Fairly Legal

Two people directly connected to Jessica Simpson have spoken with 2 divorce lawyers in the last 2 months ... specifically about Jessica's marriage to Eric Johnson ... TMZ has learned.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... late last month someone close to Jessica went to a Los Angeles divorce attorney and said Jessica was unhappy in her marriage and wanted to arrange a meeting with the attorney and Simpson. We do not know if this was done at Jessica's behest, but we're told the message to the lawyer was clear. We're also told up to this point Jessica has not made contact with the lawyer.

And, we've learned someone on Jessica's team made contact with another Los Angeles divorce lawyer regarding matters that were divorce-related. Again, so far we're told there has been no follow-through.

Kristin Chenoweth is standing by her prayers for Diddy ... even though the rapper is currently in federal detention, awaiting trial on racketeering and sex trafficking charges.

We caught up with the Broadway legend in New York City and asked her if she is still keeping Diddy in her thoughts ... given the gravity of the charges brought against him in September.

Per Kristin, she's "still praying" for Diddy ... but acknowledged the case against the Bad Boy Records founder is "really bad."

Issa Rae’s getting her fandom to hit the books -- especially since Georgia State University College of Law is now offering a whole course breaking down the business and legal side of her life.

The actress gave TMZ the scoop on "The Legal Life of Issa Rae" course, a deep dive into the behind-the-scenes magic that’s fueled her entertainment success -- and she tells us if you're curious about any part of the biz, that’s the class to sign up for.

The course also breaks down Issa’s real-world contracts, giving students a chance to study how those deals go down and what an entertainment lawyer really does -- all thanks to the institution's law professor Moraima "Mo" Ivory, who created the course.

Teddi Mellencamp isn't alone as she navigates her newly minted single status ... best friend Kyle Richards is offering up plenty of advice during this trying time.

The "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star made it clear she's standing by her BFF and former costar after John Mellencamp's daughter filed for divorce after 13 years of marriage last week.

While chatting with E! News, Kyle, who is currently separated from husband Mauricio Umansky, said she "wasn't surprised" by her pal's marriage coming to an end ... though, she was "sad" to learn the update.

Jordan Chiles' fight to keep her Olympic bronze is far from over ... with the Team USA star breaking down in tears over the controversy -- saying the medal is rightfully hers.

The 23-year-old was deeply emotional in an interview with Hoda Kotb on "Today" ... revisiting how officials claimed her coach's appeal was submitted four seconds late, despite footage appearing to show otherwise.

Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu was reinstated to third place and awarded the bronze medal ... and even though four months have passed, the matter is clearly still affecting Chiles.

Diddy's family is remaining committed to one another while the music superproducer is locked up ... with his baby mother Dana Tran, his daughter Love and his son Christian showing support to Diddy's twin daughters, Jessie and D'Lila.

Tran brought two-year-old Love to the game Friday night ... with the baby girl outfitted in a blue varsity jacket bearing her name and her birth year -- '22. Love's already camera-ready, pointing at the photogs at the game.

Dana's got her own varsity jacket -- a forest green one -- on ... and, she flashed a smile too-- keeping her spirits up while the father of her daughter deals with his legal troubles.

Rita Ora could barely contain her grief while tributing Liam Payne at MTV's European Music Awards Sunday ... choking up as she lauded her late pal for his positive personality.

The singer-songwriter -- who hosted the show in Manchester, England -- took the stage during one break and highlighted Liam, who passed away after falling from a hotel balcony last month.

Rita starts out by saying the team behind the EMAs just wanted to take a minute to remember Liam ... a great friend to MTV and her personally.

Diddy's lawyers say they've received a trove of discovery material from the government over the past 6 weeks — and they’re going after the federal prosecutors' assertion there's a possible second victim.

According to legal docs filed Friday and obtained by TMZ, Diddy's attorneys attacked the government's claim there was a potential second victim of Diddy's alleged sex trafficking operation.

