Taylor Swift $1 Sexual Assault Suit ... Cited in Supreme Court Case!!!
Taylor Swift's sexual assault lawsuit -- in which she only demanded $1 for punishment, and won -- became a talking point in the highest court in the land ... and it could actually help a guy keep his case alive.
T-Swift was name-dropped Tuesday during oral arguments on a Supreme Court freedom of speech case dating back to 2016 ... when college student Chike Uzuegbunam sued Georgia Gwinnett College for allegedly telling him to shut his yap over Jesus while on campus.
The school changed its policy the year after, and asked that the case be dismissed -- which it was in a lower court -- that is, until Uzuegbunam appealed to SCOTUS, where it's currently being debated.
The guy is asking for nominal damages, and the college's attorneys say it's a waste of time and resources to keep this going for such a low amount just to make a point.
That's where Tay-Tay comes in ... Justice Elena Kagan mentioned Taylor's 2015 suit against radio host David Mueller, whom she claimed groped her at a backstage meet-and-greet in 2013. Remember, all she wanted as far as relief was one measly dollar, simply to make a point ... and she won in the end.
Kagan thinks the same thinking could apply here. She said, "A few years ago, [Swift] brought a suit against a radio host for sexually assaulting her, and she said, 'I'm not really interested in your money, I just want $1. And, that dollar is going to represent something both to me and to the world of women who have experienced what I've experienced."
Kagan added, "That's what happened: The jury gave her $1. And, it was an unquestionable physical harm. But, she just asked for this $1 to say that she had been harmed. Why not?"
A decision on this oughta be reached by the summer or so, and if Uzuegbunam wins his appeal, he might have to send a thank-you note to T-Swift for laying the groundwork here.
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'Election' Star Jessica Campbell Dead at 38
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Jessica Campbell -- the former actress best known for her role as Tammy Metzler in "Election" -- died suddenly and unexpectedly last month ... according to her family.
Jessica passed away on December 29 in Portland, and though a full autopsy has been conducted by the Multnomah County Medical Examiner ... her family is still awaiting the results.
Her cousin, Sarah Wessling tells TMZ ... the day she died, Jessica worked a normal day seeing patients at her practice -- she was a naturopathic physician -- and returned home to visit with her mother and aunt.
Sarah says Jessica went to the bathroom but never came out, and when her aunt went to check on her ... she found her collapsed on the floor. We're told the aunt tried to revive her but couldn't, and neither could EMTs when they arrived.
The family says Jessica had been complaining of congestion and felt like she was getting a cold, but they didn't think it was COVID. The autopsy results are expected soon.
Jessica's role in "Election" alongside Reese Witherspoon, Matthew Broderick and Chris Klein -- she played his younger sister in the film -- earned her an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Debut Performance.
She would go on to guest-star on the popular TV series "Freaks and Geeks" and star in "The Safety of Objects" and "Junk" before leaving acting behind.
A GoFundMe page has been created her help with expenses and to provide for Jessica's 10-year-old son, Oliver. Judd Apatow -- executive producer of "Freaks and Geeks" -- donated $5,000.
The family says Jessica has been cremated and they are planning a memorial.
She was 38.
RIP
Biden Inauguration Timberlake, Lovato Feat. in TV Special ... Hosted by Tom Hanks
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Joe Biden's bringing out some Hollywood heavy-hitters to celebrate his Inauguration night with a TV special headlined by Justin Timberlake.
The President-elect's inaugural committee is producing a primetime TV special for next week's festivities in lieu of the usual in-person bash. Along with Justin ... John Legend, Demi Lovato, Jon Bon Jovi and Ant Clemons are slated to perform.
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JT says he and Ant wrote the track "Better Days" together, adding he recorded the final vocal for the song on election night. He also acknowledged this unprecedented time for our country, saying on IG ... "We have a long way to go to fix, undo, and rebuild this country... but I hope now, despite the past four years, we are on our way."
The 90-minute special is set to air on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN and MSNBC, and will be hosted by Tom Hanks.
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Politico, which first reported the news, says the event's being dubbed "Celebrating America" and it'll also pay tribute to American heroes.
Tony Allen, the CEO of Biden's presidential inaugural committee, said, "We have witnessed countless heroes this past year step up to the frontlines and serve their fellow Americans, so we are telling their stories, spreading their collective light, and celebrating the best of our country and its people with this prime-time program."
There will be other celebs taking part in the event with pre-tapped appearances. Biden's inaugural festivities begin with Monday's national day of service, followed by Tuesday's memorial to COVID-19 victims.
