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Kanye West has now lawyered up to handle custody issues in his divorce, and we're told this will end up before a judge, unless he reaches some agreement with Kim Kardashian.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ, Kanye's lawyer, Samantha Spector, is making custody job #1. As we reported, Kanye groused over the weekend again that Kim is not letting him see their kids when he wants.

That's certainly not the way Kim sees it ... she has welcomed her ex-husband's involvement in their kids' lives and wants him to spend time with their 4 children, and claimed he picked them up for school Monday.

What's more ... our sources say Kanye's spent 3 days with the kids in the last week -- the first time he's been in L.A. since the Super Bowl. Kanye also had 3 of the kids with him at the Donda 2 event in Miami last month -- we're told Kim kept North in L.A. because she had a test at school she'd been studying for that she didn't want to miss -- so Kim made school the priority.

Here's the issue. Up until now, there has been no formal arrangement for custody. They have tried working it out amongst themselves. When Kanye's in town and wants to see the kids, she's game, unless the kids are in the middle of something else.

But, there's clearly a conflict, and it's getting worse. We're told Spector will first try to establish something more formal between Kim and Kanye, but if that doesn't happen she'll go to court and ask a judge to impose ground rules for custody and visitation.

Here's the rub. Kanye travels frequently outside of L.A., and it's hard to formalize a custody arrangement when schedules keep changing.

As we reported, Kim has been doing everything she can to keep things peaceful, but Kanye's so angry over her relationship with Pete Davidson as well as custody issues, the notion of reaching an out-of-court agreement seems unlikely.

A Russian TV producer who barged in on a live, state-run newscast with an anti-war protest is now MIA.

Human rights group OVD-Info -- which tracks Russian protests and detainments -- has been unable to locate Marina Ovsyannikova ... the TV editor who ran on set in the middle of a telecast with a "No War" sign.

During Monday's 9 PM news show on Russia's flagship network, which cranks out pro-Putin propaganda, Ovsyannikova ran behind the anchor who was in the middle of talking with her poster in hand which said, "Stop the war. Do not believe propaganda they tell you lies here. Russians against war." She was chanting, "Stop the war, no to war!"

The camera cut away to video footage ... and she was gone when they went back to the studio. Many believe Ovsyannikova was swiftly taken in by the authorities ... and now, nobody can find her.

There are differing reports on what happened to her and what's going to happen next ... a Kremlin spokesperson called her act "hooliganism" and insisted Channel One was dealing with it internally, and not the government.

In the meantime, local outlets are reporting an official investigation has been launched against her ... and Ovsyannikova may face criminal charges for criticizing the government.

As you might imagine ... her story has sparked lots of outcry, with different humanitarian and watchdog orgs calling for her safe release and freedom from persecution. Of course, tracking her down first would be a great first step ... she's vanished for upwards of 12-plus hours now.

Ovsyannikova actually posted a video before storming the set, noting she had Ukrainian family members ... while also calling the war in Ukraine a crime, and encouraging folks to speak out and demonstrate.

"Alaskan Bush People" star Bear Brown has been arrested for domestic violence and is now in the Okanogan County Jail ... as the show kicks off its 13th season.

34-year-old Solomon Isaiah Freedom Brown -- AKA "Bear" -- was booked Friday for 4th-degree domestic violence. He was released Monday without bail.

Brown married Raiven Adams in January of this year, after getting engaged in August 2019. Just 2 weeks after their engagement he said they "made the difficult decision to part ways as a couple."

The day after their split, they announced Adams' pregnancy, and decided to give their relationship another shot. They separated again, before reconciling once more. Brown held his son, River, for the first time at 6 months old.

"Alaskan Bush People" is currently in its 13th season on the Discovery Channel ... the show follows the Brown family that considers themselves a "wolf pack" -- isolating themselves from civilization for months at a time, attempting to survive in the wilderness.

The Sun was first to report the arrest.

We have reached out to Bear's reps, Discovery Channel, and the Sheriff's Office that made the arrest ... so far, no word back.

Mike Mora, who married Kelis 8 years ago, is dead after a battle with stomach cancer.

A rep for Mike, who was a professional photographer, confirmed the death which comes 6 months after he learned of his cancer diagnosis.

Mike and Kelis had secretly tied the knot back in 2014, and had 2 children together -- 6-year-old son, Shepherd, and 1-year old daughter, Galilee.

In January 2020, they moved away from L.A. with plans to build a home, and a life on a farm outside the city -- but, shortly after the move Mike began experiencing "the worst pain" in his stomach.

