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The off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot who tried taking down a sister airline's plane is blaming the incident on a nervous breakdown and a serious lack of shut-eye, and also admits to taking shrooms.

Joseph D. Emerson admitted to law enforcement he tried shutting off the plane's engines during a "nervous breakdown" in the cockpit, adding he felt dehydrated and tired and had not slept in 40 hours.

According to the criminal complaint, obtained by TMZ, Emerson told investigators, "I didn't feel okay. It seemed like the pilots weren't paying attention to what was going on. They didn't ... it didn't seem right."

Emerson copped to pulling both emergency shut-off handles, explaining ... "I thought I was dreaming and I just wanna wake up."

Police say Emerson told them he wasn't taking any medication, but said he had been depressed for about six months ... and then the conversation turned to psychedelic mushrooms.

The complaint says Emerson told investigators about his use of magic mushrooms, saying it was his first time taking shrooms. The complaint does not make it clear when or how many mushrooms Emerson ingested, but there's an insinuation he might have been on mushrooms during the flight.

As we reported, Emerson was arrested and booked on 83 accounts of attempted murder for the incident on a flight from Washington to San Francisco.

Now, the feds are charging him with inference with flight crew members and attendants ... a charge carrying a prison sentence of up to 20 years behind bars.

Remember ... the captain and first officer subdued Emerson in the cockpit after he tried to shut off the engines mid-flight.

The pilots told cops that before Emerson reached for the handles he stated, "I'm not okay."

The complaint says after Emerson was subdued, he told a flight attendant, "You need to cuff me right now or it's going to be bad." Another flight attendant says Emerson stated, "I messed everything up" and the attendant told investigators, "he tried to kill everybody."

Britney Spears says a brief run-in with ex-boyfriend Justin Timberlake triggered a panic attack before her infamously bad 2007 MTV VMA performance.

Britney was set for a big return to the stage that night with her song "Gimme More" ... but was caught off guard when she saw JT at the show.

In her new memoir, "The Woman In Me," Britney recalls the interaction, writing ... "It had been a while since I'd seen him. Everything was going great in his world. He was at the top of his game in every way, and he had a lot of swagger. I was having a panic attack."

Britney says she "hated the way I looked" ... because "It was less than a year since I'd had my second baby in two years but everyone was acting like my not having six-pack abs was offensive."

What's more, Britney admits she hadn't rehearsed enough and knew the performance "was going to be bad." She says "nothing was going right" backstage ... claiming there were problems with her costume and hair extensions. She says she didn't sleep the night before, and was feeling dizzy.

Britney continued ... "I couldn’t believe I was going to have to go out onstage feeling the way I felt." She says she went out and tried her best, admitting it wasn't up to par for her.

She added ... "I could see myself on video throughout the auditorium while I performed; it was like looking at myself in a fun-house mirror."

JT, on the other hand, was on the other end of the spectrum in Britney's eyes.

She says, "Justin glided down the runway. He was flirting with girls in the audience, including one who turned around and arched her back, shaking her breasts as he sang to her."

Dillon Danis says his hundreds of social media posts about Logan Paul's fiancée, Nina Agdal, were meant to be taken as a joke ... claiming he was only playing the role of "bad guy" to promote his recent boxing match.

The former Bellator MMA fighter spells it all out in court documents obtained by TMZ Sports ... in which he says his incessant trolling of the WWE Superstar and Sports Illustrated swimsuit model was clearly "parody, satire, comedy, farce or opinions" to draw interest to the Oct. 14 event.

In fact, Danis denies even having a real "feud" with Logan, who beat him in the Misfits boxing match via disqualification.

As we previously reported, Nina filed her complaint back in September ... saying Danis' actions caused "humiliation, emotional distress, and reputational harm," and accusing him of posting her explicit images without her consent.

Danis denies the claims ... saying anyone with internet would be able to access plenty of nude and semi-nude pictures of Agdal from her personal social media accounts.

As for his defense, Danis says his comments about Agdal are protected by the First Amendment ... as they're simply his opinion.

Danis is ready to defend himself in court ... and he's demanding a jury trial.

10/24 2:49 PM PT -- Sam Underwood will not be charged for the arrest ... the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office has rejected the case.

A spokesperson for the City Attorney tells TMZ ... "After careful review, prosecution has been declined because there is a lack of sufficient evidence to prove the matter beyond a reasonable doubt."

Sam Underwood, famous for starring in "Fear the Walking Dead," ended up in LAPD custody after he allegedly roughed up a woman.

Law enforcement tells TMZ ... cops responded to a 911 call about a disturbance in a Los Angeles-area apartment around 2:30 AM on Oct. 7 and when police arrived, they were told Sam and a woman had gotten into a heated argument that got physical.