Politico reports Biden plans to ride the Amtrak on Tuesday from Wilmington, Del. to D.C. ... as he famously did while he was a Senator.
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The Kardashians Thank 'Keeping Up' Crew ... With 30 Rolexes!!!
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The Kardashians are showing major gratitude for the folks behind the scenes of their reality show ... gifting the "Keeping Up With the Kardashians" crew classic timepieces.
'Keeping Up' finished shooting the final episode last Friday, and production sources tell TMZ ... Kim, Kourtney, Khloe and Kris surprised the crew of about 30 people with Rolex watches.
We're told the Kardashians and production team thanked everyone with speeches, and sent well-wishes after the show wrapped. Crew members also shared stories of their favorite memories working on 'KUWTK' ... several of them saying they'd stayed with the show for so many years because it was fun working with the fam.
Our sources say the Kardashians then busted out the Rollies, which as you can imagine, drew a lot more tears, excitement and thanks. We're told the entire cost was just around $300,000 -- about $10k per watch -- so, sweet parting gifts!
The Kardashians are moving over to Hulu after 20 seasons with their E! crew ... time well spent.
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Capitol Riots Aftermath Gun Sales Surging Regardless of Party
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The Capitol riots seem to have resulted in Americans on both sides of the aisle agreeing on something -- not removing President Trump from office ... but rather deciding it's time to buy a gun.
TMZ's reached out to gun shops in 20 U.S. cities this week, and half of them reported a substantial increase in sales of firearms and ammunition since pro-Trump insurrectionists stormed the Capitol Building on January 6.
Among these stores receiving a sales boost, we're told the clientele has been a pretty even mix of Republicans and Democrats ... with different businesses reporting different tidbits of interesting info.
For instance ... Paulie's Pistols near New Orleans tells us its sales are up 400% this week compared to last. While it always has a steady influx of Republican customers, the shop says this week they've sold to a surprising number to Dems who purchased a firearm for the first time.
Likewise, the Hyatt Gun Shop in Charlotte says it completely sold out of ammo and rifles this week and has very little product left after a surge of both Republicans and Democrats coming in and stocking up. Hyatt tells us the Democrat customers expressed concern about the aftermath of the Capitol riots ... while GOP supporters said they're worried Joe Biden is going to try to take their guns away.
This was the story for several of the gun shops ... including Tampa and Detroit.
Other shops reporting major sales increases -- like Ray's Hardware & Sporting Goods in Dallas, and Ammo AZ in Phoenix -- tell us their customers are simply letting them know they are buying guns to "prepare for whatever is next" after the riots ... regardless of their political affiliation.
Here's a full list of the stores we contacted, and their gun sales info:
Shooters World in Tampa -- Up 100% this week compared to Christmas week. People are buying every pistol in stock, and they're running very low on AR's and shotguns.
Recoil Firearms in Detroit -- Up 50% this past week compared to the week before. They have sold out of Glocks and AR's.
Ray's Hardware & Sporting Goods in Dallas -- Up 200% this week compared to the week before. People are stocking up on handguns and AR's.
Paulie's Pistols Gun Shop near New Orleans -- Up 400% this week compared to the week before. Completely sold out of ammo. Most customers are buying handguns.
Hyatt Gun Shop in Charlotte -- Sales up 20% this week compared to the week before. Sold out of ammo and rifles, and very little product left.
Ammo AZ in Phoenix -- Up 50% this week compared to the week before. People are mostly buying AR-15's and whatever ammo they can get.
Controlled Pair Munitions in Las Vegas -- Up 50% this week compared to the week before. Sold out of ammo, customers mostly buying handguns and shotguns.
Mid America Arms in St. Louis -- Up 20% this week compared to last week, but would be higher if they hadn't run out of product. Sold out of ammo and most handguns.
Green Mountain Guns in Denver -- Getting 100 calls a day asking about gun inventory. Currently sold out of every handgun.
Guns Direct in L.A. -- Up 40% this week compared to last week. Customers buying mostly handguns.
Atlanta -- No increase
Boston -- No increase
Chicago -- No increase
Nashville -- No increase
Louisville -- No increase
New York -- No increase
Philadelphia -- No increase
Oklahoma City -- No increase
San Diego -- No increase
Baltimore -- No increase
As we've reported ... similar gun sale spikes occurred throughout 2020, especially in the wake of the civil unrest that took place early in the summer following the death of George Floyd.
Then in October, the state of Michigan saw a huge increase in gun sales amid a contentious election season, COVID-19 policy backlash and a thwarted plot to kidnap Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
Considering there are major fears of increased violence in the days leading up to Biden's inauguration, it's no surprise that once again ... people are sticking to their guns.
