Crime

Erik Menéndez hasn't held back on his negative reaction to Ryan Murphy's new Netflix biopic series about him and his brother Lyle -- but the actor who plays him says it was all love behind the scenes.

Cooper Koch said when he rolled up to San Diego’s Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility with Kim Kardashian to meet the Menendez bros last week, he dove right in to hug Erik and Lyle -- describing them as "upstanding" individuals and saying it was an amazing experience to be in their company.

Cooper told Variety the instant vibe between him and Erik was sparked by a phone call they had before meeting up ... saying he reassured Erik he was all about portraying him authentically in "Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story."

Huge news in the Diddy criminal case ... he's chomping at the bit to defend himself in a federal courtroom ... and he will take the witness stand to tell his story.

Diddy's attorney, Marc Agnifilo, appears in a new TMZ Studios documentary -- "The Downfall of Diddy: The Indictment" -- which is dropping soon on Tubi ... and he tells us Diddy can't wait to testify in court.

It's a risky move ... Diddy's going to be able to tell his side of things, but he's also going to be cross-examined ... and obvious topics include the Cassie beating video, the famous "freak off" parties and accusations he blew up a car belonging to one of Cassie's exes.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams is now facing federal criminal charges, after a grand jury indictment ... TMZ has confirmed.

Adams, now the first NYC mayor to ever be charged while in office, is planning to surrender next week, according to the NY Post. The charges, which are currently sealed, are in connection with a federal probe, and the indictment is expected to be unsealed Thursday morning.

Adams told the NY Post, "I always knew that if I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a target -- and a target I became. If I am charged, I am innocent, and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit."

A man was shot and killed by officers after police say he was seen repeatedly stabbing his mother on a SoCal residential street ... with the whole chaotic scene caught on video.

The Irvine Police Department released body cam footage of an officer-involved shooting last month ... when they say they shot and killed a 37-year-old man named Paul Montazer.

In the video, two officers arrive on scene -- guns pointed at a man crouched over the body of a woman on a sidewalk. One of the officers says into his radio the man's actively stabbing her ... before yelling at him to put his knife down.

Suge Knight is warning Diddy ... he better watch his back in the can, because other inmates are likely plotting against him.

The former Death Row Records exec spoke with NewsNation's "CUOMO" from prison about his longtime rival, saying Diddy has a target on his back.

Suge says prison and jail are inherently dangerous environments for anyone -- famous or not -- and there are inmates in there who want to harm Diddy to make a name for themselves, or prove themselves.

5:15 PM PT -- The State of Missouri followed through with the execution by lethal injection, and Marcellus Williams was pronounced dead at 6:10 PM CT.

Busta Rhymes is going to bat for a Missouri man who's scheduled to be executed later today -- but hip hop's Dungeon Dragon insists the state's ignoring evidence as time runs out.

TMZ Hip Hop obtained video of Busta's PSA on behalf of Marcellus Williams, the inmate whose life is at the mercy of Gov. Mike Parson ... who could still issue a stay of execution. However, he recently rejected the inmate's clemency request for life in prison.

Busta passionately argues the DNA evidence prosecutors later discovered should be more than enough to vacate Williams' execution, and facts -- not politics -- should guide Gov. Parson to seek justice.

Diddy is being sued for rape and now his latest accuser and her attorney, Gloria Allred, are speaking out against the music mogul.

Gloria and Diddy's accuser, Thalia Graves, held a news conference Tuesday in L.A. ... just hours after she filed a lawsuit against Diddy, alleging he raped her back in 2001 at the Bad Boy Records studio in New York City.

She almost immediately started sobbing as she told the media about the trauma -- physical and mental -- she says she's suffered since the alleged rape.

TMZ broke the story ... Graves claims she was 25 years old and dating one of Diddy's Bad Boy executives in '01 when Diddy lured her to his personal lounge, and office and raped her on a pool table after slipping something in her drink that altered her consciousness.

Diddy and a friend viciously raped a woman at the Bad Boy Records studio in New York City, and recorded the sexual abuse on video ... at least according to a new lawsuit.

A woman named Thalia Graves is suing Diddy, claiming she's had suicidal thoughts since Diddy and his head of security Joseph Sherman violently raped her back in 2001 ... according to new legal docs obtained by TMZ.

