Gossip / Rumors

Justin Bieber is adamant he did NOT drop the N-word on a new song ... despite multiple reports to the contrary ... and his camp tells TMZ the whole thing was a cruel hoax.

Justin's camp tells TMZ ... someone went to YouTube and created a fake account which looked very similar to Bieber's REAL YouTube account.

We're told the hoaxer then uploaded a song called, "What She Wants (Official) 2013" ... which featured a singer that sounds like Bieber dropping the N-word in one of the lyrics.

The story was picked up by multiple media outlets.

But we're told Bieber had NOTHING to do with the song and has since launched his record label's legal team to have the song wiped from the Internet.

The video has since been removed from YouTube ... and we're told the song that was originally posted was actually a song from an artist named Khalil Underwood.

The identity of the hoaxer is still unknown.

NBA player Royce White -- who famously missed his rookie season with the Houston Rockets due to mental health issues -- is at the center of a criminal investigation in Texas after allegedly beating up his then-girlfriend ... TMZ has learned.

We know ... White's ex-girlfriend Tania Mehra -- a Maxim model -- filed a police report on August 30 to report an incident that went down at Royce's Houston-area home back in June.

According to law enforcement, records show someone called 911 on June 22, 2013 to report a laceration above Tania's right eye. Cops say at the time, Tania claimed she suffered the injury from an "accidental fall."

But Tania changed her tune last week ... and filed an incident report in which she claims she LIED on the night of the incident -- and says in reality, Royce is to blame for her injury.

Cops tell TMZ, "The victim said she had lied earlier because the suspect played for the NBA and did not want the incident to damage his career."

Law enforcement also tells us, "The victim stated that White had assaulted her after she became angered by his advances toward her friend."

Cops say the incident is "under investigation" -- and so far, no charges have been filed against the 22-year-old NBA player.

Sources connected to the investigation tell us ... Tania claims Royce also grabbed a candleholder and threw at at her during the altercation ... but it missed, instead smashing into a mirror and causing it to shatter.

We've reached out to White's reps for comment -- so far, no word back.

FYI -- White was famously profiled on an episode of HBO's "Real Sports" in a segment that chronicled his battles with OCD and anxiety disorder.

He ain't just into S&M, "Fifty Shades of Grey" star Charlie Hunnam is also into THC ... at least judging by the guy's wardrobe.

Hunnam was spotted at LAX wearing an Alternative Herbal Health Services shirt ... a popular marijuana dispensary in West Hollywood that has a marijuana vending machine and sells weed soda ... seriously.

Fun Fact -- Charlie once sparked a bowl for Snoop Lion during an Internet show (scroll to 11:38).

Michael Douglas is still sporting his wedding ring ... and wants everyone to know he's STILL MARRIED to Catherine Zeta-Jones, despite reports he split from his wife.

Douglas was in Berlin over the weekend for the premiere of his movie "Behind the Candelabra" ... when a reporter asked him why he was still wearing a ring on his wedding finger.

Michael's response -- "I'm married."

Just last week, reports surfaced that Douglas and Zeta-Jones were taking a break after 13 years together ... and the break was, in part, due to the stress from Douglas' battle with cancer and Catherine's struggle with bipolar disorder.

Disney is none too pleased that TMZ got the cast list of "Dancing With the Stars," because we've learned the head of security has launched an investigation to find the leak.

The Mouse House apparently was not amused when we told you Valerie Harper, Leah Remini, Snooki, Elizabeth Berkley, Amber Riley and others will be appearing in the upcoming season. We're told security will start interviewing staffers tomorrow to find the alleged mole.

So we're guessing this won't make Mickey's parents happy ... we found out Tristin McMannis will be Valerie's partner. What's more ... we're told Valerie -- who has been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer but is in remission -- is rehearsing like a champ and is getting no special breaks.

Sportin' a fresh suit, some fancy shoes and a bachelor mind-set, Michael Douglas caught a flight in France yesterday ... just days after reports surfaced that he separated from his wife.

68-year-old Douglas and 43-year-old Catherine Zeta-Jones haven't been photographed together since April -- fueling speculation the two are calling it quits on their 13-year marriage.

As for Catherine, she's reportedly been hangin' in New York with the couple's 2 kids.

