Michelle Branch Files for Divorce On Heels of Cheating Allegations, Arrest
Michelle Branch has filed for divorce from Patrick Carney, a move that comes just days after cheating allegations and the singer's domestic assault arrest.
Branch filed divorce docs in Tennessee Friday, obtained by TMZ, she states irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split.
Michelle and Carney, who is the drummer of The Black Keys, have two young kids together. She's asking for child support and for custody ... but to allow for Patrick to have time with the kids. Branch is also requesting Patrick pay legal fees.
The estranged couple is also required to complete a parenting court, which the judge orders in all cases out of that specific court.
TMZ broke the story, Michelle and Patrick split last week just hours after she tweeted out accusing him of cheating. At the time, Michelle told us, "To say that I am totally devastated doesn’t even come close to describing how I feel for myself and for my family. The rug has been completely pulled from underneath me and now I must figure out how to move forward. With such small children, I ask for privacy and kindness.”
However, we learned shortly after the tweet, cops were called to Patrick and Michelle's home -- where the singer admitted to striking her husband one or two times in the face -- she was arrested for domestic assault. She was released from custody shortly after the arrest because she's breastfeeding their infant daughter.
Michelle and Patrick were married for just over 3 years.
related articles
Bronny James Dunks All Over Opponent ... LeBron Goes Nuts
-
Breaking News
- 551 shares
Bronny James is looking more and more like his pops every time he takes the court -- because LeBron's oldest just unloaded an insane posterizing dunk on his opponent ... and the NBA superstar lost his mind!!
The moment just happened at the Club Basketball Euro Tour overseas ... where Bronny and his bro, Bryce, are suiting up for the California Basketball Club.
Sheesh Bronny! 😱 pic.twitter.com/tAPxURfwHn
— 𝙏𝙖𝙡𝙠𝙞𝙣’ 𝙉𝘽𝘼 (@_Talkin_NBA) August 15, 2022 @_Talkin_NBA
With under 2 minutes in the second quarter, #0 took the ball the whole length of the court ... and legit took flight as he slammed it home.
The highlight has social media going off -- including LeBron Sr, who tweeted, "OH MY GOODNESS BRONNY!!!!! 😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱"
Donovan Mitchell added -- "This crazy bronny!!"
Of course, the James bros are finally suiting up on the same team together ... and hoops fans have been watching their every move.
The dunk is just a sign of more to come from Bronny ... who's entering his senior year of high school hoops.
Bronny and Bryce have been getting in some solid time on the hardwood with their dad -- training together at the Lakers facility earlier this month.
related articles
Capri Sun Thousands of Pouches Recalled ... Possible Cleaning Solution Contamination
Capri Sun is working overtime to recall thousands of the popular juice pouches for possible contamination.
Kraft Heinz -- which manufactures the child-centric drink -- has issued an official recall of 5,760 cases of Capri Sun that they say might be contaminated with a cleaning solution used at one of their production plants, which could've gotten into the product.
According to KH ... the problematic batch in question is tied to their Wild Cherry flavor, and it's hard to tell where exactly the possibly contaminated cases might've gone.
Reports of consumers complaining about the taste supposedly prompted an investigation, so Kraft is pumping the brakes, and telling their customers to refrain from poking into any of the cherry Capri Suns for a bit, while they try to wrangle 'em in.
Kraft says *if* cleaning solution did make it in, it was totally inadvertent.
Customers can return any problematic cases to point of purchase for refunds.
related articles
Anne Heche Taken Off Life Support
-
Exclusive
- 7.2K shares
Anne Heche has been taken off life support, more than a week after her tragic accident.
A rep for the actress tells TMZ, "Anne Heche has been peacefully taken off life support." TMZ broke the story, doctors planned to take Anne off life support Sunday afternoon and then begin a procedure to harvest some of her organs for donation.
It is not clear how many donor matches Anne will be able to help or which organs are to be donated.
As we reported, Anne was declared brain dead on Friday, and by California law means the person has died. The actress was kept on life support to keep her heart beating preserve her organs for donation.
TMZ broke the story, Anne was involved in a horrific car crash August 5 when she drove her Mini Cooper into an L.A. area home -- she was very badly burned in the accident and lost consciousness shortly after -- Anne never came out of a coma.
She was 53.
RIP
R. Kelly Asks Judge To Ban Jurors Who've Seen 'Surviving R. Kelly' Doc From Trial
-
Exclusive
- 962 shares
R. Kelly wants anyone who has seen the 'Surviving R. Kelly' docuseries to be banned as a potential juror in his trial ... saying there's no way they can give him a fair shot.