In her suit, Graves claims she was 25 years old and dating one of Diddy's employees when he lured her into a meeting with him and Sherman alone, where she says they sequestered her and gave her a drink "likely laced with a drug that eventually caused her briefly to lose consciousness."

The son of Ryan Routh -- the alleged would-be Donald Trump assassin -- has been arrested for possession of child pornography.

TMZ got their hands on the court docs ... revealing Oran Routh was taken into custody after investigators say they found hundreds of child pornography files during a search of his Guilford County, North Carolina home Saturday.

The search was "in connection with an investigation unrelated to child exploitation" -- and a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Carolina told ABC News the unrelated investigation was linked to his dad, Ryan, who’s still locked up without bond awaiting his trial.

Janet Jackson is not reversing course on Kamala Harris, Kim Kardashian is meeting with the Menéndez brothers, and LeBron James is showing off some new ink ... all this on today's TMZ TV Hot Takes.

First up on "TMV Live," Harvey and Charles explain why Janet is not walking back her comments about Harris' racial background.

Diddy's arrest and subsequent indictment are bringing a renewed look at some of his famous White Parties from back in the day in the Hamptons ... where the champagne flowed and women lost their tops.

Check out these images from Diddy's White Parties in 1998 and 1999, which he hosted over Labor Day Weekend in the Hamptons.

Diddy's lording over the event from above in one striking image ... and spraying champagne on a couple of topless women in another shot.

The trial of Young Dolph's alleged murderers is off to a bombshell start, as one of the accused shooters confessed on the stand, and even implicated his co-defendant.

While testifying Monday, Cornelius Smith admitted he was indeed the man seen firing the semi-automatic weapon in the November 2021 surveillance footage that captured the Memphis rap superstar's murder.

According to Smith, he had no emotions at the time he took Dolph's life, he was simply attempting to line his pockets with cash -- $100,000 to be exact, paid by Yo Gotti's now deceased brother Big Jook, who, himself was murdered in January.

Bam Margera's sobriety journey is set to get back on track after authorities say he violated his probation last week ... he's still locked up and has been ordered to undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation.

Prosecutors tell TMZ ... the "Jackass" star appeared in a Chester County court on Monday, where he faced the music over an alleged probation violation. We're told his wife, Dannii Marie, was in the the courtroom ... though, no other family members were present.

Bam's lawyer Michael T. Van Der Veen tells us Margera is still incarcerated following his arrest and has been ordered to receive an addiction evaluation tomorrow before returning to the Justice Center Wednesday for a follow-up hearing.

Romeo Miller says Diddy will have his day of reckoning -- in court and with God -- but adds the youth should be taking notes ... on what not to do with the clout you create!!!

TMZ Hip Hop linked with Romeo out in WeHo this week and the prince of No Limit Records did something rare in showbiz these days -- he actually discussed Diddy's sex trafficking case in public.

The feds put Diddy in handcuffs last week in a NYC hotel, and Romeo wants young people to use the shocking scene as a teachable moment.

Usher's hitting back hard, saying "No, No, No!" to those speculating he’s hiding something in the wake of his former mentor Diddy's arrest ... especially after his X posts mysteriously vanished over the weekend.

The singer had an explanation for the social media wipeout ... writing on the platform Sunday evening, "Account got hacked and damn y'all ran with it! 😂😂😂."

Usher sidestepped the Diddy drama but seemed to make it clear he’s got nothing to hide. He wrapped up the post by promoting his next show, saying, "See you tonight at Intuit Dome✌🏽👀✌🏽."

Four people have been killed and 17 injured after gunfire erupted in an entertainment district in Birmingham, Alabama over the weekend ... local police have confirmed.

Authorities say they are actively working to identify multiple shooters following the chaos in the Five Points South neighborhood Saturday ... which left Anitra Holloman, 21; Tahj Booker, 27; Carlos McCain, 27; and Roderick Lynn Patterson Jr., 26; deceased.

The shooting took place on the sidewalk outside Hush, a popular hookah and cigar lounge ... where authorities say a vehicle pulled up next to the venue, and several shooters got out and unloaded "fully automatic" weapons on the crowd.