Michael Jordan Signed Book From Harper Lee For Sale ... 'To Kill A Mockingbird'

Michael Jordan's personalized book from famous author Harper Lee is on the market ... and his custom copy of "To Kill A Mockingbird" is going for five figures.

Harper sent Michael an autographed copy of her classic work back in 1995, when 'TKAM' was celebrating its 35th anniversary and MJ was playing basketball for the Chicago Bulls.

Michael's signed copy reads ... "To Michael Jordan - best wishes, Harper Lee."

Harper mailed a small number of autographed special edition copies to celebs she was connected with ... and the NBA superstar was among that special group.

MJ kept his signed copy in his library when he was married to Juanita Vanoy, and when they divorced in 2006 she got the book as part of their divorce settlement.

The book was ultimately purchased by a private collector ... and now it's going up for sale over at Moments In Time.

So just how much is MJ's signed copy worth?!? How about a cool $24,000.

Pras Fugees Tour Surprised Me, Too!!! Don't Worry, Lauryn Will Be On Time

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20 YEARS AND COUNTING
TMZ.com

Pras is just as surprised as longtime Fugees fans about their reunion tour -- he says he actually learned it was going down from TMZ Hip Hop!!!

We caught up with Pras in Bev Hills on heels of the news he's joining Lauryn Hill's "Miseducation of Lauryn Hill 25th Anniversary Tour" -- a 17-date nationwide trek that will also feature the talents of Wyclef Jean to make the cipher complete.

We asked Pras about a potential follow-up to the group's Diamond-selling classic album "The Score" ... or even his own solo works.

But he was so caught off guard by the tour, that he seems to be more concerned with nailing the rehearsals for the time being!!!

It's been a topsy-turvy year for Pras ... he was found guilty of federal fraud back in April, and still has a prison sentencing day looming over his head.

He says he can't speak on the case much, but did retain new legal counsel and he's confident in the work they're doing for him.

Pras might have been clueless ahead of time, but fans are buzzing following the tour announcement -- if not for Lauryn's album legacy then for her reputation of starting her shows extremely late ... something Pras doesn't think will be an issue this go-around.

Like "The Score," L-Boogie's 'Miseducation' is also certified Diamond and has long been considered one of the G.O.A.T .albums ever recorded.

It's the 20th anny celebration -- no time to be tardy!!!

Danny In 'Zathura' 'Memba Him?!

American actor Jonah Bobo was only 8 years old when he played the role of Danny -- the 6-year-old boy who found confidence through the board game, Zathura -- in the "Jumanji" spin-off and science-fiction adventure film, "Zathura: A Space Adventure" back in 2005.

Jonah shared the outer space adventure with Josh Hutcherson as Danny's bossy but loving older brother, Walter, Kristen Stewart as the teenage sister who was supposed to be in charge while their dad was at work, Lisa and Dax Shepard as the outer space savior who protected the kids from the aliens, Astronaut.

Guess what he looks like now!

Kroy Biermann Wants to Sell $3M Home With Kim ... 'Financial Situation Dire!!!'

Kim Zolciak's estranged husband Kroy Biermann has filed new docs in their ongoing divorce saga ... and now he's asking the judge for permission to sell their Georgia home, ASAP.

According to the docs, obtained by TMZ, Kroy's asking for an emergency hearing to authorize selling the $3 million family pad, citing their serious financial troubles.

The sale of the house -- where he says they've lived for their entire marriage -- could help cover what Kroy describes as "significant debt" they've built up over the years. He even mentions how he sold some of his stuff just to cobble together mortgage payments, and avoid a foreclosure auction earlier this year.

Kroy, through his lawyer, Marlys A. Bergstrom, says despite the "financial devastation" Kim brought to their family, he continued to make monthly payments on the place to hold off the auction ... but says it was a struggle every month.

The former NFL player claims he sold some of his designer backpacks, and other personal items to help come up with the dough, and even begged Kim to sell her purses -- something he says she refused to do.

Well, he admits she did sell some things, but he adds this dig ... "Ironically, she has been selling purses, hers and her daughters' and other high end fashion items including her infamous wigs. However, none of the funds garnered from the sale of these items have gone towards the mortgage, or any other bills."

