Basketball Wives

The estranged husband of "Basketball Wives" star Kenya Bell insists ... he supported her for YEARS with his NBA salary -- but now his cash supply is running low ... and it's her turn to keep him financially afloat.

Former NBA player Charlie Bell -- who filed for divorce from Kenya earlier this year -- filed legal docs, claiming he's been low on cash ever since the NBA dropped him last year. Charlie's been playing pro ball internationally ever since, but the money's just not the same -- not nearly.

Charlie concedes he's got over a mil in the bank, but claims Kenya's the one who's hit it big with her role on "Basketball Wives" -- even releasing music on iTunes -- so it's her turn to lend him a helping hand, in the form of spousal support.

Charlie claims he only makes $100k a year playing basketball in Italy -- while Kenya rakes in three times that amount on "Basketball Wives."

Kenya shot back calling BS on Charlie's cries for help -- denying she earns $300,000 on the VH1 show.

"Basketball Wives" star Tami Roman finally settled the hair lawsuit filed against her and TMZ has learned the show will NOT be disappointing its "millions" of fans ... and will air as originally planned.

As TMZ previously reported ... Roman was sued by Crème de la Crème beauty products who claimed she breached her endorsement contract with them -- by promoting her own hair-product line instead of theirs on the show -- and they asked a judge to prevent that footage from airing.

Roman fought back against Crème de la Crème and the two parties officially settled privately out of court this past week ... but the specific terms were not released.

We are told that Roman is no longer affiliated with Crème de la Crème and, as part of the deal, the reality TV show will NOT be cutting any clips due to the lawsuit ... which, according to Roman, will keep "millions" of fans happy.

"Basketball Wives" star Tami Roman is begging a Texas court NOT to let a hairy legal battle stop her reality show from airing ... because, according to her, millions would suffer.

TMZ broke the story ... Roman was sued in March by Crème de la Crème hair company for allegedly bailing on her endorsement duties and then promoting her OWN hair line instead. The company asked the court to stop VH1 from showing any segments where Tami promoted her line instead of theirs.

Now Roman is firing back ... claiming in court docs that she is the VICTIM because Crème didn't pay her on time, thus breaking any obligation she had to them or their hair extensions.

Roman goes on to claim that prohibiting the show from airing would affect "millions of people" and the harm suffered by Crème de la Crème "pales in comparison."

Roman is asking the court to let the show air as is, along with ordering Crème to remove her name and likeness from any products and pay her court costs.

"Basketball Wives" producers are taking their feud with cast member Jennifer Williams to the next level ... the show's big-wigs are currently in talks to file a lawsuit against the "BB Wife" for publicly trashing the show.

If you recall ... producers of VH1's hit series were PISSED after Williams filed a lawsuit against fellow cast member Nia Crooks after she slapped Williams in the face while taping an episode.

Now sources tell TMZ -- producers are ready to take their own legal action after Williams went on a media rampage and blasted "BB Wives" alleging the show portrays African-American women negatively.

According to our sources, producers feel Williams' show-bashing is in violation of her contract -- which forbids cast members from doing any media appearances or press without approval, or speaking negatively about the show. We're told they feel she is "ruining the brand" they worked so hard to build.

Just months after getting engaged to his baby mama, NBA star Gilbert Arenas decided he wants to drop his lawsuit over her reality show "Basketball Wives: LA" -- but with one catch ... he can bring it back any time he sees fit.

If you recall ... the Grizzlies star filed a suit over the VH1 series -- which featured his then ex-girlfriend Laura Govan -- claiming the show and his ex had NO right to make money using his image without his permission.

Now the b-baller is changing his tune, asking the court to dismiss the suit -- coincidentally after his ex officially became his fiancée. But Arenas still wants to keep his right to bring it back whenever he wants, in case he feels exploited again ... or if ya know, the engagement goes south.

Shed Media -- the people behind "BB Wives" -- have fired back ... urging the court to dismiss the case permanently

Jennifer Williams' "face-slap" lawsuit is the giant shovel digging her reality TV grave ... TMZ has learned ... 'cause we're told "Basketball Wives" producers are PISSED!

Sources close to production tell TMZ ... Williams was already on thin ice with the show -- even before her slaptastic showdown with Nia Crooks -- but now that she has filed a lawsuit ... that ice is breaking FAST.