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Jake Paul I'm Selling My Calabasas Crib ... Yours For $7 Million!!!
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Jake Paul is making good on his promise to move out of Los Angeles to focus on boxing ... he just put his Calabasas crib up for sale.
Real estate sources tell TMZ ... Jake wants $7 mil for his 3.5-acre estate, which gets you 8 bedrooms and 15,045 square feet.
The mansion is decked out with a three-story entryway and spiral staircase ... plus an office, theater, wet bar and gym.
Of course, there's the obligatory Cali pool and spa with some pretty cool accents ... 2 waterfalls, a grilling area and patios with sweeping views of the canyon.
So, what to do if you want to replicate Aaron Spelling's mega-mansion but only have 15,000 feet of living space? Well, there's enough land to build a second, massive structure. And, there will be plenty of room to park ... the driveway can handle 20 cars.
As we reported ... the YouTube star and undefeated boxer announced last month he was fleeing the distractions of L.A. to focus on becoming a boxing champ. Jake's eying Miami for the move ... it's a good town for boxers.
Jake's former neighbors will be looking forward to a new occupant ... he was pretty famous for pissing off folks with his wild parties and YouTube shoots.
TMZ broke the story ... the property was the scene of an FBI raid last year, when agents in armored trucks stormed in with a search warrant and ended up seizing some weapons. It's unclear what's come of that.
"Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles" stars Josh and Matt Altman have the listing ... they repped Jake back in 2017 when he bought the property.
We reached out to Josh and Matt, who had no comment.
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'Bachelorette' Alum I Got Attacked!!! By Maskless Security Guard
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'Bachelorette' alum Michael Garofola says he was on the receiving end of an anti-Semitic attack from a maskless security guard ... and part of the altercation was caught on video.
The season 9 'Bachelorette' alum says he managed to shoot this video while backing away from the security guard who can be heard spewing something about "Jews" during the Sunday incident in Michael's L.A. apartment parking structure.
Michael, who -- for what it's worth -- is not Jewish, claims the security guard flew into a rage when he told him he should be wearing a mask. He alleges the guard snapped and yelled, "I don't have to listen to the Jews and your Marxist agenda."
That's not captured on video ... Michael says that alleged remark prompted him to start recording, but you can see the video cuts out pretty quickly. Michael claims the guard snatched his iPhone, threw it against the concrete and punched him in the head.
Michael says his phone was damaged, and he suffered cuts on his hands from the scuffle.
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Michael reported the incident, including the alleged anti-Semitism, to the L.A. County Sheriff's Department. The security guard was gone by the time cops arrived, but they're investigating him for misdemeanor assault.
Michael says the apartment complex told him on Monday the guard no longer works there, but wouldn't say if he was fired or reassigned. While he plans to press charges, his more immediate issue is possible COVID-19 exposure.
Michael, who is Type 1 diabetic, says he plans to get tested, because the guard was not wearing a mask ... and because the apartment complex had warned residents about several staffers testing positive.
The former federal prosecutor is now best known for finishing fifth for Desiree Hartsock's 'Bachelorette' season. He also appeared on "Bachelor in Paradise" and "The Bachelor Winter Games."
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Lamar Odom Signs Celebrity Boxing Deal ... Fighting This Summer!!!
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Lamar Odom is back ... but the 2x-NBA champion isn't returning to the hardwood -- he's fighting!!
TMZ Sports has learned that the 41-year-old ex-NBA star has inked a deal with Celebrity Boxing ... and will step into the ring on June 12 at the Showboat Casino in Atlantic City, NJ.
The 6'10" Odom doesn't currently have an opponent ... but CB creator Damon Feldman tells us he's working on a big-name celeb to duke it out with Lamar.
Of course, Odom is no stranger to fighting ... he literally fought for his life after collapsing at Dennis Hof's Nevada brothel back in 2015.
Lamar attempted a basketball comeback ... and was briefly part of Ice Cube's Big3 League.
However, the hooper has turned his attention to pugilism (temporarily, at least) ... and we're told he's fully committed to busting his ass in the boxing gym ahead of his upcoming fight.
It's worth noting, the last time a basketball player stepped in the ring, he got ROCKED (sorry, Nate).
So, goes without saying, Lamar hopes history doesn't repeat itself!!
BTW, Odom isn't the only star on the card ... Aaron Carter is also fighting. Like Lamar ... he doesn't yet have an opponent.
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Guess Who This Raincoat Runt Turned Into!