Kroy says they weren't able to make July's mortgage payment, and are again facing the looming threat of foreclosure ... which is why he's begging a judge to let them try to sell the house as soon as possible.

Sam Asghari Joins Actors' Strike Picket Line ... No Britney Talk, Just Leo!!!

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STRIKING IN SOLIDARITY
BACKGRID

Sam Asghari picked up a sign and joined striking Hollywood on the picket line ... saying he's there to support his fellow actors, and not to talk about his divorce with Britney Spears.

A SAG-AFTRA member, Sam was at the front of the line marching up to Disney Studios in Burbank when a photog asked him how he was holding up in the wake of filing for divorce.

Sam told the camera guy he wasn't there to discuss his personal life, but rather to raise awareness for the strike in hopes of getting everything resolved sooner than later.

TMZ broke the story ... Sam's planning to continue with acting gigs once the strike is resolved, and in the meantime, Britney is footing the bill for his swanky digs.

He says the strike's affecting him as much as any other actor, cleverly joking about having the same amount of roles right now as Leonardo DiCaprio.

So, maybe there's a comedy out there for Sam when the dust settles?!?

In all seriousness, Sam says the lack of jobs and money is the whole point of the strike ... and he's hoping there's a deal soon so Hollywood can get back to making art and inspiring folks.

Sam's giving props to striking writers too ... but it's interesting how he's seemingly making his picket line debut only after divorcing Britney. No denying the guy knows how to self-promote. 👀

Man Sues Over Surgery Docs Left Object Inside Me!!! See Disgusting Ankle Wound

A man in Wisconsin says his ankle is now home to an infection and horrific wound brought on by a botched surgery -- and now that he's suing over it, we've obtained some super gross pics.

Nestor Vega is the patient behind the lawsuit, and he claims during a procedure to treat a car accident injury, he heard a loud noise and feared a fragment from a device used to drain his wound had broken off under his skin.

Vega claims one doc told him his fears were unlikely and reassured him by saying ... "Even if it did, it should be sterile, and it's small enough of a fragment, so it shouldn't cause any issues like an infection or anything."

But as Vega claims, there was indeed a fragment of a medical device left behind in his ankle and it caused a painful and debilitating infection.

Vega's lawyer, B'Ivory LaMarr, shared images with TMZ that he says show the aftermath of infection ... and it's extremely graphic. Think rotting pork chop.

In his suit, Vega claims he kept complaining to doctors about a pain in his ankle but they brushed him off until a follow-up visit revealed the fragment lodged in his body.

Vega claims the fragment caused the infection that turned his ankle into a disgusting mess ... and he's going after the surgeons, Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital, and the Medical College of Wisconsin for damages.

A rep for the hospitals tells us, "We are empathetic to any patient whose expectations have not been met during their course of care. Due to patient privacy laws and ongoing litigation, we are not commenting further."

Ariana Grande Leaving Scooter Braun and Management Company HYBE

Ariana Grande is making a change in managers ... she's leaving Scooter Braun.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... the singer is leaving both Scooter and his management company, HYBE. One source put it this way, "Scooter's team is spinning the story. Ariana is leaving both Scooter and Hybe. There is absolutely no truth to her staying."

Scooter has been managing Ariana for years, and she's one of his biggest clients.

Ariana's departure comes on the heels of another big-name exit for Scooter ... Demi Lovato already peaced out. Idina Menzel also left back in January.

Ariana has unfollowed Scooter on social media, so it doesn't seem it's particularly amicable.

Braun has said he's stepping back from day-to-day management and, as we reported, he was negotiating with several clients, including Ariana, for a new structure ... but Ariana says she's now gone.

There have been rumors Justin Bieber might be leaving, but we're told Justin is still under contract with Scooter's company and they are negotiating a possible new deal. We're told Ariana might still have an existing contract with Braun so we don't know how that will play out.

Ariana's a big name on the open market now, and it will be interesting to see who becomes her next manager.

Stay tuned ...

The Game 50's 'Fat Ass' Dares to Come to My City ... To Hit Women??? 🎤💥

50 Cent’s microphone-hurling fiasco at his L.A. concert really has The Game PO'd … as the bloody incident happened on his home turf!!!