R. Kelly and his team filed a motion Monday to disqualify jurors who have seen any portion of the docuseries, as his 2nd federal trial begins in Chicago.
According to legal docs obtained by TMZ ... "any potential juror who has watched any portion of this docuseries must be disqualified for cause on whether they can be fair, too great a risk exists that such a juror would base their verdict on matters not introduced into evidence in the courtroom".
Kelly's facing charges of child porn and obstruction of justice ... and his alleged victim from his infamous 2008 case is expected to testify.
R. Kelly's Alleged Victim from 2008 Set to Testify in New Trial
The docs state, "Any potential juror who has seen any portion of Surviving R. Kelly is prejudiced where there's no scenario which an individual exposed to the contents of Surviving R. Kelly can be impartial."
In other words ... his camp says there's absolutely no way anyone who has seen any parts of the doc can be fair, and they shouldn't be allowed to be jurors in the case.
His team claims there are episodes that talk specifically about his 2008 prosecution, in which he was acquitted ... and they say the docuseries also includes allegations that the government has said won’t be featured in this trial.
Jury selection is expected to begin Monday.
related articles
Ex-NFL Star Aqib Talib Brother Turns Himself In ... After Youth Football Shooting
-
Exclusive Details
- 4.8K shares
10:09 AM PT -- Authorities tell TMZ Sports ... Yaqub has turned himself in to Dallas County Jail.
9:13 AM PT -- Aqib's brother, Yaqub Talib -- wanted by law enforcement for murder -- is planning to turn himself in to authorities within the next hour, a source tells us.
1:38 PM PT -- Lancaster PD just got back to us ... Yaqub is wanted on a murder charge.
Former NFL star Aqib Talib's brother, Yaqub Talib, is a wanted man in Texas -- this after cops say he was involved in a fatal shooting at a youth football game this weekend.
The Lancaster Police Department fired off an announcement Sunday saying that they were looking for Yaqub in connection to the death of an adult male Saturday ... who was shot and killed during an argument at the conclusion of a match that parents were angry about.
The man is said to be a coach for one of the teams ... there's a name circulating online, but we'll refrain from ID'ing him at this time until the family and/or cops confirm. In any case, he succumbed to his injuries ... which police say was a direct result of a discharged firearm.
There's video of the alleged shooting which eyewitnesses claim shows a man pull out the gun and fire. We're told people in the crowd identified the man wearing all-black and a bucket hat as possibly being one of the Talib brothers -- but it's hard to make out who this person is, or if they have a weapon at all. What is depicted ... a scuffle/apparent shooting.
Lancaster PD says they've identified the suspect in this case as Yaqub, and note there's an active warrant for his arrest. It's unclear what charge, exactly, they wanna bring him in on ... but some say this looks to be outright murder. We've reached out to LPD for clarification.
A former mugshot of Yaqub was attached to the press release, and Lancaster is asking for any and all help in finding him. BTW, Aqib was also there for this tragic killing.
His attorney tells TMZ ... "Aqib was present when this unfortunate incident occurred and is very distraught and devastated over this terrible loss of life. He would like to convey his condolences to the family of the victim and to everyone who witnessed this unfortunate tragedy."
Aqib famously played for the Bucs, the Broncos (with whom he won a Super Bowl ring) and several other teams over the years. He was not named in Lancaster PD's release.
Originally Published -- 8/14 1:11 PM PT
related articles
Adele 'Happy As I'll Ever Be' With Rich Paul 'I Might As Well Be Married'
Adele is convinced she'll never find someone like Rich Paul again -- saying she's "happy as I’ll ever be" in a relationship with the sports super agent.
The "Easy On Me" singer gushed over Paul in a recent interview with Elle magazine ... explaining that things are going so well with LeBron James' BFF, she "might as well be married."
"I've never been in love like this," she said. "I'm obsessed with him."
The 34-year-old hasn't been shy about expressing her feelings for Paul -- she said in an interview with Rolling Stone back in 2021 that the two had the most "incredible, openhearted, and easiest" relationship.
The couple seems so smitten with one another, many have speculated they're already engaged, but she told Elle that's not the case ... yet.
Adele added in the interview that she was hopeful she could have more kids some day.
"I'm a homemaker and I’m a matriarch," she said, "and a stable life helps me with my music."
