TMZ.com Home

The man who admittedly gave Demi Lovato the drugs that led to her overdose is now a wanted man ... TMZ has learned.

The L.A. County D.A.'s Office tells us a judge issued a bench warrant for Brandon Johnson -- but not for Demi ... it's for his June arrest for cocaine possession and DUI. The court clerk says Johnson was a no-show for his arraignment Monday, so the judge wants him hauled in to face the music.

We're told once Johnson's arrested, his bail will be set at $26k.

We broke the story ... Johnson's rap sheet includes being busted in March with a stash of guns, drugs and cash -- along with this June arrest.

LeVar Burton is not down with anyone who is not down with Bert and Ernie coming out as gay.

The iconic "Reading Rainbow" host was at LAX when he weighed in on the big revelation his fellow PBS stars are a couple ... according to "Sesame Street" writer Mark Saltzman, anyway.

LeVar says it's hardly news to him -- and millions of others -- but still thinks it's a powerful step for society. And, for anyone bitching about the news, LeVar's got some advice for ya. Our photog also wonders if it's time for Bert and Ernie to ditch the twin beds and, y'know ... come together? Watch LeVar do some 'splaining.

For the record ... Sesame Workshop's official stance is B&E are not gay because "they remain puppets, and do not have a sexual orientation."

Young Thug thinks there might be a rat or two spilling the tea to cops in his Georgia drug case -- so he's asking a judge to order prosecutors to expose them.

YT's lawyers are demanding any and all info related to potential snitches who might've sold their client down the river in his drug case, where he was slapped with 8 felonies. If anyone cut a deal or got leniency in return for snitching on the rapper ... the lawyers want to know, and they want names.

Not only that ... Thug's lawyers also want info that will help them rip apart would-be canaries, including criminal records, personnel files and any other relevant dirt.

We broke the story ... Young Thug was charged with possession and intent to distribute meth, hydrocodone and weed. He's also charged with possession of amphetamine, Alprazolam, codeine (2 counts) and a firearm ... all stemming from his arrest last September when he got pulled over for tinted windows.

If looks could kill, then someone should throw the Florida "hot cop" in prison for life ... 'cause hot damn, Daniel guilty as hell!!!

You know Daniel as a contestant on this season of "Survivor: David vs. Goliath," set to premiere next week. He's on the Goliath Tribe and one look at this bub on Muscle Beach is all the explanation needed.

Daniel, of course, is one of the Florida "hot cops" who went viral last year after one of his cop buddies posted a selfie showing them on the ground helping folks during Hurricane Irma. Those 15 minutes of fame translated into a trip to Fiji where 'Survivor' filmed earlier this year.

Travis Barker is suing the people he says cost him his ability to play the drums, tour and live a normal life.

You'll remember ... Barker was involved in a nasty car accident back in July when his SUV collided with a school bus. He's also been sidelined from touring with Blink-182 after suffering nerve damage, damage to his veins and a staph infection.

We're told the injuries have been life-changing for Barker, and a lawsuit has become necessary.

In the lawsuit -- obtained by TMZ -- Barker claims in June he went to The Medical Imaging Center in Santa Monica to receive an MRI as part of his routine checkup for his upcoming tour. Barker was to be sedated before the procedure, but technicians were unable to find a vein, sticking him at least 40x times in the process with a dirty needle and giving him staph. He's suing the medical office.

As for the bus crash ... the driver of the school bus made an illegal left turn and caused the collision. He's suing the driver of the bus and the bus company for the crash.

Travis doesn't specify how much he's asking for in damages, but you can bet it'll be a lot considering he's been unable to drum and has been forced to turn down numerous offers.

9/19 -- Wanda Barzee has been released from the Utah prison shortly after 7 AM PT Wednesday morning after more than 15 years behind bars.

Elizabeth Smart's kidnapper, Wanda Barzee -- who's set to be released from prison Wednesday after 15 years behind bars -- better stay away from her former captive ... or she'll be right back in prison.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... once Barzee's out of prison, she'll be placed on supervised release by the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services System. One term of her release includes no contact, of any form, with Elizabeth.

We're told this requirement is for the full 5 years of her supervised release. Once that ends, Elizabeth can go to court and ask a judge for a protective order -- and based on how she feels about Barzee ... we're betting she will.

Our sources say Barzee's housing arrangement ensures she won't be anywhere near Smart or her family, and federal probation officials will keep an eye on her while she's at home, and also at work, if she finds a job.

The feds will also be in contact with Elizabeth to make sure Wanda hasn't tried to contact her by phone or on the Internet. If she violates the conditions of her probation, Barzee will be brought before a federal judge ... who will likely sentence her to more prison time.