Game ripped 50 Thursday with a size jab -- "yo fat ass came to LA hittin women🤔" -- after getting wind of our report about Power 106 host Bryhana Monegain having her face cut and battered by the mic 50 angrily threw.

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HURLED INTO THE CROWD
TikTok / @polyboy.steezy

The former G-Unit rapper's been in a cold war with 50 for the better part of 15 years ... and Bryhana's injuries seem to have left things even icier!!!

Wednesday's concert was a celebration of 50's debut album, and although he brought out several guest stars -- Nas, Chris Brown, YG, Tyga, DaBaby -- the party mood has been dampened ... as 50 is now a suspect in an LAPD criminal investigation.

50 Cent's attorney, Scott Leemon, assured us his client would never intentionally use a mic as a weapon but as you can clearly see, Game ain't buying that for a second.

We covered the story on the latest episode of The TMZ Podcast, available on all podcast platforms.

Donald Trump Rap Artist Hi-Rez Says 'First Day Out' is Non-Political

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RETURN OF THE DON
TMZ.com

Rapper Hi-Rez, who created the now-viral Donald Trump AI rap track, says he had no political agenda while making the former prez's out-of-prison song ... he just wants to put a smile on people's faces.

Hi-Rez joined us on "TMZ Live" Thursday, taking us through the process of making "Donald Trump - First Day Out" -- something he put up online for fun after Trump's mug shot made the news. The song has become a hit, charting #2 on iTunes with north of 3 million views.

In case you didn't know, rappers who get out of jail often put out a "first day out" song, talking about where they're at after becoming free once again ... and when his buddy suggested Trump would be a perfect subject, Rez jumped right to the AI tools to start cookin'.

He tells us he wrote the song in half an hour with no political bend -- his mission was actually bringing the warring sides of America together for a laugh.

As for what's next, Rez tells us why he's gonna be pumping out more parody bangers.

Lil Uzi Vert Mistakenly Labeled Dognapper ... Cops Got Wrong Guy!!!

Lil Uzi Vert found himself in the middle of a stolen puppy case in Pennsylvania -- but he's not the wanted dognapper, and it sounds like cops didn't do their due diligence.

The rapper's photo appeared Thursday in a Facebook post from the Wilkes-Barre Township Police Department alerting the public to a puppy that had been taken from a pet store.

Problem is ... Lil Uzi Vert is NOT the suspect.

Cops have since taken down the post with Uzi's photo and replaced it with a different man with face tatts -- who is the actual suspect accused of swiping a pooch from Brookside Pups.

The Uzi version lived on the internet for about 30 minutes -- enough time for the FB post to be flooded with comments about the Philly artist.

So why the confusion? Brookside Pups tells TMZ ... the guy who allegedly grabbed a puppy and fled Thursday afternoon has Lil Uzi Vert's face as his profile picture on a social media account, which they sent to cops.

Police are blaming the pet store for providing them with the photo of Lil Uzi Vert.

Brookside Pups says police took down the photo once they realized the face tattoos on Lil Uzi Vert didn't match the suspect's. The store sent a new photo for cops to share.

Roc Nation says Uzi was nowhere near Philly at the time and the incident has left them fuming ... telling us, "The Wilkes-Barre Township Police Department should be embarrassed and ashamed for disparaging [Uzi's] character. This grave error could’ve had significant repercussions on Uzi’s career and epitomizes how Black men can be wrongfully charged and arrested by police departments across the country."

And just in case anyone's got it twisted, they add ... "Uzi loves all animals and this serious mistake has deterred the apprehension of the kidnapper. Our collective hope is that the puppy is safely and promptly rescued."

Police say the alleged dognapper was last seen driving toward Uzi's hometown of Philadelphia ... making for another strange twist.

Kevin Costner Divorce Christine Testifies ... That Wasn't My BF in Hawaii!!!

Christine Baumgartner says Kevin Costner's got it all wrong, the man who gave her $20k -- who also happens to be friends with Kevin -- is not her boyfriend.

Christine testified during Thursday's divorce hearing in Santa Barbara and got into her July trip to Hawaii, where she was photographed with Josh Connor.

As we reported, Josh is a longtime friend of both Kevin and Christine, and sources close to Josh and Christine told us they were not dating.

She backed that up on the stand, saying point blank Josh is not her BF -- and added that  while in Hawaii, she shared a room with a longtime female best friend.