Adele and Paul initially went public with their relationship in 2021. They've been inseparable since -- hitting basketball games, parties and events together regularly.
related articles
Amber Heard Hires New Legal Team for Appeal ... Scraps Elaine Bredehoft
-
Breaking News
- 7.3K shares
Amber Heard is out with the old, in with the new when it comes to her legal representation -- scrapping a key attorney on her team ... and bringing in the big guns.
The actress, who is currently appealing the Johnny Depp verdict, announced Monday that she's hired the law firm Ballard Spahr as she ventures into an appellate court ... which she apparently thought warranted a fresh set of eyes to review the case as well as evidence.
The lead attorneys from the firm that are coming on ... David L. Axelrod (not the Obama/CNN guy) and Jay Ward Brown -- both of whom successfully defended the NYT against a defamation suit recently brought by Sarah Palin ... a First Amendment case, their specialty.
Amber is keeping Ben Rottenborn onboard with the addition of Axelrod and Brown -- but she is losing one lawyer ... Ms. Elaine Bredehoft, who was lead counsel in the trial. Her departure from the team isn't really explained beyond simply saying she's stepping down.
EB says it's the perfect time to "pass the baton" and that she's done her due diligence in making sure the new team is up to speed. Frankly, Elaine took a bit of a thrashing, metaphorically, during her representation -- that seems to be the consensus anyway.
As for the new boys ... DLA and JWB say, "We welcome the opportunity to represent Ms. Heard in this appeal as it is a case with important First Amendment implications for every America." They add they're confident the appellate court will interpret the law in their favor and clear AH's name.
A rep for Amber says, "When it comes to protecting the fundamental right of Freedom of Speech, we look at the jury’s decision -- to paraphrase a famous quote -- not 'as the beginning of the end, but merely the end of the beginning.' A different court warrants different representation, particularly as so much new evidence is now coming to light."
Meanwhile, Johnny's getting a move-on with life ... the dude's now directing a movie with his old pal, Al Pacino, as a partner.
related articles
Prince Harry UNDERWEAR FROM NAKED VEGAS ROMP GETS $250K BID ... Do I Hear $1 Million???
-
Exclusive
- 238 shares
Prince Harry's royal jewels must be priceless ... because the auction for the underwear from his strip billiards game in Sin City is already at a quarter million bucks.
The bidding opened Thursday, on the heels of the 10-year anniversary of Harry's wild night in Vegas, with ex-stripper Carrie Royale producing the goods ... the Prince's black undies from his memorable night in a high roller's suite.
It only took a few minutes for the bidding to skyrocket ... a $10,000 opening bid rose to $16k before a strip club owner from San Diego placed a call-in bid of $250k. That's not a typo ... it went from $16k to $250k!
Video from the live auction shows Carrie, dressed in a black cocktail dress, and some other exotic dancers going crazy when the big bid came through.
The $250k bidder, Dino, says he plans to create a shrine to Harry's undies if he ends up winning the auction. Carrie believes the winning bid could reach as high as $1 million, and online bidding remains open until Sept. 30 or when the auction reaches $1 mil, whichever comes first.
The live portion of the auction went down at Larry Flynt's Hustler Club, where Carrie claims Prince Harry dropped by during his wild time in Vegas.
Remember ... Harry stripped down to his birthday suit playing billiards in a Vegas suite back in August 2012, and Carrie claims she snatched the discarded undies.
No word how Harry feels about the auction ... but as we first told you, part of the proceeds are going to Harry and Meghan Markle's charity, Archewell.
related articles
Bryce Dallas Howard Got 'So Much Less' $$$ For 'Jurassic World' Trilogy ... But Chris Pratt Had My Back!!!
Bryce Dallas Howard claims she got the short end of the stick for the 'Jurassic World' trilogy, making far less money than Chris Pratt despite being co-leads ... but that didn't stop him from making sure they got equal pay outside their film contract.
Initial reports back in 2018 showed Chris took home $10M to Bryce's $8M for the sequel, "Fallen Kingdom" ... but Bryce says she was actually paid "so much less," than the reported estimate, in an interview with Insider.
Bryce says she was at a "great disadvantage" back in 2014 when negotiations began for the blockbuster series -- adding, "unfortunately, you have to sign up for three movies and so your deals are set."
Chris, however, was a bigger star than Bryce at the beginning of the trilogy, having already starred in "Guardians of the Galaxy."
But, she claims Chris fought for her outside their 3-movie deal ... telling her he'll handle the negotiation for her when it came to things like spin off games or theme park rides -- making sure they both walked away with equal pay.