He revealed his stage 4 cancer diagnosis back in September, saying ... "I thought the whole time that I just had an ulcer. With no idea what was about to come my way."

He told his followers his symptoms started one year ago, before he had been diagnosed with gastric adenocarcinoma -- and said doctors had given him only 18 months to live.

In another post, he said ... "I never thought this could happen to me. At just 36, with 3 kiddos, and a wife that loves me. I want to be able to help those that might experience something, maybe, hopefully. By showing that it’s possible to make it through."

Mike was 37 when he passed.

For Ukrainian refugee Anastasiia Chuba, the constant gunfire and bombings back home in Kyiv aren't the scariest things happening ... it's murder and rape that have haunted her.

Anastasiia managed to escape the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, landing Monday at LAX with her daughter, Sasha ... and she tells our photog a harrowing account of what's going on in their hometown.

It's pretty grim ... Anastasiia says she was confined to a basement for the last 10 days, which is no place to raise a child, with the sounds of bombs exploding and guns firing ringing out day and night.

Even worse, Anastasiia says the advancing Russian forces are raping young girls in Kyiv ... and she says the invaders are also murdering Ukrainians.

You can see the emotion building up in Anastasiia as she gives a first-hand account of what life is like for her Ukrainian brothers and sisters stuck in a war zone ... and the dangers they face.

She's keeping it together and is clearly a strong woman ... but the rapes and murders are what tug at her emotion ... and she tears up telling us what she's seen as she holds her daughter.

Like most refugees, Anastasiia has no plan for what she'll do in America ... she hasn't had time to think about it ... but she wants to find a way to help those struggling to stay alive back home.

She says her husband is protecting the family home, where her parents are still sequestered, and she hopes he's still alive when she goes back to Ukraine.

Anastasiia isn't sure what the average American can do to stop the war, but she has a message for the Russians ... telling them to rise up against Vladimir Putin and overthrow the government, like the Ukrainians did in 2014 when they didn't like their leadership.

The revolt paved the way for Volodymyr Zelensky's presidency a few years later ... and Anastasiia says he's united the country like never before, and hopes the Russians do the same.

Taraji P. Henson thinks there's a parallel between Jussie Smollett and Emmett Till -- and wouldn't you know it ... the late teen's own family agrees.

Emmett's cousin, Deborah Watts, the co-founder of the Emmett Till Legacy Foundation, tells us Taraji's heart is in the right place -- namely, that Black people and other POC are unfairly treated in the criminal justice system.

Taraji made the point while Jussie is serving jail time for a crime that wasn't violent ... nobody did any time (or was even found guilty) in Emmett's case all those years ago, suggesting race was at play in how Jussie was sentenced.

Watts doesn't quite make that leap -- not wanting to comment on the fairness of Jussie's conviction.

Big picture ... she absolutely agrees that BIPOC are disproportionately incarcerated compared to white people for the same sorts of offenses -- something she says is proven in data ... and something she thinks Taraji was trying to spotlight.

To that end ... Watts tells us she appreciates TPH's support and for getting Emmett's name back into the public, because his case was never officially solved.

WWE legend Scott Hall has passed away following complications from a recent surgery, sources tell TMZ Sports. He was 63 years old.

As we previously reported, Hall -- AKA Razor Ramon -- was placed on life support after experiencing serious medical issues related to a procedure on a broken hip ... suffering three heart attacks on Saturday.

Hall's good friend and fellow wrestler Kevin Nash said the family intended to take the legend off life support once his loved ones were able to say goodbye one last time ... and on Monday night, he was pronounced dead.

Hall kickstarted his career with the National Wrestling Alliance in 1984 ... and went on to make a name for himself with World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Federation in the 1990s.

Hall is well-known for his signature toothpick throw ... which was a fan-favorite move over the years. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2014.

Hall's biggest match came against Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania X ... in a ladder match for the Intercontinental title.

Hall -- alongside Nash and Hulk Hogan -- co-founded the New World Order in 1996 ... becoming a massive success in the industry. The group reunited in 2015 ... taking the stage at WrestleMania 31.

The nWo was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2020.

RIP.

Here's Stephanie Matto hosting a giveaway you just don't see every day ... she's doling out jars full of her farts to dozens of folks at a strip club.

The "90 Day Fiancé" star was back on her gravy train Saturday night at Larry Flynt's Hustler Club in New York City, where she gifted fart jars to the first 20 folks to walk in the door.