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BIG ISLAND STROLL
BACKGRID

TMZ broke the story ... Kevin referenced Christine getting $20,000 from "her boyfriend" ... and Christine did testify that Josh gave her that sum because she was worried about money. She tearfully said she gave $10k to her mother, and eventually returned the other $10k back to Josh.

She also discussed the $40k/month Montecito rental she's moving into Friday. Her attorney asked how close it is to the water, and Christine said, "You can't walk there with a surfboard."

As we first reported, Christine groused in documents, that the rental home is on the mountain side of the freeway with no scenic view or beachfront access. She testified she's only renting it for 6 months because she doesn't know what the outcome will be of the divorce.

Sen. Mitch McConnell Cleared to Work After Freezing Up Again ... Doctors Blame Concussion

Senator Mitch McConnell has the green light to return to work after his second time freezing up in front of reporters, but this time doctors think they know what's causing it.

According to a statement from Dr. Brian P. Monahan, 81-year-old McConnell was consulted and the doc talked with his neurology team, with Wednesday's evaluation determining, "he is medically clear to continue with his schedule as planned."

Monahan continues, "Occasional lightheadedness is not uncommon in concussion recovery and can also be expected as a result of dehydration."

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ANOTHER FREEZE
WLWT5

The checkup comes on the heels of the Kentucky legislator talking to reporters Wednesday in Covington -- he was asked about the possibility of running for office again, which was when he took a long pause and appeared to zone out.

Even after aides walked up to help him, he continued to appear frozen. His camp later said the Senator "felt momentarily lightheaded" and would be "consulting a physician prior to his next event."

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THE TENSE MOMENT

The same thing went down last month while on Capitol Hill, as McConnell stopped dead in his tracks, mid-sentence.

July's incident didn't come with a medical evaluation -- not one that was publicly announced, at least -- so, the doctor's remarks this time certainly start to connect the dots.

Remember, McConnell was admitted to a hospital and was being treated for a concussion back in March after taking a fall at a hotel in Washington, D.C.

While certain aspects of his injury weren't detailed, the concussion was a big part of it -- and it seems he's still suffering from it today.

Madonna I'm Working Out After Health Scare ... Riding Bike Through NYC

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back in the saddle
TheImageDirect.com

Madonna is getting back into the groove after a critical illness threatened her life ... she's exercising again, and appears to be back in good health.

The singer hopped on a bicycle for an outdoor workout Wednesday, pedaling around New York City with a few friends, including her personal trainer.

Madonna's bike ride took her through Central Park and onto Manhattan streets, where she road down a few city blocks ... zipping around town.

As you can see in the videos, Madonna's looking pretty fit and active here ... a good sign after a severe bacterial infection that landed her in the ICU.

Remember ... Madonna was rushed to a hospital at the end of June, so she's only about 2 months removed from the illness that forced her to postpone her 'Celebration' tour.

Madonna says she feels lucky to be alive after her health issue, and she looks pretty lively on a bicycle ... she's definitely stronger than when we saw her last month ... all good signs before she starts touring in October over in Europe.

Kevin Costner Christine Has Committed 'Relentless Jihad' in Divorce

Kevin Costner has come out swinging in his divorce from Christine Baumgartner, claiming she has become so unreasonable she has engaged in a "relentless jihad" against him ... and he threw in that her "boyfriend" gave her thousands in cash.

Costner is in court right now, along with Christine, fighting it out over how much child support he must pay her.

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HEADING TO COURT
TMZ.com

The actor claims Christine is bubbling over with animosity, accusing him of being a cheapskate when in fact he has shelled out way more than a million dollars since she filed for divorce.

The most interesting nugget in the docs ... Kevin says Christine has been deceptive in terms of how much money she has, referencing $20,000 "her boyfriend recently gave her." The docs don't identify the boyfriend, but sources familiar with the case say Kevin believes the man is Josh Connor, one of Kevin's good friends who recently took a trip to Hawaii with Christine.

Sources connected to both Christine and Josh have denied the 2 are in a romantic relationship.

