to Broner, but let him go.

We've reached out to Adrien's camp ... no word back so far.

Broner has had numerous outside-the-ring issues over the years. His "big bro" Floyd Mayweather tried to step in and mentor him earlier this year ... but it doesn't seem to be working.

Alex Rodriguez keeps his emotions close to the vest, which is why video of him busting moves is interesting.

A-Rod and his daughters -- 12-year-old Natasha and 9-year-old Ella -- somehow got super good seats Saturday night at J Lo's "All I Have" concert at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas.

Truth be told, Alex and the girls are regulars at the concert, but judging by the video you would think it was the first time they took in the show.

BTW, Natasha and Ella have amazing voices and J Lo's nurturing them.

Britney Spears was having all of it Saturday at Disneyland with her Bf and his kids.

Britney took Sean and Jayden to the Anaheim theme park to celebrate their birthdays, both of which hit next week. Sean turns 12 and Jayden turns 11.

Brit's boyfriend Sam Asghari tagged along for the rides. BTW ... they've been together going on a year now.

They hit up the spring racers and soaring over the world rides. She was just one of the crowd ... kinda.

Puddle of Mudd had to cancel it's concert Saturday night, because its lead singer was in the pokey on gun charges ... TMZ has learned.

Wes Scantlin was busted at LAX Saturday after he tried boarding a plane with a BB gun. He was taken to jail and booked. His bail was a whopping $850,000. It appears there were other charges as well.

Wes was trying to get from L.A. to Keller, Texas, where his band was scheduled to perform. Without a lead singer, what's the point, so they pulled the plug.