Before this runt in a raincoat was the ultimate fashion icon, she was just another cute kid preparing for a downpour in Harlow, United Kingdom.
This spicy sweetheart is best known for her posh performances in a widely-popular girl band that took over the world. As a global phenomenon she has been serving fierce looks -- like this matching red outfit -- since she was a child, but she might look more familiar in a little black dress.
Now, this fashion designer is a mother of four kids of her own, whom she had with a professional soccer player.
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Capitol Riot Son of Brooklyn Judge Charged ... Furry Shield Guy w/ Glasses
The guy who was wearing animal fur and parading around with a policeman's shield inside the Capitol building during last week's riot is the son of a prominent judge in Brooklyn ... who now has to watch his boy go through the criminal justice system.
34-year-old Aaron Mostofsky was arrested Tuesday and brought before a Brooklyn judge -- not his father, Brooklyn Supreme Court Judge, Shlomo Mostofsky -- this judge is federal. He was released on $100k bail with strict conditions.
Mostofsky faces four counts -- theft of government property, illegal entry into a restricted area, illegal entry with intent to impede government functions, and disorderly conduct. Aaron was released to the custody of his older brother, and was ordered to stay in NYC (unless given permission) and wear an ankle monitor.
The judge also said Mostofsky's forbidden from communicating with his co-defendants, cannot participate in any political gatherings, and has to steer clear of all state capitals.
Mostofsky's attorney said his client is aware of the seriousness of the charges against him ... but insists he was just "caught up" in the moment.
Granted, he did get his hands on that Capitol Police shield ... and posed for some weird shots without hesitation, even giving on-camera interviews! The one thing he did do since getting back from D.C. to remain low-key, it seems ... get a haircut. The dude's almost unrecognizable now with his new 'do, but those glasses are a dead giveaway.
Mostofsky is scheduled to appear virtually before the judge later this month.
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YFN Lucci Wanted for Felony Murder Over Shooting in ATL
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YFN Lucci is a wanted man in Atlanta -- because cops suspect he's involved in the shooting death of a man.
Atlanta PD's homicide unit tells us they're looking to bring in 29-year-old Rayshawn Bennett -- Lucci's real name -- on multiple charges ... including felony murder, aggravated assault, participation in criminal street gang activity, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
The reason ... he's suspected of being involved in a shooting incident in southwest Atlanta last month, which left one man dead from a gunshot wound to the head and another man injured. Cops say the second victim was shot only minutes after the first.
Cops say the shootings are related and have already made 2 arrests -- 23-year-old Ra'von Boyd and 17-year-old Leroy Pitts were booked for felony murder.
For now, Atlanta authorities say they haven't been able to track down Lucci ... and are asking the public to help locate him. They're even offering up to $5,000 for info leading to his arrest and indictment.
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Donald Trump I Ain't at Risk of 25th amendment ... But Biden Sure Will Be!!!
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1:31 PM PT -- President Trump insists he's in no danger of being removed early from office, saying the 25th Amendment doesn't apply to him, but will come into play for his successor -- a shady jab at Biden's age.
DT made his remarks Tuesday at the border wall in Texas, where he said the 25th Amendment is "of no risk to me," but will "come back to haunt Joe Biden and the Biden administration." He didn't elaborate, but Trump's repeatedly accused Biden of losing his faculties ... so, it seems pretty clear what he's insinuating.
Trump also addressed the looming article of impeachment that's expected to be voted on this week, calling it a continuation of the "witch hunt" against him. He also says it's stoking the flames of divisiveness ... which he calls a dangerous prospect at this "tender time."
President Trump says he is washing his hands of all responsibility for the Capitol Hill insurrections, saying what he told the crowd pre-riot was "totally appropriate."
Trump was leaving D.C. Tuesday for Alamo, Texas to brag about the border wall, when he was asked about his responsibility for last week's uprising.
Trump not only claimed his words were appropriate, he tried to deflect by saying the "riots" in Portland and Seattle were far worse, and in those cases, the politicians who supported the protests were the incendiary ones.
So, Trump thinks saying things like January 6 is going to be "wild," was not a dog whistle. And, apparently, he thinks what he told the crowd a week ago was innocent ... things like, "You'll never take back our country with weakness, you have to show strength and you have to be strong." He went on, "if you don't fight like hell, you're not going to have a country anymore."
By the way ... if he thinks everyone believes he acted appropriately, he's clearly ignoring Congress because he's about to get impeached.
Originally Published -- 10:50 AM PT
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Kris Jenner TikTok Star's Lawsuit Claim is BS ... Threatens a Real One
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Kris Jenner rep says she doesn't even know who Ava Louise is, but adds ... if she keeps making up fake stories there could be legal consequences.