Kevin claims Christine has secretly taken $105,000 from him to pay her lawyers. He's also re-alleged she has padded her child support bills by including hundreds of thousands of dollars for her plastic surgery, private trainers and "unallocated credit card expenses" which were for her, not their kids. In fact, Kevin claims her plastic surgery bills alone total $188,500 a year.

Costner says Christine -- who originally asked for $248,000 a month in child support -- has padded the bill simply because Kevin can afford it, and it has no relationship to their kids' needs.

Kevin has claimed the actual amount she needs is around $63,000 a month.

Costner, who says Christine has been engaged in "baseless character attacks" on him, says she's more than capable of getting a job, saying, "She has no plans to seek employment or engage in any income-generating activity." He accuses his 49-year-old estranged wife of demanding enough child support so she doesn't have to work again.

A judge has temporarily ordered Kevin to pay $129,000 a month. The hearing, which will go through tomorrow, will end with the judge establishing the exact amount the actor must pay.

Jake Paul I'm A Wax Man!!! Grabs Fake Jutta's 🍑

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(P)ASSING THE TEST

Jake Paul took matters into his own hands to make sure his girlfriend's wax figure is just like the real thing ... cupping its ass and comparing it to the human Jutta Leerdam right on the spot!!

The Problem Child just posted footage of his visit at Madame Tussauds in the Netherlands this week ... where he got a truly up-close look -- and feel -- of his superstar athlete GF's recently opened exhibit.

Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.

Jake walked right up to the figure, squeezed its behind and then turned to the real Jutta ... and proceeded to grab her tush as well.

The Olympian laughed and pulled his hand away ... but you can tell she appreciated his dedication to the cause.

If the video wasn't enough indication that Paul's a big fan of the completed project, he even rapped about it on his newest song, "Witness" ... saying, "Madame Tussaud’s wax figure of my girl do that mean I got 2 oooo?"

Paul and Leerdam have been enjoying their time together in her home country following his big win over Nate Diaz ... and the boxer's even been hitting up her recent training sessions.

Whether it's the real Jutta or the wax version, it's safe to say Jake is in love!!

50 Cent Suspect in Criminal Battery ... After throwing Mic, Hitting Spectator

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HURLED INTO THE CROWD
TikTok / @polyboy.steezy
UPDATE

12:23 PM PT -- 50 Cent's attorney, Scott Leemon, tells TMZ ... "Let's be very clear, as I told LAPD this afternoon, my client Curtis (AKA 50 Cent) would never intentionally strike anyone with a microphone. Anyone saying something different doesn’t have all the facts and is misinformed."

UPDATE

8:00 AM PT -- TMZ has learned ... 50 Cent is now a suspect in a criminal felony battery report. Power 106 radio host, Bryhana Monegain, was the woman hit and she filed a police report Wednesday night. Law enforcement sources tell us ... they believe 50 threw the mic at his crew in the production area and hit the victim. The victim told cops 50 looked directly at her before throwing the mic, so at least, according to her, 50 knew she was there. Bryhana went to the hospital with a laceration on her head.

UPDATE
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TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL
TMZ.com

50 Cent went all Cardi B during his concert in Los Angeles, throwing his broken microphone in frustration into the crowd ... hitting a fan smack dab on the head.

The rapper hit the stage at Crypto.com Arena Wednesday night as part of his "Final Lap" tour 2023 ... and, during the performance, he was handed several mics that didn't work, which was clearly triggering.

Check out the video ... Fitty struts out onstage with a mic in hand to join YG, who is belting out a song. Suddenly, Fitty turns to one side of the stage and hurls the mic, striking a woman in the head.

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YEETED THE MIC

Sources who were present tell TMZ ... Fitty wasn't targeting the woman, but still, he beaned her good. A source connected to 50 says the woman wasn't supposed to be in the restricted area ... but unlike the mic, that argument doesn't fly.

Photos of the victim surfaced on Instagram, showing a gash in her forehead and bloody towels wrapped around her neck.

We've reached out to Fitty's camp ... so far, no word back.

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MAKIN' A SPLASH
Twitter, TikTok / @j_blizzyy

You may recall ... Cardi B was involved in a similar incident in which she angrily tossed her mic at a fan, who threw a drink at her during a Las Vegas show. The mic ricocheted off something and hit another person standing nearby. That person filed a police report, but Cardi was cleared.

Originally Published -- 6:18 AM PT