We're told producers think the suit is BS ... claiming Jennifer never had a problem with fighting before and insist this is a desperate publicity stunt to keep her storyline interesting -- securing her a place in season 5.

But a source tells us the stunt is not working, adding, "Filing broad lawsuits when you are as much to blame for the drama, is not the way to get your contract extended."

"Basketball Wives" star Nia Crooks has been charged with misdemeanor battery for pimp slappin' the taste out of Jennifer Williams' mouth back in January ... TMZ has learned.

A rep for the Broward County State's Attorney's Office tells us ... officials decided to file the charge on April 10 ... after Williams filed a criminal complaint.

If convicted, Nia faces up to a year in the slammer.

During the incident, which aired on last week's episode of "Basketball Wives" -- Nia can be heard threatening to slap Jennifer ... to which Jennifer replied, "I wish you would." Her wish was granted.

4:39 PM PST -- Nia's lawyer Marc David Seitles tells TMZ ... "We will vigorously defend Nia against these charges. The women on the show executed contracts expressly accepting the risk that a physical altercation could occur."

The lawyer adds, "Given that Jennifer herself has previously instigated fights on the show, to cry foul now is absurd and a desperate attempt for publicity and money. We will fight until Nia is vindicated."

Several "Basketball Wives" are adamantly refusing to tape the big upcoming reunion show next month, TMZ has learned -- and it's all because of the face-slap lawsuit Jennifer Williams filed against Nia Crooks.

As we reported, Jennifer is suing Nia for assault and battery over a January 21st incident at a race track in Florida -- when Nia slapped Williams in the side of the head after a nuclear argument (below). Jennifer says she was injured badly during the attack.

But according to sources at VH1, the castmates are convinced Jennifer's lawsuit was filed out of spite and desperation to dredge up drama around her character -- in the vain hope of securing a spot on the show next season. Our sources also think Jennifer's claim of emotional distress is BS because she never missed a day of shooting.

We're told several prominent castmembers have vowed to shun her completely ... refusing to even speak to Jennifer -- and are threatening not to attend the reunion show early next month if she attends.

And there's this -- the contract signed by the "Wives" castmates specifically states .... "Participant expressly assumes the risk of any physical or emotional injuries participant may suffer as a result of participant's participation in the project.""

"Basketball Wives" star Jennifer Williams is finally fighting back after being slapped in the face by her reality show nemesis Nia Crooks ... with a big, fat, stinging lawsuit.

TMZ broke the story ... Williams filed a police report after the January 21 incident, in which she claims Crooks delivered an "open hand" slap to the left side of her face during a group outing to a race track in Florida.

The incident was caught on tape by the "Basketball Wives" crew and aired last week. During the melee, Crooks threatened Williams right before the attack ... saying, "Do I need to slap you in the face to wake you up?"

Williams replied, "I wish you would." She got her wish.

Williams has now followed up with a civil suit in NY ... going after Nia's ass for assault and battery. In the docs, obtained by TMZ, Jennifer claims she suffered serious injuries in the attack ... as well as "mental shock, mental anguish and psychological trauma”

Williams is demanding Nia fork over a massive check for all of her medical expenses and other damages.

Dwight Howard's baby mama -- "Basketball Wives" star Royce Reed -- desperately wants the freedom to publicly trash talk her ex ... so she's asking a judge to lift the gag order that forces her to keep her mouth shut.

Royce had agreed to gag herself back in 2009 in her never-ending, bitter custody dispute with Dwight. But Reed now has a few things on her mind that she wants to share with anyone who will listen. Reading between the lines, here's what she wants to say:

-- Dwight is not morally fit to have custody of their son
-- Dwight's mental state is sketchy
-- Dwight has funny substances laying around the house the kid shouldn't see
-- And she has other horrible things she wants to say about Dwight

Mind you, those are just allegations, but she wants to file legal docs making these allegations and she wants the documents available to the public.

The act of "making it rain" is usually one reserved for the male of our species -- but last night in Miami, "Basketball Wives" star Evelyn Lozada proved the women can do it too!

Lozada was hosting an event at G5 Strip Club. We're told the girls kept coming to Evelyn to dance for her and even gave the soon-to-be Mrs. Chad Ochocinco a few dance moves.

According to our sources, Evelyn dropped around $2,000 ... one George Washington at a time.

"Basketball Wives" star Kenya Bell spent $110,000 on plastic surgery and surgery-related expenses -- this according to her estranged husband ... who's now trying to prove she's completely reckless with her money.