Cops tell us the woman had visible marks on her body and Sam was arrested for felony domestic battery. We're told the actor was hauled off to jail, where he was booked and released after spending close to 10 hours in custody.

It's unclear what his relationship is with the alleged victim. Sam's case, we're told, will now be submitted to the L.A. County District Attorney's Office for possible criminal charges.

As for the woman, cops say, although she had marks, she did NOT require medical attention.

A source familiar with the case tells TMZ ... Sam has provided his attorney with photographs, video recordings, and audio recordings -- all of which disprove the claims of the party making these accusations against him. We're told his attorney intends to provide this evidence to the police early this week.

New Orleans Saints superstar Chris Olave seemed to be looking for a cop to cut him some slack during his arrest on Monday by name-dropping his NFL employer ... but police video, obtained by TMZ Sports, shows law enforcement very clearly did not care.

The footage was captured on a Kenner Police Dept. officer's body camera at around 9 PM in Louisiana ... after cops claimed they clocked Olave going 70 MPH in a 35 MPH zone in his Dodge Charger.

In the footage, you can see just after they pulled Olave over ... he seemed to show remorse for the way he was driving -- saying, "That's on me. I was just trying to get home."

But, seconds later, after a cop told him he was being put under arrest over it all ... he appeared to try to get some leeway by telling the officer his occupation.

"My bad, dawg," Olave said ... before adding, "I play for the Saints, man."

The officer, though, obviously didn't find that relevant at all ... responding, "And?"

Olave then handed over some of his possessions to cops so they could transfer them to his dad ... before he was hauled off to jail.

A Kenner Police Dept. spokesperson said Tuesday that Olave was booked on a charge of reckless operation of a motor vehicle ... before he was released at 11:30 PM.

Police noted it was the second recent speeding ticket for Olave, who was busted for allegedly doing 54 MPH in a 35 MPH zone in August.

The Saints told media members Monday they were aware of the situation, but did not have a comment. Olave's brother, meanwhile, wrote on his X page following the incident, "Bro was on the way back to the crib from CVS... aint nun serious."

New reports have surfaced as part of Jonathan Majors' domestic violence case, implicating he was involved in a similar incident last year -- this one happening in London.

The Manhattan D.A. prosecuting Majors for his 2023 arrest for alleged domestic violence in New York City has entered documents that come from across the pond ... involving an alleged incident with him and a woman 6 months before the NYC event.

The details surrounding the report are mostly unclear, but the alleged incident occurred last year at Molineux Stadium -- a soccer stadium in Wolverhampton, England. The actor was in England filming the latest season of "Loki," which is currently airing.

The D.A. says the London report includes medical records and treatment info for a woman connected to the alleged incident.

As we reported, Jonathan was arrested in March for misdemeanor assault, aggravated harassment, attempted assault, and harassment after allegedly slapping his ex-girlfriend, Grace Jabbari.

New audio from the flight that was almost taken down by an off-duty pilot details the terrifying incident -- and it reveals a huge understatement from the flight's actual pilot ... who described the guy as going "overboard."

The recording starts not long after 44-year-old Alaska Airlines pilot Joseph Emerson allegedly tried to shut off the engines aboard the Horizon Airlines jet. Emerson was traveling in a jump seat in the cockpit as a courtesy -- the same company manages Horizon and Alaska Airlines.

You can hear a pilot saying they got Emerson out of the cockpit and into the back where he was subdued ... asking for law enforcement to meet them instantly when they land in Portland, where the plane was diverted after Emerson's actions.

The pilot tells air traffic control Emerson was handcuffed and has calmed down a bit from his original outburst, but also says the threat level was initially a 4, which is the highest ... often signifying a breach of the cockpit.

As we reported, Emerson was arrested and booked Monday on 83 counts of attempted murder, for each person aboard the plane, 83 counts of reckless endangerment and endangering an aircraft. The flight was bound from Everett, WA to San Francisco.

"Love and Hip Hop: Miami" star Prince Michael is apologizing for his explicit, and public, deep dive into his past relationship with Lori Harvey -- but he sounds very "sorry not sorry."

The outspoken reality star went into graphic detail on the "We in Miami" podcast earlier this week, sharing details like how he and Lori would Uber to each other's places for sex, and he claims they never used a condom.

Prince claims these trysts went down years ago when, as he puts it, Lori was thick and he clearly misses that 'ol thang.

On the creepier side ... he admitted trying to secretly record one of their hookup sessions but says there was no fooling Lori, who always suspected something. She was right!!!

Prince also took joy in allegedly dismantling Saweetie's family -- he claims he banged her mother and then got a DM from her husband accusing him of breaking up a happy home.

Lori's currently dating Damson Idris and was linked to Quavo, Future, Michael B. Jordan and Diddy in the past. Some fans aren't amused by his bedroom tea ... instead, they're destroying Prince for making his past with Lori public knowledge.