Bryce says she loves the guy for doing that for her -- noting she's "been paid more for those kinds of things than I ever was for the movie."
related articles
Brittney Griner Appealing Drug Conviction ... In Russia
-
Breaking News
- 4K shares
Brittney Griner is fighting back in her drug case in Russia -- formally filing an appeal of her conviction in the foreign country, days after she was sentenced to 9 years behind bars there.
Griner's attorney confirmed the filing to CNN on Monday. It's not immediately known what the grounds of the appeal are, or when it will be heard in court.
WNBA Star Brittney Griner Reportedly Detained In Russia On Drug Charge, Could Face 10 Yrs
The move, though, was expected -- after Griner was convicted and sentenced on Aug. 4. The WNBA superstar admitted to having hashish oil in her luggage at a Moscow airport, but she told a courtroom she packed it inadvertently and had no intentions at all of breaking the law.
Regardless of the appeal process, the U.S. -- which has called Griner wrongfully detained -- is continuing attempts to strike a prisoner swap deal with Russia in order to bring the 31-year-old home.
"I call on Russia to release her immediately so she can be with her wife, loved ones, friends and teammates," Biden said following her conviction earlier this month.
"My administration will continue to work tirelessly and pursue every possible avenue to bring Brittney and Paul Whelan home safely as soon as possible."
Griner has been locked up in Russia since mid-February.
related articles
Trey Songz Sexual Assault Suit ... Woman Says Attorney Offered Bribe to Lie About Singer
-
Exclusive
- 346 shares
Trey Songz has an ally in his corner when it comes to claims of sexual assault against him -- a woman testified an attorney for Songz's alleged victim offered her up to $200,000 to change her story and make Trey the bad guy ... a claim the attorney denies.
If you haven't followed along, Trey's in the middle of a sexual assault lawsuit filed by a woman named Jauhara Jeffries -- who says he violated her at a 2017 New Year's Eve party in Miami.
Trey Songz Claims Witness Tampering in Miami Sexual Assault Lawsuit
We've obtained a transcript from a recent court hearing in the case, where a woman named Mariah Thielen testified she met with Jeffries' attorney, Ariel Mitchell, in April 2021 at a bar in Miami. Thielen says Mitchell smelled like weed during the meeting, and was carrying a gun.
According to the transcript, Thielen -- who was with Jeffries the night of Trey's alleged assault -- says Mitchell offered to pay between $100k-$200k if she'd lie and say she witnessed Trey sexually assault Jeffries ... and claim that Trey assaulted her too. Mitchell allegedly said she was trying to paint Trey as "the next R. Kelly."
Thielen says Mitchell's plan was to take her allegations to Trey's team in hopes of coming to a monetary settlement, and her lies would help to make that amount larger ... again, this according to the transcript.
Thielen claims she turned the offer down -- saying she wouldn't have lied for even $10 million -- and reported the meeting to Trey's legal team a short time later.
Mitchell denies the claims, telling us, "We’re highly confident and certain the court will find the witness committed perjury. Parties are still awaiting the judges' further instructions on how to proceed given the witness’s inconsistent testimony during the hearing."
Mitchell's partner, George Vrabeck, withdrew from the case, stating there was "multiple grounds for withdrawal" that existed under the Florida Rules for Professional Conduct ... but Mitchell says that's only because, "He will be representing me against the parties involved in this disgraceful motion brought by Trey Songz and his representatives."
Interestingly enough, both Ariel and George withdrew from a case where they represented a woman who accused Chris Brown of rape and sued for $20 million. Both dropped out shortly after Chris posted a series of texts and voicemails from the woman, making it seem as is they were friendly. Ariel told us she withdrew because she was not aware of the messages.
related articles
Johnny Damon Phillies Top Pick Is Going To Be A Star ... 500 Steals, 'Couple Hundred Home Runs'
-
Exclusive
- 83 shares
Make some room in Cooperstown for Justin Crawford in about two decades -- 'cause Johnny Damon says the Philadelphia Phillies' top draft pick is about to have a MONSTER MLB career!!
Damon -- who used to play against Justin's father, Carl Crawford, in The Show -- made the guarantee to TMZ Sports while out at an event in NYC earlier this month.
"He'll probably steal 500 bases," Damon said of Justin, "hit a couple hundred home runs. Just be a menace to his opponents throughout the years."
