TMZ.com Home

Jeff Lewis was in terrible shape after coming down with COVID, saying it spread like crazy at his holiday party, but adding, "That was an epic party. It was so worth almost dying for."

First off ... not a great thing to say because people really are dying. That said, according to Jeff, the party went down December 21st ... it was a Christmas bash he threw for 30 of his employees and others.

Jeff said on his SiriusXM radio show ... a bunch of people, including himself, began testing positive in the days that followed, including his co-host Megan Weaver, his assistant Shane Douglas, "Shahs of Sunset" star Mercedes Javid Feight, actress Monika Casey and his bf Scott Anderson.

Jeff says they took precautions at the party -- held at the L.A. home of Lea Black from "Real Housewives of Miami" fame. He says "People are saying we're reckless and stupid. No we're not, f***ers. We were all vaccinated and we had a nurse there testing all of us before we even went in the door."

And, Jeff went on to say he had a terrible case ... he was delirious with a fever that spiked as high as 104.5. Weaver echoed the pain, saying, "I was in a ball, shaking, chills, body aches, the whole thing."

Lewis says things turned around after a doctor came to his home and gave him monoclonal antibody therapy. He says things turned around in 12 hours.

He says his 4-year-old daughter, Monroe, is staying with her other dad, Gage Edward.

Jean-Marc Vallee, the director of "Dallas Buyers Club," "Sharp Objects," and "Big Little Lies," has died ... and it was both sudden and unexpected.

Vallee passed near Quebec City, at his cabin.

His producing partner, Nathan Ross, said ... "Jean-Marc stood for creativity, authenticity and trying things differently. He was a true artist and a generous, loving guy. Everyone who worked with him couldn't help but see the talent and vision he possessed. He was a friend, creative partner and an older brother to me. The maestro will sorely be missed but it comforts knowing his beautiful style and impactful work he shared with the world will live on."

Vallee was acclaimed in his field, and the awards underscore his achievements. He received an Oscar nom for editing "Dallas Buyers Club," and snagged 2 Emmys for directing and producing "Big Little Lies." "Sharp Objects" was nominated for Emmys 8 times over.

Vallee's big break came with "C.R.A.Z.Y.," which he directed and wrote.

Vallee is survived by sons Alex and Emile.

He was 58. RIP

LeBron James seems to agree with Jay-Z -- that no one can stand on the same stage with him for a 'Verzuz' -- and maybe, just maybe, he feels the same way about himself on a basketball court.

LBJ was definitely feeling good Sunday night ... rapping along, line-by-line, to Jay's "Imaginary Player" while in the middle of what looks like a pretty swanky evening with his wife, Savannah, and friends.

What's interesting is ... the video plays like a public service announcement to all the haters dissing the Lakers for their sub-par season -- they're only 16-18 right now. Check the look on LeBron's face as he drops lines like, "Y'all rapping ass n***as, y'all funny to me ... Selling records, being you, but still you wanna be me."

As we previously reported ... Jay-Z recently shot down any hopes he would do a "Verzuz" battle, boasting there's no one on his level in hip-hop who even deserves to stand on a stage with him.

It's no secret LeBron's a big fan of Jigga -- so, you'd expect him to ride with Mr. Carter, but it's also clear certain Jay tracks are really speaking to the Lakers superstar right now.

BTW, LeBron's biz partner, Maverick Carter, joined in later, rapping with him to "Hova Song." Remember, Maverick was kicking it with Jay-Z, Adele and her BF, Rich Paul ... who, of course, is LBJ's agent.

Jeff Bezos is a billionaire 9 ... 'cause he's showing off his impressive bod during a yacht trip with his girlfriend.

J.B. and Lauren Sanchez continued their PDA Xmas tour in the Caribbean. As we told you a few days back, the Caribbean -- in particular, St. Barts -- is a place where rich folk go to show off their yachts, competing for bragging rights. The larger the boat, the bigger the boast.