If you missed it ... Ava's a social media influencer who gained attention last week after posting a TikTok suggesting Kanye West has been hooking up with YouTube beauty guru Jeffree Star ... a rumor Star has denied.
After that spread on social media, Ava admitted she fabricated the whole thing ... but also claimed she received a cease and desist letter from Kris' company threatening legal action if she didn't stop making allegations about Kim and Kanye.
Apparently, Ava's all about the land of make-believe, because a rep for Kris tells us the cease and desist letter is totally made up, and adds ... "We have zero clue who this person is and have not yet taken legal action. However, if she continues to spread lie after lie and a fake letter in a desperate cry for public attention, which she has admitted on record that she's seeking, then we will have no choice but to take legal action on principle."
Jenner's rep adds ... "Making up fake stories in an effort to monetize and get attention which has a direct effect on people’s lives is not OK. Perhaps she should spend that time instead seeking the help that she clearly needs to deal with her issues."
Of course, if Kris felt a lawsuit was warranted it would more likely come from Kanye and/or Kim ... since Ava's admitted lie was really about them. Ava's TikTok came at the same time divorce rumors were swirling about the Wests.
We broke the story ... the subject of divorce has been looming for the couple for much of 2020, but as of last week they were still in marriage counseling trying to work it out.
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Senator Chuck Schumer Trumper Screams at Him ... She Was 'Sexually Excited' By Riot
Senator Chuck Schumer just said Donald Trump sounds exactly like a dictator, but his words were drowned out by a crazy protester who threatened that Trumpers are going to his home and Pelosi's to take care of business.
The woman was off the rails, screaming she and her flock would descend on Pelosi's home to destroy her vineyards. She compared Schumer to Hitler, ranting as she said she fully supports the insurrectionists. She says she was "sexually excited" to see Schumer and other Democrats flee from the riot.
And, she said this ... "As long as there's outrage and unrest in our hearts, there's gonna be unrest in these streets."
Schumer wants all of the rioters placed on the no-fly list ... presumably, so many of them cannot return to D.C. for the inauguration.
As we reported, there was a meeting with members of Congress Monday night where they were told the rioters are coming back to D.C. with a vengeance ... creating a perimeter around the Capitol on Inauguration Day where they were planning on blocking and even shoot Democrats.
Schumer also responded to Trump saying his words to the rioters were "appropriate," saying, it's a "pathological technique used by the worst of dictators."
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'Saved by the Bell' Star Dustin Diamond Hospitalized ... Likely Battling Cancer
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Dustin Diamond of "Saved By the Bell" has been hospitalized -- and cancer seems to be the likely prognosis ... TMZ has learned.
Dustin's team tells us he was hospitalized in Florida this past weekend after feeling pain all over his body and a general sense of unease. We're told he was taken to the hospital, where docs are running a number of tests to figure out what exactly is wrong with him.
Our sources say his medical team is concerned it's cancer, and they're conducting a biopsy to get answers. We're told Dustin's family has a history of cancer -- his mother died of breast cancer -- but it's unclear what kind of cancer they suspect in his case.
Dustin is most famous for playing Screech on 4 seasons of 'SBTB.'
Interestingly, he wasn't recast for the reboot of the show on Peacock -- seems like he and his former castmates have drifted since they wrapped shooting in '92.
We talked to Dustin a while back about why he wasn't signed on for the new iteration -- he didn't know why, but made his case for why Screech ought to be resurrected. Sadly, since the show's launched there's no sign of him.
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Rep. Tim Ryan 'F****** Livid' Over Capitol Storming ... Better Be Safe Next Week!!!
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Congressman Tim Ryan isn't mincing words over the coup attempt -- he was "f****** livid" when the mob stormed the Capitol, because law enforcement assured Congress it would be safe.
The U.S. Rep. from Ohio joined us on "TMZ Live" Tuesday and told us why there's no excuse for the lack of security during the insurrection ... he says security forces should've been prepared for the worst, and now Congress needs to get to the bottom of what went wrong.
Tim says he's glad to see more boots on the ground in D.C. this week as the National Guard is mobilizing at least 10,000 troops ahead of next week's inauguration ... the sort of move he would've liked to have seen before the riot.
As we told you ... Congress was just briefed on the 7 main groups of extremists organizing to descend on the Capitol for Joe Biden's inauguration and the days leading up to it.
While Rep. Ryan says last week's outcome was an epic fail, he seems confident Congress will be better protected moving forward.