As we reported, despite the Utah parole board deeming Barzee unfit for release ... there's nothing it can do to keep her off the streets because state law requires her release by the time her sentence is complete.

Barzee pled guilty to helping kidnap 14-year-old Smart in 2002, and Smart says Wanda stood idly by as her other abductor, Brian David Mitchell, repeatedly raped her. Mitchell is serving a life sentence in Arizona.

Smart hasn't specified, but says she's taking extreme measures to protect her family.

Jamie Foxx and Katie Holmes have reached can't-be-apart-for-too-long status as a couple -- she flew out to Atlanta to meet him while he films there.

Jamie and Katie busted a sweat Tuesday during a gym sesh in the ATL where Jamie's shooting "Just Mercy" alongside Michael B. Jordan. Katie's been in town for a few days now ... no doubt subscribing to the mantra "couples that work out together, stay together."

It's interesting ... Jamie and Katie dating, for YEARS now, was the worst kept secret in Hollywood -- even though they kept things on the super DL. Then, last September, they finally packed on the PDA during a beach outing in Malibu.

Ben Stein thinks it's total BS Brett Kavanaugh has to go through a Senate hearing over something that allegedly happened when he was in high school -- even if it's true ... and he passionately believes it's not.

We got the 'Ferris Bueller' actor at LAX Tuesday, and our cameraman went head-to-head with him over the allegations made against the Supreme Court Justice nominee by Christine Blasey Ford ... that he sexually assaulted her at a party 36 years ago.

Stein calls it a "f***ing disgrace" and says he's not buying Ford's story ... and questions her motives. When our photog Charlie pushes back, saying it's important to hear them both out to get to the bottom of things ... Stein begs to differ.

It's interesting -- Stein clearly supports Kavanaugh and thinks the claims against him are lies, but when Charlie asks what if it can be proven they're factual ... Stein seems to say it still shouldn't matter.

Justin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin are currently in the eye of the marriage rumor storm, but they're also in the eye of London.

The soon-to-be-married couple was spotted on a date Tuesday. They got in line for the London Eye ferris wheel -- like everyone else -- and eventually took it all the way to the top. Once they were alone, the Biebs and Hailey locked lips like there's no tomorrow.

After the smooch fest, Justin busted out a guitar and got in his element to serenade Hailey outside Buckingham Palace. She looked doe-eyed and smitten by her guy's romantic gesture.

Justin professed his love for Hailey as he sang in front of the crowd that naturally gathered around them.

It's kinda been their thing lately -- make out in public here, there ... and just about everywhere else.

The international trip takes place on the heels of Bieber and Hailey hitting a courthouse in NYC last week to get a marriage license. A lot of people -- including Hailey's uncle, Alec Baldwin -- think they already got hitched, but we're being told that just isn't so.

They may be heading to the altar soon enough though, especially since they now have their marriage license. Sources told us they'd be tying the knot outside the country ... and they're definitely not in the U.S. of A. right now.

Julie Chen just formally announced she's leaving "The Talk" and her departing message thanked both her fans and costars.

The longtime talk show host and CBS anchor appeared in a pre-recorded video Tuesday at the bottom of the show, where she said, in part, that she was leaving "The Talk" to spend more time with her husband, Les Moonves, and their young son.

Julie, who eventually became teary-eyed during her remarks, thanked all the hosts of "The Talk," singling out each one and quickly reminiscing on their friendship. She ended with "I love you all, and I know this show and the sisterhood it stands for will live on for many, many, many more years to come. You ladies got this, and I cannot be more proud to call you my friends. I love you."

The camera eventually cut back to the main set where all the ladies were in tears. Sara Gilbert quickly thanked Julie for her contributions to "The Talk" and the program ended from there without further discussion.

As we reported ... Julie was slated to make the announcement that she would be off of "The Talk" effective immediately. No word on whether she's leaving her "Big Brother" hosting gig just yet, but it appears she'll be sticking it out for the short term. She's hosting again this week.

Julie returned to "Big Brother" last week without mentioning the sexual assault allegations against her husband, Les Moonves. She also didn't talk about his forced resignation from CBS in the wake of several women coming forward to accuse him of past sexual misconduct.

She did, however, sign off on Thursday's episode as Julie Chen Moonves ... clearly showing her support for her husband.

If you've seen Ex-NBA tough guy Matt Barnes play basketball, chances are you've seen him high as a kite ... because MB says he smoked weed before every game he played ... SINCE HIGH SCHOOL.

Barnes appeared on Van Lathan's 'Red Pill Podcast' and talked openly about the taboo of marijuana usage in pro sports ... and how he hopes to work with the NBA to change policies banning weed.

Matt then went on to explain he's not a poser ... he's an advocate and an avid smoker ... saying he toked up before NBA games.