Jeff and Lauren have been ensconced in the area for nearly a week, showing tons of affection as they hiked, lounged and did whatever super-rich people do on vacay.

Jeff looks like he's been working out more lately ... the 57-year-old Amazon titan is super buff ... check out the arms!!!

Bezos has said he's following a strict regiment of 8-hours nightly sleep, healthy eating and working out.

They're able to bypass a lot in the midst of the Omicron outbreak -- like commercial flights -- but it's still dicey to go onshore given the rapid spread of the variant. It helps to have beefy security to keep normies at bay.

Killer Mike's Atlanta barbershop has been vandalized -- it's a graffiti-riddled mess with a muddled message -- but Mike's message is clear ... the person who did this needs help.

Mike posted a pic of his shop, and it is covered in the ramblings of a troubled man.

Mike says he's angry over the vandalism, but that's not his primary concern. Mike says he can repair the damage with relative ease. More difficult ... he says the guy who did it is mentally ill and desperately needs help.

According to Mike, the vandal thinks he's Kurt Cobain and Mike is part of some sort of conspiracy of silence. That may explain the Dave Grohl graffiti.

Mike says, " ... this man's mind is terribly broken. If u are from OKC and know his family or friends please DM so u can get him some help."

This is so Mike ... looking at the bigger picture rather than just that which affects him. He went on to say, "... I encourage all to check on your mentally ill loved ones because the world may not be as understanding as me."

Kanye West seems to be acknowledging he can't pull his marriage out of the fire, so he's reportedly moving a stone's throw from his former family home ... presumably, so he can effectively co-parent with Kim.

Kanye bought a $4.5 million home across the street from his estranged wife ... so says the Daily Mail. The home is just over 3,650 square feet, with 5 bedrooms. He reportedly paid $421,000 over asking ... proof the real estate bidding war in SoCal is alive and well.

As we reported, Kanye gave Kim his interest in the family home ... a home Kanye designed over a period of years. TMZ broke the story, there are still some property issues that remain unsettled, so Kim has asked the judge to grant her the divorce now, and leave the other issues for later down the road.

Kanye's been wheeling and dealing lately in the real estate market ... he bought a $57.3 million Malibu beach home back in September, and recently listed his $3.7 million former bachelor pad.

As for his new digs, it also has the obligatory swimming pool and a stable for horses. It needs a lot of work, but Ye has more than proven he's up to the task.

As we've been reporting, Kanye has made a full-court press to get Kim back ... most recently at his concert with Drake at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum, he improvised lyrics to "Runaway"  ... I need you to run right back to me, more specifically Kimberly."

Christmas is about peace on earth, but not necessarily peace in Church, because 2 dudes showed a pastor mid-sermon their hands were up to date.

It went down at the Olivet Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee Sunday, when suddenly one guy comes up to another sitting in the front row and starts swinging. The guy who was sitting instantly fully engages, and the 2 go off-screen as they continue punching each other.

Bishop Kevin Adams tries in vain to stop the fight, saying, "Stop it, Marcus. Marcus, come on."  It's unclear how long the fight went on, because someone pulled the plug on the Church's live stream.

The Bishop said afterward the man in the white t-shirt had just gotten out of rehab and beelined it for the youth pastor, who was sitting in the front row. The Bishop insinuates the man in the t may have relapsed, because he says the guy didn't know where he was.

Diddy is getting rid of some bad memories ... because he sold the mansion where his late soulmate, Kim Porter, died.

Diddy put the Toluca Lake mansion up for sale back in October, listing it for $7 mil, and now there's a buyer ... the deal is pending and will likely close this week, but the sale is not final.

The sprawling estate is 9,655 square feet with 6 bedrooms and 7 bathrooms ... and it's got all the bells and whistles, including a family-sized pool and spa, plus a sports court.

The gated property sits on a half-acre on one of the most famous streets in the San Fernando Valley ... and the celeb neighbors include Steve Carell, Billy Ray Cyrus, Viola Davis and Sia.