It's the latest in the couple's divorce battle -- Kenya filed docs complaining her basketball-playing husband Charlie Bell has been shopping at Louis Vuitton in Paris ... while she struggles to provide for their children.

Charlie fired back with an explosive response -- listing off ALL the ways Kenya has allegedly squandered hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years ... and it's wild.

According to the docs, Kenya spent ...

-- $82,000 on a Corvette, which she drove for 3 weeks -- then resold it for $61,000
-- $12,000 on a motorcycle
-- $20,000 on criminal attorneys
-- $150,000 on "miscellaneous expenses to get even with Mr. Bell"
-- $3,000 on her brother's electric bill
-- $9,000 on luggage and shoes
-- and $110,000 on plastic surgeries and expenses in L.A. for the plastic surgery trips

Charlie -- who currently plays pro ball in Italy -- also claims he gave Kenya $200,000 before leaving for Europe ... so he wants the court to deny her request for him to set aside a large chunk of his money for support.

"Basketball Wives" star Tami Roman signed an endorsement deal with a line of hair extensions in which she promised to feature the product on her show -- but a new lawsuit claims she not only didn't deliver on that promise ... but she featured her own hair line on the show instead!

According to a lawsuit filed earlier this month in Texas, Roman agreed to become a spokesperson for Crème De La Crème Hair. In the lawsuit, Crème says part of the deal called for Roman to "have an appearance on VH1's 'Basketball Wives' where she will discuss her hair line with the [Crème's] owners."

But according to Crème, Tami bailed on every attempt they made to coordinate their appearance on the show.

The final straw for Crème came last month when Roman was supposed to promote Crème at a hair show in Atlanta. They claim Roman showed up as planned with a "BB Wives" film crew ... but was there promoting her OWN line of hair in competition with Crème. They also claim Tami's manager instructed the crew not to film anything Crème.

Crème is suing for damages in excess of $75,000 and they want the footage shot for "BB Wives" pulled from the show unless it's edited to feature them.

The mother of NBA star Dwight Howard's son wants the judge in their custody case removed stat ... because she claims he has it out for women who have children out of wedlock with NBA stars.

Royce Reed is battling Dwight in court in an effort to retain primary custody of their son. Dwight filed docs earlier this month to try and wrangle custody from her ... claiming she interferes with his relationship with their son and makes it difficult for him to see the boy on his scheduled days.

The "Basketball Wives" star came back this week with a motion of her own ... to have Judge Tim Shea taken off the case. She claims he has a bias against baby mamas and she fears he may side with Dwight because he's a local celebrity.

In her filing, Reed claims Shea wouldn't let her present her side during a court hearing last month. Reed's lawyer also filed an affidavit saying that during the hearing, Judge Shea said he would award Howard custody, then decided to delay his decision ... despite the fact no evidence had been presented.

Reed also claims there might be a conflict of interest since Shea's own website lists one of Howard's lawyers, Mayanne Downs, as one of his endorsers (see below).

Reed pleads in the docs, "I am afraid if Judge Shea continues to preside over this case, I will lose custody of my son."

Chad Ochocinco and Evelyn Lozada have signed their deal to do a "Basketball Wives" spinoff show with VH1 ... and they each have 300,000 reasons to celebrate ... TMZ has learned.

According to our sources, filming on the new show will begin in the next few weeks, right after taping for "Wives" ends. We're told the show will focus on the couple as they get ready to exchange vows this summer.

Our sources say negotiations finally wrapped last week and the two will each take home $300,000 for about two months of work.

As TMZ first reported, when Evelyn re-upped her contract with "Basketball Wives" last year, part of the deal called for VH1 to give her and Chad their own show.

"Basketball Wives" star Kenya Bell is finding out ... a marriage just can't hold up when you attack your husband with a box cutter -- because the guy just filed for divorce.

Former NBA'er Charlie Bell filed the papers in Michigan Court -- claiming there was a breakdown in the marriage (no duh).

Kenya -- presumably separated from Charlie at the time -- was famously arrested in May 2011, after allegedly breaking into the couple's home and attacking Charlie with a box cutter in front of their children.

Kenya was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and domestic violence -- but struck a plea deal in which she avoided jail time ... pleading guilty to misdemeanor domestic violence.

Calls to Kenya were not returned.