Stephanie paired her fart jars with never-before-seen risqué polaroid photos and rose petals ... and she even took the stage to grab the mic and say a few words.

Sorry, no pole dancing ... Stephanie makes her living by farting in jars.

Remember ... Stephanie started the hustle last year and she told us in December she had already banked $100,000 by bottling up her natural gas and selling it online.

We're told Stephanie pocketed over $10,000 for her strip club appearance ... and she was also pushing her latest venture, a fart jar NFT venture.

Freddie Gibbs doesn't have much sympathy for Jussie Smollett ... he says Jussie belongs behind bars for breaking the law, plain and simple.

We got the rapper at Cookies on Melrose and asked about Jussie's 5-month jail sentence, which the "Empire" star just started serving in Chicago.

Freddie says Jussie should be in jail just like anyone who fakes being the victim of a crime.

It's in sharp contract to Taraji P. Henson ... who is solidly behind Jussie, demanding he be released from jail and comparing Smollett's case to that of Emmett Till.

Freddie thinks Jussie should be set free ... in about 3 to 5 years ... and isn't buying Smollett's view the judge handed down a harsher sentence because he's Black.

Tom Brady's unretirement just cost a collector a small fortune ... with one auction expert telling TMZ Sports the QB's "final" TD ball is now worth a mere $50K -- after it sold for over $500K just three days ago.

Our auction source tells us with Brady coming back to the NFL ... the ball that was just auctioned off on Saturday is now worth roughly a 10th of what it just fetched at auction.

The reasoning is obvious ... if Brady plays a full 17-game season in 2022 -- plus the playoffs -- he's expected to throw roughly 30-to-50 more touchdown passes.

Which, of course, would mean the last TD he threw to Mike Evans in the Bucs' playoff game against the Rams in January is significantly less valuable.

In fact, our source tells us they wouldn't be surprised if the ball was actually worth closer to $25K than $50K at this point.

There is good news for the buyer, however ... our source says it's probably unlikely they'll have to fork over the half mil for the ball.

Our source tells us the ball was advertised as Brady's last TD ever -- and now, since it won't be, the buyer could have a legitimate claim to renege on the deal. Our source also says it's likely the buyer is a whale in the auction world, and the auction house that sold the piece would almost certainly fight to keep him or her happy.

American actress Kristanna Loken was 23 years old when she landed her breakout role in "Terminator 3: Rise of The Machines" -- where she played the killer 'T-X' ... a powerful and strong cyborg with a form-fitting figure.

Playing such an adventurous and strenuous role in the 'Terminator' franchise, the actress' workout regimen included a stationary bike, aerobics and intense strength training.

Today, Loken still leads an active lifestyle ... the sporty actress enjoys Superkombat fighting, and when she prefers to be low-key, a horse trek on the mountain tops will suffice!

Kristanna Loken also starred as Jane Vasco in "Painkiller Jane" and played Rayne in "BloodRayne."

Shanna Moakler was back with ex-BF Matthew Rondeau ... 3 weeks after his felony domestic violence arrest.

Eyewitnesses tell TMZ ... Shanna and Matthew were spotted Sunday night in Rhode Island. The two went to Opa Restaurant for dinner in Providence and stayed late ... leaving around 1 AM.

While the current status of their relationship is unclear, we're told they weren't showing any signs of affection during the meal.

Shanna was overheard telling a diner, "We're okay, we’re hanging in there."

We've learned the two went out for dinner the night before as well ... hitting up Los Andes in the same city.

Shanna has been telling locals she's in town because her 86-year-old father, a dentist, had recently retired ... but these encounters suggest they might be back together.

As we've reported, their relationship has been rocky  ... things got heated at the end of February when Matthew posted an aggressive video on her social media, claiming Shanna cheated on him and swearing he'd never get back with her.

Jill Duggar and Derick Dillard are feeling anxious about her pregnancy ... because they're both fighting COVID-19 after testing positive for the virus.

The couple tells TMZ ... they are both concerned about Jill battling the virus while she's expecting, in part because of all the unknowns and shifting science.

The way Jill and Derick see things ... they're still unsure about the long-term effects of COVID, particularly for pregnant women, and while scientists are making strides in understanding the virus, the continuous developing nature of the pandemic makes things stressful.

What's more, the couple tells us Jill suffered a miscarriage last year ... meaning she's more on edge about this pregnancy ... and adding a COVID diagnosis to the mix only heightens their anxiety.