As you know ... Kim, a model and actress, dated Diddy off and on for 13 years and they had 3 kids together, including 2 daughters and a son.

TMZ broke the story ... Kim was found dead in the home back in November 2018 at the age of 47, after losing her battle with pneumonia.

Tina Louise says her split with Brett Oppenheim was sparked by his brother's breakup with their "Selling Sunset" costar Chrishell Stause ... and turns out Brett and his twin have similar feelings that ended both relationships.

We got Tina at her Sugar Taco joint on Melrose and asked her what caused the breakup with Brett after about 8 months of dating.

Tina says things got to the point where she wanted to take the next step in the relationship, but Brett wasn't ready ... and starting a family was the sticking point.

As we reported ... Chrishell and Brett's brother, Jason, also broke up after months of dating ... and they said they also weren't aligned on the family issue. Turns out Jason's in lockstep with Brett.

It's interesting ... Tina says Chrishell and Jason's issues led her to start talking to Brett about the possibility of having kids, and that's what eventually led to them going their separate ways.

Magic Johnson says he won't be tuning in when HBO's "Showtime" Lakers series comes out ... telling TMZ Sports he's "not looking forward to it."

"Winning Time: The Rise Of The Lakers Dynasty" -- starring John C. Reilly, Sally Field and Jason Segel -- is a highly-anticipated new drama series that covers the professional and personal lives of the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers.

While most people are excited to watch the show, Magic ain't one of them ... saying he's working on his own project.

"No, we got different shows coming out," Magic tells us. "I got one, then you got Jeanie Buss got one on Showtime coming out."

"Those are the ones I'm looking forward to."

Of course, Magic helped lead the "Showtime" Lakers to 5 NBA championships in the '80s ... alongside fellow NBA legends Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and James Worthy.

Johnson's Lakers have been celebrated over time ... for the impact they had on the league and for the up-tempo, fast-paced style of play they cultivated.

But Magic seems very adamant he's not thrilled about the release of the HBO project ... saying, "I'm not looking forward to it. I'm going to leave it at that."

If what they say is true and sleep is the best medicine ... then these Hollywood hunks are here to cure whatever ales you!

A kingsize list of dreamy celebs like Tahj Mowry, Kevin McHale, Mark Ronson, Tyler Oakley ... and many more ... have been taking to their Instagram accounts to share some nearly-nude selfies in the sheets while they get a full dose of beauty rest.

Give yourself a pinch because these men in the prone position will have you feeling like you're living in a daydream!

Jubilee Sharpe won't end up having a DUI blemish on her criminal record -- but she sure is being treated like someone who got convicted for it ... this as her case comes to an end.

The ex-'Bachelor' star pled guilty last week to 2 counts -- willfully refusing to sign and accept a summons or citation, and reckless driving causing injury to property or person. Her actual DUI charge was dropped by prosecutors in Palm Beach ... and only the reckless driving charge will show up on any future background check, per the State Attorney's Office.

As a result of her plea deal ... Jubilee's facing 12 months of probation. As part of the deal  -- according to court docs, obtained by TMZ -- she'll have to complete a DUI education course, attend a victim impact session, do 75 hours of community service ... and pay hundreds in fines.

Jubilee will also be without her car for over a week, and when she does get it back ... it'll have an ignition interlock device, to make sure she isn't boozing and driving.

As we reported ... Jubilee was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving 2 years ago after a cop found she'd crashed her car. He described her as looking smashed -- noting she failed all the field sobriety tests ... then refusing to blow for a breathalyzer.

Before this present pipsqueak became a Grammy Award-winning singer and rapper, he was just another excited kid unwrapping all his favorite gifts for the holidays in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico.

This gift guy has been making popular Latin tunes for audiences for years ... but he truly became a household name after collaborating with huge A-list artists like Drake and Cardi B. Now, he's made waves in the industry by winning Grammy Awards and being featured during Super Bowl Halftime shows.

Also, this epic performer has been dabbling in the world of WWE as of late.