No word on where Douglas was headed yesterday -- but that's a pimp suit, right?

Lamar Odom is not the only basketball player who was high on drugs during the season -- not by a long shot, TMZ has learned.

Multiple NBA-connected sources tell TMZ ... the big problem is that the league is only allowed to test players 4 times during a season. Because testing is randomized, the last test can be administered as early as January, and the season lasts for months thereafter. As one recently-retired NBA player put it, after the 4th test, "It's like Christmas Day. We can take whatever we want."

One NBA-connected source says pot is "ubiquitous" in the sport. The source adds, however, that most athletes who indulge do so in moderation so it doesn't have a perceptible impact on their performance. An NBA rep tells us ... weed is not only prevalent, it's hardly hidden -- he says the hotel rooms where the players stay, and even the halls, have the telltale smell.

The players we've spoken with all agree ... pot is prevalent. But some of the players say Lean -- Sprite and Codeine cough syrup -- has become a recreational drug of choice during the season. One player said it was even used during the recent playoffs.

One current and famous player tells TMZ, he estimates 30% of his fellow NBAers use hard drugs -- including Molly, Ecstasy, and Lean -- at some point during the season. He says he's never been aware of anyone doing cocaine during the season.

Another current and famous player tells us he estimates only 10% of NBA players use hard drugs, and no one uses cocaine during the season -- it's too risky. He also says Lean is a drug of choice.

An NBA source agrees -- he estimates 10-15% of the players use hard drugs during the season.

One NBA insider believes the drug use problem has gotten better over the last 5 years because of social media. He says players have been burned because pictures of them doing things they shouldn't be show up on Instagram and Facebook, and it's inhibited them.

Sean Kingston now says he WASN'T drunk when he got behind the wheel of his Lamborghini and roared down Sunset Blvd. Tuesday night, claiming he doesn't drink when he hits the clubs.

Kingston just went off on Twitter ... reacting to the TMZ video we posted this morning, which shows Kingston hopping into his Lambo, confessing he had "too much drinks" to answer our questions.

Kingston wrote, "For the record @TMZ I’m not 1 of these artist who u may think is living youngwild and free in Hollywood i care about my reputation and brand."

Must be a brand new policy ... considering he was so drunk at Playhouse just a couple months ago he got out of the driver's seat because he didn't want to get a DUI.

Lamar Odom would rather order tacos than answer questions about his crack problem ... and we don't blame him ... his order sounds delicious.

The NBA star was making a munchies run moments ago, hitting up a Taco Bell drive-thru near his and Khloe's Tarzana home ... and proudly displaying his wedding ring ... when he was pelted with questions about his drug addiction.

Lamar wasn't feeling talkative, but he did manage to complete his order ... laughing in the process.

It's a good sign Odom has stopped smoking crack -- at least temporarily -- because one does not typically make food runs while zonked.

As we reported, Lamar has returned home after going MIA for several days and is now listening to his wife Khloe's advice, though he's still undecided about seeking treatment for his crack cocaine problem.

Fun fact: the famous Taco Bell chihuahua died in 2009. R.I.P.

Lamar Odom has finally returned home ... with Khloe Kardashian ... but he remains undecided about seeking treatment for drug addiction, TMZ has learned.

Odom returned to his L.A. pad Monday after going off the grid for several days. Sources tell us both Lamar and Khloe are inside the home and addressing some serious issues, including Lamar's out-of-control crack problem.

We're told there's still no talk of divorce -- and Khloe is determined to help Lamar get his life back on track.

One source tells us Lamar is "open to reason and listening to the people who love him the most" ... a drastic change from a week ago, when L.O. rejected an attempted intervention.

We're told no decision has been made on possible treatment, but Lamar is "receptive."

Lamar seemed to be in good spirits Monday night -- when he was spotted out on a gas run near the home and stopped to pose for a photo with a young fan.

We know ... several of Lamar's NBA friends have tried to reach out to him, but it seems for the most part, L.O. is keeping to himself.

Khloe Kardashian hasn't given up on her marriage to Lamar Odom ... at least publicly ... because she's still wearing her wedding ring.

