Celebrity Divorce

Nikki Bella is lawyering up, Brad Pitt is making a big debut and Ricky Pearsall is recovering from a gunshot wound ... all this on today's TMZ TV Hot Takes.

First up on "TMZ Live," Harvey and Babcock explain why Nikki may be pulling the plug on her marriage to Artem Chigvintsev any day now ... because she's on the hunt for a divorce lawyer in the wake of her husband's arrest for domestic violence.

Cardi B and Offset put on a friendly front at their son Wave's birthday bash this weekend ... but TMZ has learned the rappers are still very much broken up.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... Cardi and Offset's divorce is still on and moving forward, despite their recent reunion at DreamWorks Water Park inside American Dream in East Rutherford, NJ.

We're told the divorce remains an amicable one ... which is why they're OK being in the same space while celebrating their children -- including daughter Kulture, son Wave, and an unborn little one on the way.

Nikki Bella is on the hunt for a divorce lawyer ... TMZ has learned.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... Nikki has been making calls since Friday, and we're told her intention is to file to end her marriage to Artem Chigvintsev.

Nikki began the search a day after Artem allegedly attacked her, resulting in some physical injury that triggered his arrest for felony domestic violence.

If Jennifer Lopez is upset that her marriage to Ben Affleck crashed and burned, you sure wouldn’t know it from her latest Instagram post ... ‘cause she looks like one happy camper!

J Lo posted a series of IG photos Saturday, showing her enjoying her life immensely this Labor Day weekend.

The images include shots of J Lo modeling her shapely body in bathing suits, licking an ice cream cone at a counter and taking a smiling selfie with a friend.

Cardi B doesn't hold any grudges against Offset, or at least she's not showing it, because the 2 reunited over the weekend for a special occasion.

Cardi and Offset hosted their now 3-year-old son's birthday party at DreamWorks Water Park inside American Dream in East Rutherford, NJ. It looks super amicable ... Cardi's dancing as she holds Wave.

She also posted a video of Offset bending down so he could see Wave eye-to-eye as they danced.

Jennifer Lopez's feeling just fine after filing for divorce, cross her heart ... just like the fabric of the tight white top she wore in her first public appearance.

The singer-songwriter stepped out in Los Angeles Friday wearing a form-fitting white top, cut out at the chest and a pair of jeans ... accessorizing with a Fort Knox worth of gold and jewels on her hands.

Interestingly, J Lo's still wearing a ring on THAT finger ... though it ain't the one with the huge green gem Ben Affleck gave her back when they got married.

Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright were back on the set Friday of Bravo's "The Valley" just days after she filed for divorce ... and you could cut the tension with a knife!

As TMZ previously reported ... Jax was served the docs from his estranged wife, BC, while filming the new season of the reality show Tuesday -- awkward!

And, we just so happened to get a great view of production back underway Friday ... and from the looks of what we saw, the couple was keeping their distance ... both in very different moods.

Judge Greg Mathis is going through it ... hot on the heels of his wife Linda rushing to court to pull the plug on their 39-year marriage.

The TV judge opened up to TMZ at LAX Friday ... making it loud and clear that divorce isn’t what he wants -- adding he's doing everything he can to turn things around and win Linda back while they’re still under the same roof, hoping she’ll have a change of heart.

He admits not making Linda his top priority during his career led to their downfall ... and gives some sound advice to other men on how to avoid the same fate -- which you can check out in the vid.

Joey Lawrence went on his "Brotherly Love" podcast Friday to offer perspective on recent rumors about his personal life -- making it clear his primary concern is how that's affecting his 3 daughters, particularly his youngest.

The actor was pretty somber as he reluctantly addressed the drama surrounding his current divorce from Samantha Cope, who he's been married to for the past 2 years.

Samantha filed for divorce earlier this month ... listing June as their separation date... and asking for sole physical custody of their baby daughter.

Angelina Jolie is feeling like Kurt Russell -- she's planning her escape from L.A. ... but she's gotta wait a couple years to leave ... because of the Brad Pitt divorce.

The daughter of actors Jon Voight and Marcheline Bertrand, Angelina grew up in Los Angeles ... but now she's counting the days until she's finally able to move ... and it sounds like she's getting as far away as she can.

Angelina tells The Hollywood Reporter in a newly published interview ... she's only living in L.A. because she has to be there as a result of her divorce, and she's bouncing as soon as her and Brad's 16-year-old twins, Vivienne and Knox, turn 18.

Leah Remini's officially filed to divorce her husband ... and, it looks like she's taking cues from her on-again, off-again friend Jennifer Lopez -- 'cause she did it sans lawyer.

The actress filed the documents late Thursday night ... citing irreconcilable differences as the reason she and Angelo Pagán are calling it quits after more than 2 decades of marriage.

LR listed the date of separation as August 1 and checked the box to block the court's ability to award either of them spousal support. While the 2 share a daughter, Sofia, she turned 20 in June ... so no question of child support.

Leah Remini says she and her husband are waving the white flag on their marriage ... deciding a divorce is in their best interest.

The actress announced Thursday she and her actor husband, Angelo Pagán, are getting divorced after 28 years together and 21 years of marriage.

Leah says a lot of thought and care went into their decision to pull the plug ... and she says they realized they had changed as individuals and they're tired of playing roles that don't fit them anymore.

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck's divorce judge has a family connection to both of them, Alexis Bellino has a wedding to plan, and Tom Brady has some TV restrictions ... all this on today's TMZ TV Hot Takes.

First up on "TMZ Live," Harvey and Babcock break down the six degrees of separation between J Lo, Ben, Alex Rodriguez and the judge overseeing the Bennifer divorce.

Joey Lawrence got back on his feet days after the date his estranged wife says they separated ... hitting the dancefloor with Melina Alves just one week later.

The actor and the screenwriter -- whose alleged relationship has been heavily scrutinized recently -- hit Añejo Cantina and Grill, a Mexican food restaurant in Sherman Oaks, back in June ... and, TMZ's obtained video of their flirty interactions.

Check out the clip ... Joey and Melina hit the dancefloor, showing off their fancy footwork before locking in an embrace while swaying to the beat.

1:21 PM PT -- Samantha Cope tells TMZ … "As a mother who values her daughter above all else, I find these false accusations deeply troubling. I am confident that the truth is known to me, to Joey, and to God."

"I am choosing to put my focus on healing, caring for my daughter, and processing the loss of my marriage and my family."

Joey Lawrence is clearing up rumors about his alleged affair, saying he and Melina Alves never hooked up on set of their Hallmark movie ... and he's diving deeper into why his marriage ended.

The actor shared a statement on his Instagram mere moments ago ... telling fans he and Alves -- a woman whose husband accused the two of having an affair -- didn't have a physical relationship while working on the movie "Socked In For Christmas," as some have speculated.

JL says the two certainly shared a bond, but it was based only on shared experiences and mutual understanding ... and, definitely not physical intimacy.

The judge overseeing Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck's messy and complicated divorce has a family connection to both celebs, plus one of J Lo's famous exes ... but he's shrugging off concerns of a possible conflict of interest.

It's really incredible -- and just goes to illustrate Hollywood's tangled web -- but the judge assigned to Bennifer's divorce, Bradley S. Phillips, has a son-in-law who freaking works as an agent for not only Ben, but also Alex Rodriguez!!!

In new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Judge Phillips discloses his son-in-law is Strand Conover ... a partner and agent at WME, the talent agency that reps both Ben and A-Rod.