A woman got violent with an older man who refused to wear his mask on a plane -- to the point she actually smacked him and spat on him ... which landed her in hot water.

This gal's name is reported to be Patricia Cornwall, and she was flying Delta on Thursday from Tampa to Atlanta -- when, at one point during the trip, she went ballistic on an old dude ... apparently because he wouldn't put on his face covering while eating and drinking.

At least ... that's what he says in this insane video, which shows Cornwall getting in his face while she stands above him, and eventually strikes him at least once.

She doesn't seem to comprehend his rationale about not having to mask up while taking in food and beverage ... only repeating her demand, until the flight crew had to get involved.

They try and restrain her and push her back to her seat, but she struggles with them -- and eventually hawks one at the man ... who tells her she's going to jail for assaulting him twice. The woman doesn't care ... mocking him in his face, even after he calls her a "Karen."

Eventually, they get her under control ... and word is, Atlanta PD was on the ground waiting for her when they landed. Reports say she was taken to a nearby ADP station, and was then handed off to the FBI. Unclear what charges, if any, she's been booked for at this point.

Meghan Markle's lawsuit with The Mail on Sunday and its publisher is finally over -- especially now that the outlet has acknowledged her victory ... with a bit of sorry, not sorry.

The Associated Newspapers tabloid published a bare post on their homepage this weekend -- simply titled 'The Duchess of Sussex' -- which serves as a court-ordered apology handed down by a judge as a result of MM's lawsuit suit ... which she won.

Their remarks are kept pretty brief, as they write of the matter ... "Following a hearing on 19-20 January 2021, and a further hearing on 5 May 2021, the Court has given judgment for The Duchess of Sussex on her claim for copyright infringement."

They add, "The Court found that Associated Newspapers infringed her copyright by publishing extracts of her handwritten letter to her father in The Mail on Sunday and in Mail Online."

And finally ... "Financial remedies have been agreed. The full judgment following the 19-20 January hearing and the Court’s summary of it can be found here and here." They add, "The full judgment following the 5 May hearing can be found here."

Like we said ... it's not a full-on mea culpa, but it is a nod to the reality. Meghan sued 'em for publishing a five-page letter she'd written to her father, Thomas, which MOS had obtained and cited in a story not too long after marrying Harry.

Mark Rylance's turn as a deranged tech CEO in 'Don't Look Up' is a clear dig at our country's leading billionaire visionaries -- but the question ... who's it actually aimed at???

You've probably heard about this new Netflix flick -- but what you may not have known ... Rylance portrayal as chief of a revolutionary company is getting compared to guys like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, Tim Cook and others pushing the information envelope.

One thing the internet can't seem to agree on ... which of these billionaires serves as the true inspiration behind Rylance's Peter Isherwell, who ends up contributing to everyone on Earth (save a select few) getting killed by an incoming comet. Sorry, spoiler alert!

For those who've seen it, you know Isherwell runs a company called BASH, which seems to be a spinoff of Apple -- a la Cook/Jobs -- but it's way more advanced, in that it reads your every thought and mood, and predicts how you'll die ... all based on data it collects on its users. Isherwell, funny enough, also runs a space unit of some sort ... similar to Musk.

In the end, Isherwell's plan to blow up the incoming comet and collect the precious minerals found within it completely backfires ... having led Meryl Streep (the President) and the rest of the world's citizens astray. He high-tails it off Earth, before it blows up, in his own rocket, and attempts to colonize a new planet in the distant galaxy (which also hilariously backfires).

The point is ... the dude seems to be an amalgam of all these guys in one -- although most people appear to think he's most like Time's Person of the Year for 2021.

It sounds like Rylance himself sees a little Elon in his character as well ... although he's quick to point out Isherwell isn't necessarily a dead ringer for any one of the tech-y billionaires, despite him certainly being a farcical take on just about all of them.

As he explains, Isherwell's actions are premised on the idea that any of our world's problems can be solved with technology -- a testament to our times and where we're headed.