"We'd have shoot around at 11, I'd be done by 12, back to the house by 12:30. Roll a joint, smoke it. Take a nap, wake up, eat, shower, and go to the game."

BTW -- Matt also told a HILARIOUS STORY about how he learned his limits with weed, and how going a little too hard with it led to some not-so-awesome results on the basketball court.

11:40 AM PT -- A spokesperson for Sesame Workshop has countered Saltzman, telling TMZ ... "As we have always said, Bert and Ernie are best friends. They were created to teach preschoolers that people can be good friends with those who are very different from themselves."

They continue, "Even though they are identified as male characters and possess many human traits and characteristics (as most Sesame Street Muppets™ do), they remain puppets, and do not have a sexual orientation."

Frank Oz -- longtime puppeteer for the show and hands behind some of the beloved characters, including Bert -- also denounced Saltzman, saying, "It seems Mr. Mark Saltzman was asked if Bert & Ernie are gay. It's fine that he feels they are. They're not, of course. But why that question? Does it really matter? Why the need to define people as only gay? There's much more to a human being than just straightness or gayness."

Bert and Ernie are finally out ... a "Sesame Street" writer is confirming the iconic characters are a gay couple.

Bert and Ernie have been on the show since it started in 1969, and there's always been speculation about the true nature of their relationship. Mark Saltzman, who joined the "Sesame Street" crew in 1984, cleared it all up by telling Queerty he wrote Bert and Ernie as a gay couple.

He says the 'Sesame' duo is a reflection of his own same-sex relationship and not about pushing an agenda.

Mark says he based Bert and Ernie on his relationship with film editor Arnold Glassman -- Mark was Ernie and Arnold was Bert.

Of course, Bert and Ernie have shared a basement apartment at 123 Sesame Street for the last 49 years ... although they've always slept in separate beds. Still, their chemistry -- while playfully arguing and bickering -- was always palpable.

Mark's revelation might be more of a formality -- the fact is, Bert and Ernie are longtime gay icons for many in the LGBT community.

2:22 PM PT -- LeSean just replied to the docs, saying, "The allegations made against me today regarding my relationship with my son are provably false, outrageously inaccurate and offensive. I have a loving and close knit relationship with my son."

He continues, "The young boy is my whole life. With a custody case coming in November, I can see why these false allegations are surfacing."

LeSean McCoy's baby mama claims the NFL star used their son as a pawn in order to vouch for his character, so she would shoot down rumors he was involved in a home invasion that left another one of McCoy's baby mamas brutally beaten.

You'll recall, McCoy's home was hit in a home invasion back in July that left ex-GF Delicia Cordon almost unrecognizable because she was so badly beaten. Cordon and others insinuated McCoy may have orchestrated the attack because he allegedly wanted Cordon out of the house. Cordon has since filed a lawsuit against LeSean.

On Tuesday, McCoy's baby mama -- Stephanie Maisonet -- filed new docs in the Cordon lawsuit.

Maisonet claims the day before the home invasion, she overheard LeSean on the phone saying, "I need to get this bitch out of my house."

Maisonet says after the attack on Cordon, LeSean called her -- something he didn't often do -- and offered her a deal. Maisonet claims McCoy told her if she'd publicly support his character and insinuate he wasn't behind the attack, he'd roll over in their custody case with their 6-year-old son ... and let her enroll the child in school in Miami.

Maisonet says she allowed a friend of McCoy's to access her Instagram account and post a positive message about the NFLer.

In the docs -- obtained by TMZ Sports -- Maisonet says she believes LeSean has abused their son on multiple occasions ... even making a report with child services. She concludes, "I regret ever agreeing to help LeSean McCoy in this case ... I feel like I am sending our son to a monster every two weeks."

She also included a photo of their son, showing alleged bruises from LeSean on his face.

Kanye West is moving to Chicago ... but that doesn't mean he's abandoning L.A.

Kanye made the announcement Monday at a Windy City event with Chance the Rapper, saying, "I gotta let y'all know that I'm moving back to Chicago and I'm never leaving again."

We know a thing or two about the latest development, and it has nothing to do with Kanye fleeing Los Angeles, where he lives with Kim Kardashian West and their 3 kids.

Sources close to Kanye say he and Kim have already found a home in Chi-Town and that's where we know he wants to establish his permanent residence, but they are keeping all of their properties in L.A.

In addition to the house they just built, they have multiple properties in L.A., including 300 acres that Kanye is developing, and that project is still a go.

We're told Kanye will move his Yeezy offices from Calabasas to Chicago.

It's a little confusing, but we're told Kanye views it this way ... that he will have a home base in Chicago, but apparently he believes he can have more than one home base.