In his apology, he says he attempted to be funny with his responses ... but admits to failing at that, and blames his own insecurities for ruining things with Lori.

Drake's 37th birthday party was one for the chemistry books, featuring "Breaking Bad" stars Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul as bartenders to mix up some special cocktails at Casadonna in Miami.

The two stars showed up floral shirts and all to Drake's Miami bash Monday ... which likely served as an easy promotion for Bryan and Aaron's Dos Hombres mezcal brand.

Of course, these guys have racked up Emmys, Golden Globes and AFI awards playing meth lab whizzes Walter White and Jesse Pinkman on the show … and their bartending skills look to also be on point.

As for the location, Drake held his bash at David Grutman and Noah Tepperberg's Casadonna, an Italian-inspired restaurant along the coastline. Drake was decked out in all-black, and his friends and fam teased him for having an abundance of mango juice -- instead of his usual go-to passionfruit.

Kurt Cobain's daughter and Tony Hawk's son are now husband and wife, with a celeb musician acting as their wedding day officiant ... TMZ has learned.

Frances Bean Cobain and Riley Hawk tied the knot earlier this month in Los Angeles after getting a marriage license in September down in San Diego County ... according to docs obtained by TMZ.

The couple's marriage certificate says they got hitched Oct. 7 and the celeb who performed the ceremony is none other than former R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe!!!

BTW ... Stipe is also Frances' godfather, and her godmother is Drew Barrymore.

Frances and Riley have been in a relationship since at least January 2021 ... and it's her second marriage, his first.

TMZ broke the story ... Frances filed for divorce from her first husband, musician Isaiah Silva, in March 2016 after less than 2 years of marriage and they ended up fighting for custody of one of Kurt's guitars.

No word on a honeymoon yet, but it seems like the world's their oyster -- let's face it, both come from very successful, wealthy families.

The NBA's squarely in the sights of the United States Department of Justice over accusations The Association worked to torpedo Ice Cube's Big3 basketball league ... allegations the NBA denies.

TMZ Sports has learned the DOJ launched the inquiry months ago, examining alleged anticompetitive behavior on the part of the NBA, aimed at squashing the Big3's growth.

Those allegations, we're told, range from the NBA purportedly throwing its weight around to prevent sponsors and others potential partners from doing business with the rap legend's league ... to discouraging television networks from carrying Big3 games.

Cube and business partner Jeff Kwatinetz launched the 3-on-3 league, made up almost entirely of retired NBA players, in 2017.

Some current players have expressed a desire to play in Cube's league in the offseason, but we're told, as the Big3 sees it, the NBA has prevented guys from doing so, putting arbitrary rules in place to stop players from hooping in Ice's league.

FYI, the NBA and Big3 seasons do not overlap.

Of course, it's a regular occurrence for NBA players, including some of the biggest stars in the world like LeBron James, to hoop in non-NBA games after the season ends ... such as L.A.'s famed Drew League.

Big3 officials, according to sources familiar with the investigation, believe they've been unfairly targeted by the NBA.

We've also been told NBA owners have been discouraged from investing in the Big3 while simultaneously owning a franchise.

Referees haven't been immune, either, according to a source ... who says they've been told they cannot officiate for the Big3, despite some working for other organizations outside of the NBA.

A source familiar with the Dept. of Justice investigation tells us Cube and Kwatinetz met with DOJ lawyers during the first half of the year. We're also told investigators have begun reaching out to NBA owners as part of their investigation.

If the government ultimately finds the league committed antitrust violations, the NBA could face a significant fine.

We reached out to the league for comment ... and NBA spokesman Mike Bass, addressing the allegations of sponsorship and TV network interference, pressuring potential Big3 partners, and others, told us, "Those claims are not true."

Bass also added ... "We have been supportive of the Big3 since its inception, but we declined to invest."

Britney Spears has nothing but praise for her ex, Sam Asghari, in her memoir ... calling him a "gift from God" despite a rocky split, and it's a clear sign they've either settled their divorce or they're super close.

In the singer's new book, she recalls being "instantly smitten" by the actor/model when they first met on set in 2016 -- calling him an "inspiration, adding she instantly knew "I wanted him in my life."

Brit says the chemistry between them was insane ... "We couldn't keep our hands off each other." She says he was her rock during the contentious conservatorship hearings ... crediting him for giving her the courage to speak out.

What's interesting ... there's no talk about their acrimonious divorce at all. We know Britney made changes to her book after Sam filed for divorce back in August, so she could have changed her tune, but she didn't.

As we reported, their relationship was extremely volatile, at times she became physical with him and screaming matches were common. Yet none of it is referenced in the memoir.

Sam also praised Britney and her book recently, so when you put it all together, it seems like they've struck some kind of a divorce deal that satisfies both of them.