The moment Justin Crawford became a Phillie.#RingTheBell x #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/cKkPyeSn8C
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) July 18, 2022 @Phillies
Justin was officially taken by the Phils with the #17 overall pick in last month's MLB draft -- and because of his skill set and famous father pedigree, everyone's assuming he's got a bright future ahead of him.
But, Damon, who had to try to get Carl off the base paths for years when the two were AL East rivals in the early 2000s, took it one step further -- and said he's expecting flat-out, Hall-off-Fame-level greatness from the 18-year-old.
"I'm happy for Carl," Johnny said. "And I know his son is going to have a great Major League career."
Justin, a left-handed-hitting outfielder, will have to spend a couple years in the minors growing into his body and refining his game ... but, according to Damon, when he gets the inevitable call-up to the Big Leagues -- watch out!!
related articles
'Outer Banks' Star Chase Stokes Don't Drink and Drive!!! Following Death Of Stunt Double
-
Exclusive
- 148 shares
"Outer Banks" star Chase Stokes is making a plea to get folks to stop drinking and driving after his stunt double was tragically killed in a hit-and-run car crash.
We caught up with Chase at LAX Friday, and he opened up about the devastating loss of 22-year-old Alexander 'AJ' Jennings. Chase tells us he's still processing the tragic loss, adding it's been tough on the entire cast.
Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.
TMZ broke the story ... AJ was killed on July 5 in a hit-in-run crash in South Carolina ... where "Outer Banks" was shooting season 3.
'Outer Banks' Stand-In for Chase Stokes Killed in Hit-and-Run Accident
While Chase is completely heartbroken, he hopes this will be a HUGE lesson to other folks on the road. He says he's a big believer in people taking responsibility for their own actions ... saying drinking and driving is a downright stupid decision with real consequences.
The bottom line, he says, don't do it!! This, coming from a guy who knows the pain firsthand ... he says, "we lost a beautiful individual".
related articles
Tracy Turnblad in 'Hairspray' 'Memba Her?!
American actress Nikki Blonsky was just 18 years old when she was cast as Tracy Turnblad -- the positive and optimistic high school student who does not necessarily fit in with the popular kids -- in the 2007 film 'Hairspray.'
Nikki shared the big screen with John Travolta as a laundry business owner and Tracy's mother, Edna Turnblad, Zac Efron as the talented and cocky lead male dancer, Link Larkin, Amanda Bynes as Tracy's best friend, Penny Lou Pingleton, and Queen Latifah as a radio DJ, Motormouth Maybelle.
related articles
Norwegian Government Euthanizes Walrus Which Got Close to Humans
A famous walrus in Norway has been killed after the government there thought it was getting a little too close for comfort when it came to human contact.
The Director General at the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries announced Sunday that Freya -- the 1,300 pound walrus in question -- was euthanized after officials deemed its habits of approaching humans and their boats were becoming too dangerous and a risk to the public.
Frank Bakke-Jensen, the honcho, says, "The decision to euthanize the walrus was made based on an overall assessment of the continued threat to human safety."
Freya made a splash this summer after flopping itself into boats near the Oslo Fjord -- where they'd often be docked. In some cases, she partially sank the vessels ... and in others, she was able to catch a little tan in the sun, minding her own business as people looked on.
Freya, the 600-kg walrus, has taken up residence in Norway's 🇳🇴capital city of Oslo, capturing the hearts of locals while basking in the sun.
— Erik Solheim (@ErikSolheim) August 9, 2022 @ErikSolheim
pic.twitter.com/S9BPygIJW8
It might be those same people who are to blame for this, so say Norwegian officials. Their rationale to putting the animal down has been chalked up to the massive crowds that would form around Freya whenever she'd come near -- which is rare for walruses.
Spectators would approach and take selfies, something the government says was towing the line of potential harm -- and which caused officials to warn everyone to stay away.
In memory of #Freya - the wandering Walrus that graced us here Shetland last winter.
— Hugh Harrop Wildlife (@HughHarrop) August 14, 2022 @HughHarrop
MURDERED today by the Directorate of Fisheries in #Norway because she was perceived as a "continued threat to human safety".
Abhorrent and unforgivable on every level. pic.twitter.com/Nu6z1qnIpl
Some are angry that the walrus was euthanized, arguing it wasn't necessary and that it would eventually swim away on its own. But the fisheries director is holding his ground on the call -- telling CNN, "We have sympathies for the fact that the decision can cause reactions with the public, but I am firm that this was the right call," Bakke-Jensen continued. "We have great regard for animal welfare, but human life and safety must take precedence."