As you know, the original indictment pointed specifically to one unnamed victim, who seems to be his ex-girlfriend, Cassie, based on the allegations. The feds charged Diddy with racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution.

Peanut the squirrel might just get justice after all ... as authorities are investigating a raid that resulted in the tragic death of the beloved social media star, TMZ has confirmed.

Mark Longo, Peanut's owner, tells TMZ ... he has been made aware that the Department of Environmental Conservation is conducting an “internal investigation” into why 2 of his pets were seized  -- and later killed -- from his Pine City home.

ML tells us he does not know too much at this point ... but he is expecting to hear more on Saturday about just what the heck is going on.

Diddy's once again trying to get out of jail while awaiting his trial ... filing a new motion on Friday asking for bail -- and pointing to cases where his lawyers claim defendants facing similar charges were released.

According to the legal docs, obtained by TMZ, the music mogul's lawyers say Diddy's offering a comprehensive bail package -- complete with a $50 million bond and basically round-the-clock surveillance to ensure he doesn't try to flee the country or intimidate witnesses.

It's a similar argument to the one they made back in September when his bail was shot down twice. But, the attorneys cite other cases where they say defendants accused of similar crimes were allowed to post bail while awaiting trial.

Lil Durk was charged with 2 additional felony counts in his murder-for-hire plot on Friday ... the Chicago rap star is being accused of conspiracy and using interstate facilities to assist in the assassination of Quando Rondo's cousin.

Feds outlined the new charges and are essentially treating Durk as the kingpin of the operation in a superseding federal grand jury indictment.

Durk and his 5 co-defendants have yet to enter a plea ... the charges are stemming from the August 2022 shooting outside a Los Angeles gas station close to the Beverly Center shopping mall.

Teddi Mellencamp's soon-to-be ex-husband is responding to her recent divorce petition ... and, he's specifically saying they've got a prenup he wants the court to enforce.

Edwin Arroyave filed a response to Teddi's divorce petition in Los Angeles Friday ... listing the date of separation as November 1 despite Teddi's claim they split on October 20.

Arroyave is also claiming there’s a premarital agreement in place ... which he wants to be enforced when it comes time to divvy up the assets.

Plies filed an explosive lawsuit yesterday accusing Megan Thee Stallion, GloRilla, Cardi B and Soulja Boy of infringing on one of his catalog cuts ... his attorney says its arrival right after the election was just a coincidence!!!

TMZ Hip Hop spoke to Walter Mosley, Esq., on Thursday about his representation of Plies in the suit centered around the Florida rapper's 2008 song "Me & My Goons."

There's since been a new challenger approaching the conversation ... Megan's "Wanna Be" producer LilJuMadeDaBeat lashed out at the lawsuit, claiming his squad sampled Soujla Boy fair and square.

Big break in Liam Payne's death investigation -- Buenos Aires authorities have charged 3 people they believe were involved ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us the 3 people were charged Thursday, and at least one of the suspects worked at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel, where Liam died.

We're told one suspect is described as a "friend" who was in Liam's hotel room with him, but left him there at some point before he died. That suspect has been charged with abandonment of a person before death.

Artem Chigvintsev says he's more than just a 'DWTS' alum, he's also a DIY guy at heart ... pushing back on some nasty things his estranged wife says about him.

Here's the deal ... in a restraining order Nikki Garcia (Bella) filed against Artem last month, she claimed he got cut from the upcoming "Dancing with the Stars" season a week before his domestic violence arrest and started working a construction job she says he felt "was beneath him."

But Artem's firing back in new legal docs ... saying Nikki is lying about his opinion on construction work.

Tekashi 6ix9ine may have to sit in jail for another month ... 'cause the federal government is recommending he serve 30 days for violating the terms of his supervised release.

According to new documents obtained by TMZ ... the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York says Tekashi will appear in court next week and admit to the violations the government has charged him with.

In terms of punishment, the U.S. Attorney will recommend he immediately head back to jail for 30 days. Once out, they will want Tekashi to begin another year of supervised release.