Britney's gone after lots of people in the memoir, but Sam dodged the bullet.

The two teens accused of fatally mowing down a retired police chief were also caught on video running over another bicyclist earlier in the day.

In the new footage, Jesus Ayala, 18, and Jzamir Keys, 16, are seen driving in a stolen car down the street and coming up fast behind the helmet-wearing cyclist. One of the teens starts giggling while repeatedly saying, "Bump him."

Moments later, the car intentionally crashes into the biker, knocking him to the ground, according to the Las Vegas Review Journal. Luckily, the 72-year-old victim was not seriously hurt, suffering only a knee injury.

The clip then cuts to images of the suspects -- one of whom is wearing a face mask -- running from the cops in marked police vehicles.

Another part of the footage shows a police officer talking with one of the suspects sitting in the backseat of a moving patrol car after he's been captured.

The cop informs the teen they have tons of evidence against him, citing surveillance footage while mentioning his accomplice ratted him out.

As we reported ... Ayala and Keys were arrested August 14 after they fatally ran over retired police chief Andreas Probst who was on his bicycle, police said. The pair recorded themselves deliberately striking 66-year-old Probst after they seemingly filmed their role in the non-fatal hit-and-run earlier in the day.

Becky Hammon was cussin' like a sailor at the Las Vegas Aces' championship celebration Monday night ... hilariously referring to herself as an "old ass bitch" while addressing the crowd.

The Aces head coach hopped on the mic after the team made its way to the T-Mobile Arena as part of the parade and rally festivities ... and she didn't shy away from speaking her mind.

Hammon -- who became the HC for the Aces in late 2021 -- appeared to be a bit tipsy as she gave star player A'ja Wilson her flowers ... and hopefully the young fans in attendance were covering their ears.

"Listen here, I'm an old ass bitch," Hammon told the crowd.

"I played against all the GOATs. I'mma put it out there, [A'ja] gon' be the GOAT of the GOATs. She don't even know how I'm about to be on that ass ... 'cause she's that good!"

46-year-old Hammon was really feeling herself ... even counting her money onstage to make sure she had enough for the fines she'll get for the bad language.

The former WNBA star was getting lit way before she made it to the stage ... and Kelsey Plum caught her on video dancing to the "Tootsie Roll" on the bus with the team.

She wasn't the only one showing off some moves ... Sydney Colson was in slow motion onstage with legendary R&B singer Tank, who made a special appearance at the event.

Nikki Glaser is proving she's the ultra Taylor Swift fan, shelling out big bucks for the pop star's concert tickets.

The comedian appeared as a guest on "The Kelly Clarkson Show" Monday -- and admitted she anted up an eye-popping $25K for tickets to go see Taylor's super successful "Eras" tour last summer.

Chuckling, Glaser told Kelly, "I just want to say that it was a conscious decision because I went to nine "Eras" tour shows this year. "Like, when I'm not on tour, I go to her tour."

Glaser went on, "It just fills my life up with so much joy. I'm in my late 30s. I just feel like, I don't have kids, and I did the math and if I had kids, I'd be paying for dance camp and swim lessons."

For context, tickets for Taylor's shows go for between $49 to $499 a pop, depending on the seating section. Resale tickets can range from $500 to $7,000 each, but that's just chump change for die-hard Swifties like Glaser.

During her sit-down with Kelly, Glaser also joked that she saved all of her money to freeze her eggs, but then decided to spend the dough on Taylor's concerts, describing her actions as going "buck wild."

Taylor has also been going wild lately, turning the world upside down after she and Kansas City Chiefs tight end, Travis Kelce, revealed they're now an item. She has recently attended Travis' NFL games, rubbing elbows with his parents in their suite at Arrowhead Stadium in K.C.

Everyone is now wondering are wedding bells in the future for the lovebirds.

New Orleans Saints superstar Chris Olave was arrested on Monday, TMZ Sports has confirmed, after he allegedly drove like a maniac on a street in Louisiana.

According to the Kenner Police Dept., the 23-year-old wide receiver was thrown behind bars after 9 PM. ... and released at 11:30 PM.

A spokesperson for the Kenner Police Dept. said in a statement ... Olave was booked on a charge of reckless operation of a motor vehicle after officers say he was going 70 MPH in a 35 MPH zone in a mixed business/residential area where citizens had complained of people speeding.

In his Dodge Charger, Olave was allegedly "recklessly maneuvering between lanes and around other drivers on the roadway" in addition to traveling at a high rate of speed, according to cops.

Chris' brother, Josh Olave, appeared to comment on the incident in a tweet late Monday night ... writing, "Bro was on the way back to the crib from CVS... aint nun serious."

Chris and the Saints did not play over the weekend after they lost to the Jaguars on Thursday Night Football last week. They're slated to take on the Colts on Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium.