Drew Brees On Jewelry Lawsuit: 'It Was All a Scam'

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Drew Brees is speaking out on his lawsuit against a San Diego jeweler -- saying he trusted the man with $15 million in diamonds ... but "in the end it was all a scam."

TMZ Sports broke the story ... Brees sued Vahid Moradi of CJ Charles jewelers claiming Moradi misrepresented the quality and value of several high-priced diamonds over the years.

In fact, Brees claimed he severely overpaid for an $8.1 MILLION blue diamond in 2015 -- which is really only worth about $3.75 mil.

Now, Brees has issued a statement through his attorney Andrew Kim saying, "From 2010 to 2016, Moradi advised [my wife and I] to allocate funds into an alternative asset class of investment grade diamonds and told us that he would use his connections and expertise to acquire them on our behalf at or below market value."

"In an effort to diversify our investment portfolio, we trusted Moradi and invested. Moradi assured us he was being compensated by the sellers for any investment grade diamonds he acquired on our behalf."

"In the end it was all a scam. After thinking long and hard, Brittany and I decided to take this lawsuit on in part because we fear we are not the only ones Moradi has misled and defrauded."

Moradi has denied any wrongdoing -- with his attorney -- saying the fault lies with Brees.

"Mr. Brees's behavior and his belief that he was wronged because the jewelry did not appreciate in value as quickly as he hoped both demonstrate a lack of integrity and contradict basic principles of both economics and the law."

'Melrose Place' Star Jamie Luner Sexual Assault Accuser Flagged for Filing Bogus Lawsuit

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Anthony Oliver claims he's not the one who filed the old lawsuits. He tells us it's actually his brother, Tony.

Just to be clear, he is saying ... Mom named him Anthony and named his brother, Tony.

The man suing Jamie Luner for sexual assault is on a list in California exposing people who abuse the litigation system ... TMZ has learned.

Anthony Oliver -- who claims the "Melrose Place" star drugged and raped him in 1998 when he was 16 years old -- is considered a vexatious litigant in the state ... according to court records. That means special approval is required by a judge before the courts have to accept any lawsuit he files.

The reason -- Oliver has filed at least 22 wide-ranging suits over the past several years ... some of which have been deemed to be either unnecessary, frivolous or without merit. Here's a rundown of some of the parties Oliver has sued:

-- County of Chatham, Georgia; claims he was beaten by a sheriff's deputy who used excessive force

-- Target, Cox Communications and Premier Bankcard; claims former roommate stole his identity and racked up debt with these companies

-- City of Oceanside; claims he was unlawfully arrested by cops who were harassing patrons, and they deleted his video footage of the incident and used excessive force

-- Men's Wearhouse; claims text message ads are unlawful marketing and violates his privacy

-- L.A. County, California Highway Patrol, T-Mobile, South Coast Medical Group and more for a variety of allegations

We broke the story ... Oliver's suing Luner, claiming his experience with her in '98 messed up his life, and he filed a police report as well.

Jamie's side says the allegations are "completely unfounded" and believes they are part of an extortion scheme ... and points to Oliver's long history of filing suits as proof.

'American Idol' Star Trevor Holmes It's Fine Katy Perry Gave Me the Ax ... The 'Love Triangle' Paid Off!

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"American Idol" dreamboat Trevor Holmes got sent home by Katy Perry this week -- but he ain't mad at her ... 'cause their viral "flirting" put him and his music on the map.

We spoke to Trevor a day after his final episode on 'Idol' aired Monday, in which he got eliminated by the judges ... and had the news delivered by none other than Katy.

In case you haven't been following along this season ... Trevor and Katy have sorta had a thang between them since his original audition -- even though he's got a GF, Sierra.

In hindsight, Trevor tells us he has no regrets or resentment about being booted -- although he acknowledges the Katy-Sierra "love triangle" being played up screwed with him a bit.

Still ... he doesn't have a single bad thing to say about Katy or 'Idol,' adding that the exposure kick-started his music career and put him in the public eye. Put more simply ... THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!

Gennady Golovkin Still Wants Canelo Alvarez Rematch ... Gunning For September

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Gennady Golovkin is NOT giving up on a second mega-fight with Canelo Alvarez, despite his positive PED test ... and now has his sights set on a September 15 rematch.

TMZ Sports spoke with GGG's promoter, Tom Loeffler, who tells us Gennady is "100%" committed to getting the Canelo rematch on the calendar ... explaining "that's the main focus for GGG."

Loeffler says Golovkin is still committed to fighting on May 5 ... and his team is searching for the best possible opponent to step in for Canelo.

As we previously reported, Canelo withdrew from the rematch Tuesday after testing positive for Clenbuterol, a banned substance that helps athletes cut fat while maintaining muscle mass.

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IT'S STILL ON!!!

Loeffler says GGG is "frustrated" with Canelo -- and added that's there's a lot of bad blood between the guys.

Bottom line, GGG realizes this is the fight the fans want, and is determined to put on the big drama show one way or another.

TMZ Live Blac Chyna Six Flags Brawl Sparks Custody War

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HERE'S THE RUNDOWN

  • Verne Troyer: Drunk & Suicidal According To Cops
  • Channing Tatum & Jenna Dewan Separate
  • Safaree: Breaks Down Over Being Robbed At Gunpoint
  • Cardi B Defends X-Rated Album Cover

Ex-RNC Chair Michael Steele Trump's Amazon Beef is Fake News ... He Just Hates Bezos' Paper!

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Former RNC Chairman Michael Steele says he sees right through President Trump's beef with Jeff Bezos ... and says it ain't about Amazon, it's just politics and the newspaper Bezos owns.

We got the conservative pundit Tuesday in D.C., and he said Trump's tweet storm claiming Amazon is screwing the U.S. Postal Service is a BS smokescreen for his hatred of the Washington Post ... which Bezos bought back in 2013.

POTUS drags WaPo almost daily as "fake news," and now his tweets targeting Amazon is hitting Bezos hard in the wallet. His personal net worth has dropped about $16 billion, and Amazon stock also dropped.

Steele says Bezos has to decide how, or if, to fight back against Trump. We threw out one suggestion ... admittedly, it's some prime trolling.

YouTube HQ Police Dispatch Female Suspect Shot in Chest Handgun Found Near Body

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8:00 PM PT -- The alleged shooter has been identified by NBC as Nasim Aghdam of Southern California.

6:00 PM PT -- One of the victims -- a 36-year-old male in critical condition -- was reportedly the shooter's boyfriend. The 2 other injured victims are women ages 32 and 27. The shooting is being investigated as a domestic dispute, according to the AP.

2:39 PM PT -- San Bruno Police Chief Ed Barberini just held a news conference and said 4 victims suffering from gunshot-related injuries were transported to a hospital. The woman believed to be the suspected shooter died inside the building from a possible self-inflicted gunshot wound. Police did not release the identity of the suspect.

2:17 PM PT -- Several reports say the female suspect is dead at the scene. It's currently unknown if she was killed by police or shot herself.

There's an active shooter at YouTube Headquarters in Northern California and, according to police dispatch audio, the alleged suspect is a female who's been shot in the chest.

In the audio, you hear an officer note there's a woman down with a gunshot wound to her chest. Another voice on the dispatch mentions the woman is the suspect and the first officer gets back on dispatch to confirm there's a handgun near the alleged suspect's body.

Police are still on scene at the San Bruno, CA headquarters. According to emergency dispatch, 37 people were injured on scene, it's not clear what from. Cops have advised people to steer clear.

At least 1 employee tweeted he heard gunshots and saw people running while he was sitting at his desk. He also said he barricaded inside a room with co-workers before tweeting he had been evacuated.

YouTube's headquarters houses nearly 2,000 employees.

Story developing ...

Jenna Dewan Mourn-ing Gym Sesh after Split

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Jenna Dewan bid her relationship with Channing Tatum adieu ... with a little morning sweat.

Jenna was spotted leaving SoulCycle Tuesday morning in WeHo ... dressed in black, shades and all. Couldn't get a look at her left hand to see if we could spot her wedding ring.

As we reported ... Channing and Jenna called it quits after nearly 9 years of marriage. They released a joint statement Monday saying "love is a beautiful adventure that is taking us on different paths for now."

But while their personal relationship has come to an end, the same will not be said about their professional relationship. TMZ broke the story ... Channing and Jenna will continue working together on their YouTube Red series, "Step Up: High Water."

Von Miller Hammerhead Shark Incident Under Investigation

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Von Miller's fishing expedition in Florida has ignited an investigation after PETA accused the NFL star of illegally catching a hammerhead shark ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Miller and some friends went fishing in Miami last week and reeled in the 9-and-a-half foot shark -- which they later threw back in the ocean.

PETA -- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals -- went berserk over the footage ... accusing Von's group of illegally catching and killing the animal.

PETA vowed to follow up with wildlife officials and said they would "ensure Miller is held accountable."

The complaint got all the way to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission -- a government law enforcement agency that regulates hunting and fishing.

We spoke with FWC Public Information Coordinator Rob Klepper who tells us, "FWC has received the images and video and is looking into whether or not a violation occurred in this incident."

Unclear what the punishment would be if officials found Miller broke any laws -- we're looking into it.

Story developing ...

Channing Tatum & Jenna Dewan Still Stepping Up for Biz Projects ... Despite Split

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Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan may have called it quits on their marriage, but their business relationship is as strong as ever ... TMZ has learned.

Sources close to the former couple tell us ... nothing will change between Channing and Jenna when it comes to their joint entertainment ventures, which currently includes executive producing the new YouTube Red series "Step Up: High Water." The show stars Lauryn McClain and Petrice Jones and features Faizon Love, Naya Rivera and Ne-Yo.

We're told the 2 could be partnering up on future 'Step Up' projects as well, and have no issues moving forward and working together despite announcing their separation Monday after nearly 9 years of marriage.

As we reported ... the couple met on the set of the 2006 film "Step Up" and tied the knot in July 2009, and have still been seen hanging out in recent weeks on social media.

'Stranger Things' Duffer Brothers Sued ... You Ripped Me Off, Bros

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The creators of "Stranger Things" did not have an original idea for the paranormal show ... instead they allegedly ripped off a writer who handed the idea to them on a silver platter.

Charlie Kessler claims in a new lawsuit, he produced a short film called "Montauk," which premiered in 2012 and even won an award at the Hamptons International Film Festival. The centerpiece of the flick involves top secret government experiments ... a key plot point in "Stranger Things."

Kessler says in April 2014, he and his agents pitched the concept to the Duffer Brothers as a full-blown series, but the idea seemed to die right there.

Kessler says he was shocked when "Stranger Things" came out in July 2016 and claims the brothers used his script, idea, story and film to make the hit show. He even claims the show was initially sold with the name of his short film -- "The Montauk Project."

Kessler wants money and destruction of all materials that were allegedly ripped off from his concept.

Verne Troyer Friend Says He's Drunk, Suicidal ... Cops, Medics Rush to Home

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12:29 PM PT -- Verne's team just posted a message on his Instagram, saying, "Asking you to keep Verne in your thoughts and prayers. He’s getting the best care possible and is resting comfortably. Appreciate the support from family, friends, and fans around the world."

Police rushed to Verne Troyer's home Monday night after getting a report the 'Austin Powers' star was suicidal ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us a friend of Verne's made the call around 7:30 PM, and described him as being extremely upset, drunk and suicidal. We're told cops and fire department paramedics responded, and Verne was transported to a hospital for possible alcohol poisoning.

We're told he's being held for 72 hours for evaluation.

Verne's been battling alcoholism -- and it was almost exactly a year ago when he was admitted to a hospital for it. He later checked into a rehab treatment program.

Story developing ...

Serena's Hubby I'm Getting Jacked Like Wifey ... Doing It for Baby Alexis!

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Tech-nerd no more!!!

Serena Williams' hubby, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, has traded in his keyboard for free weights and steel chains ... saying he's finally made the life decision to get fit.

But, don't be fooled by the broey gym pic -- he's doing it all for baby Alexis.

"Made a promise to Alexis Olympia Ohanian when I first met her that I was going to start focusing on my health as much as I focus on my business," Ohanian said on social media.

"My legacy is almost starting to talk, so she'll be cheering soon enough."

You can tell he's already made serious gains -- but Mr. "Mediocre at Best" says he's still got a ton of work to do.

No doubt having a workout buddy like Serena helps. Congrats!!

Safaree Samuels Armed Robbery Suspects Captured ... He Claims $183k Stolen

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3:33 PM PT -- Safaree's attorney, James Leonard Jr., tells us, "This was not some random stick up attempt, this was an ambush specifically targeting Safaree by several men with guns. The actual facts of what happened are chilling and it is only by the grace of god that this incident did not have a different ending and for that we are extremely grateful."

12:26 PM PT -- According to cops, Safaree claims he was robbed of around $183,000 of cash and jewelry.

The suspects in Safaree Samuels' armed robbery didn't get far before cops nailed 'em ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us 2 men suspected of robbing Safaree at gunpoint Monday were busted after cops chased them down over the George Washington Bridge, from New Jersey into New York.

We're told police were in hot pursuit following the alleged robbery in Fort Lee, NJ. Cops followed them over the bridge, and at one point the suspects crashed their car and fled on foot. NYPD joined the search before Jonathan Ricketts and Shawn Harewood were captured about 12 blocks apart.

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As we reported ... Safaree was in tears Monday during a radio interview, saying he'd just been robbed earlier in the day. He says two guys ran up on him with guns and took "everything."

Rob to Blac Chyna You Put Our Kid at Risk ... Wait 'Til the Judge Gets You

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Rob Kardashian is livid at Blac Chyna for putting 1-year-old Dream in harm's way over the weekend at Six Flags ... so he's taking her back to family court, and this one's gonna hurt.

Sources connected to Rob say he has been watching Blac Chyna's antics in horror for months and is increasingly worried for his daughter's health and safety. The last straw was turning Dream's stroller into a weapon as she attacked a woman who dared to touch the kid.

We're told Rob and his lawyers will file legal docs asking for a hearing to set clear rules for Blac Chyna ... what she can and cannot do when the child is present.

On that subject, Rob is also concerned Chyna is bringing new men -- the latest of which is her 18-year-old bf, YBN Almighty Jay -- into her home when the child is present. He wants an order similar to the one in the Jesse Williams custody case ... where neither parent can introduce a boyfriend or girlfriend to the child unless the relationship lasts longer than 6 months.

And then there's the issue of money. Rob is currently paying Chyna $20,000 a month in child support, which he thinks is ridiculous for several reasons. First, they have 50/50 joint custody so the monthly paying is absurd. More to the point, she makes way more than him. In fact, his earning power has been reduced to zero since he was banned from Instagram -- the platform that fueled his online business.

We're told Rob will be going to court any day asking for a massive reduction in child support.