Jill and Derick, who both tested positive for the virus Thursday, tell us they are working with their doctor to ensure Jill and the baby are safe ... but the main health concerns for pregnant women like Jill are being more susceptible to developing blood clots and potentially not providing enough oxygen to the baby.

The couple says Jill, who is due to give birth in July, is taking baby aspirin to try and prevent blood clots ... and they're monitoring the baby's heart rate and keeping track of how many times the baby is kicking per day.

Jill and Derick tell us they are both fully vaccinated ... and they believe the mild symptoms they are experiencing could have been much worse without the shots.

While the couple tells us dealing with a COVID case, particularly right now, is disappointing ... Jill's thankful she didn't catch it during her first trimester, when she was dealing with a lot of morning sickness.

Jussie Smollett's lawyers have wasted no time demanding his release from jail -- at least while his appeal plays out --- claiming he risks being harmed (physically and microbially) every second he stays behind bars.

The 'Empire' actor's legal team filed an emergency motion Monday asking a judge to spring Jussie from behind bars while his appeal is pending -- arguing that the potential cons of him staying locked up in Cook County far outweigh any benefits.

The crux of their case here is that Jussie's family has been on the receiving end of what they say is a barrage of harassing messages and phone calls aimed at Jussie ... which they say is emblematic of the harm that might actually befall him if he remains locked up.

To hammer this home ... Jussie's team offers up a video taken by the Smollett family which they say shows a stranger calling them with disgusting sentiments about what should happen to their brother as he serves his 5-month sentence.

They claim the clip -- which is laced with racist and homophobic slurs -- is just one example of what they say has been a deluge of hate sent their way -- and they fear that'll translate into real-world violence against their brother on the inside.

There are other reasons they say he should be out ... for one, they attach a sworn affidavit from a doctor who states Jussie is at a higher risk of catching COVID due to a compromised immune system ... while citing positive case rates in jails and prisons across the country.

On top of this ... Jussie's lawyers argue that because he's being held in protective custody -- which they say is akin to solitary confinement -- his mental health will deteriorate.

Big picture, they continue to reiterate all the points they made in court in trying to get the case tossed in the first place -- including the argument that he's already been punished for all this ... so the whole thing amounts to unconstitutional double jeopardy.

Ukrainian President Zelensky is showing once again why he's being hailed as an exceptional leader at an impossible time for his country ... offering condolences to the family of a U.S. journalist killed during the conflict.

On Sunday, it was announced Brent Renaud, an acclaimed filmmaker and former NY Times journalist, was shot and killed in Ukraine after Russian forces allegedly opened fire on his vehicle. It's been reported he was gathering information for a report on refugees.

A letter, sent from Zelensky to Renaud's family reads, "A talented and brave journalist, Brent lost his life while documenting human tragedy, devastation and suffering of the millions of Ukrainians. With all his courage and determination, he traveled to the most dangerous war zones to film the unprecedented ruthlessness and evil, also inflicted upon our nation by the aggressor state."

Zelensky continues, "The people of Ukraine, who are fighting against the Russian regime to defend their Homeland and democracy in the world, are mourning with you."

As for some of his other accomplishments -- Renaud's "Last Chance High" on HBO was a series that profiled at-risk youth on Chicago's West Side ... the series went on to win a Peabody Award.

Kanye West has been going after Kim Kardashian, claiming she's denying him access to their children, but it's pretty clear what Kim plans on doing about it legally -- nothing.

Fact is, Kanye's rants aren't accurate ... he's routinely seen his kids when he wants. What's more, there's no point in asking the family law judge for a protective order. First off, it's unclear if the judge would grant it, but even if they do, that assumes Kanye would obey it, and that's pretty clearly a pipe dream.

As we reported, Kim and Kanye do not have a structured child custody agreement. He has never asked for one and the way it works ... whenever he wants to see the kids, within reason, she accommodates him. From everything we've seen, Kim does not want to limit Kanye's time with the kids in any way.

Now, the judge has not issued a child custody order yet, and if Kanye decides to fight Kim in court, the numerous texts attacking Kim, Pete, etc., will almost certainly become evidence and could affect the outcome, and not in a good way for Kanye.

We're told the reality is this ... Kim is the primary caregiver of their 4 kids, and they are all young enough that she can shield them from all the drama.

As we reported, Kanye fired off a flurry of tweets over the weekend, and Pete finally responded with some biting comments.

For Kim's part, she's only said publicly she is not withholding the kids from her ex.