Khloe was on her way out of a medical building in L.A. Monday when the photo was taken -- and while it's obvious she was trying to hide her face, she was clearly NOT trying to hide her symbolic commitment to her husband.

Lamar Odom was deep into drugs while he was playing for the Dallas Mavericks and there is evidence he was doing the exact same thing while playing for the Lakers ... TMZ has learned.

Sources connected to a Westin hotel in Memphis tell TMZ ... in March of 2012, shortly before Lamar was cut from the Mavs, he stayed in one of the guest rooms while his team was in town playing the Grizzlies.

Our sources say when Lamar left, hotel employees found major carpet damage ... including quarter-sized burn marks. The damage was so bad, the hotel had to replace the carpeting in the room.

Our sources say hotel employees also found white powder on the desk blotter and the room reeked of noxious smoke. Our sources say it was obvious there was serious drug use going on in the hotel room.

The Westin is one of numerous hotels where NBA players stay when they're on the road. TMZ has contacted a number of these hotels in various cities. We've learned from several hotel employees ... they had complained about the state of the rooms when Lamar left -- similar to what happened in Memphis -- and this was while he was playing for the Lakers.

Our sources say no one on the Mavs knew Lamar was a substance abuser while he was on the team, but everyone knew something was seriously wrong with him.

We're told that during at least part of the time he was playing for the Mavs, Lamar was smoking Oxycontin and cocaine.

Odom's problems were so severe, he was cut from the Mavs mid-season and paid in full just so he would go away.

TMZ broke the story ... the drug use escalated to crack -- and we're told Lamar's level of crack use is now alarming and life-threatening.

Tami Erin -- the actress who played Pippi Longstocking in the 1988 movie -- insists she had nothing to do with her sex tape being shopped around town ... in fact, she tells TMZ Live, she'll stop at nothing to make sure it NEVER gets released.

39-year-old Erin called in moments ago and she was irate -- blaming a bitter ex-boyfriend for attempting to sell a private hardcore sex tape to the media.

She said, "I think he's the biggest piece of sh*t on the planet for doing this to me."

As for any sex tape deal, Erin says she has not been approached about selling the tape, which is good ... because in order for a company to release this kind of footage, it would need Erin's permission.

She sounds really angry ... and we're not calling BS ... but we do want to point out that Erin's not exactly averse to public displays of sexuality, posting photos like these on Twitter over the last couple months. Nice bod.

10:00 AM PT -- A rep for the NYPD tells us ... cops have spoken with both the photog and Alec who each admit pushing and shoving each other.

We're told both parties ultimately decided to walk away from the situation without pursuing charges.

So ... case closed.

Alec Baldwin has struck again ... allegedly ... grabbing a photog on the streets of New York in front of several witnesses ... and now the NYPD is involved.

Sources connected with Baldwin tell TMZ ... the photog was the aggressor.

We spoke to the photog -- not a TMZ guy -- who tells us he did nothing to provoke Alec saying, "All I can say is I was doing my job asking him normal questions and he flipped. That's all."

The photog says he called police ... and cops responded to the scene.

A friend of Alec tells us ... Alec was with his wife Hilaria during the incident ... and Hilaria, in an effort to avoid the pap, ducked into a nearby tea store. We're told Alec also called police.

The friend tells us, "What kind of sick twisted psychopath chases a woman who just got out of the hospital from having a baby into a tea store?"

Hilaria just gave birth to the couple's daughter on August 23.

Story developing ...

NEWSFLASH: holding up a copy of the U.S. Constitution in a cop's face will NOT stop him from arresting you -- at least that's what one of 2 Chainz' entourage members learned last week, shortly before he and the rapper got busted.

As we reported, 2 Chainz and ten other people on his tour bus were all arrested last week following a concert in Oklahoma City ... after police accused them of smoking weed on board.

You'll recall, cops pulled over 2 Chainz' bus because of a busted taillight, but upon approaching the vehicle ... cops say they smelled pot and attempted to search the bus.

But the driver refused to let cops on board -- and according to the police affidavit which was just released, one of the bus' passengers actually held a physical copy of the U.S. Constitution against the bus window ... "as if challenging officers" with his civil rights.

Fact is: the police DID have probable cause to enter the bus because they smelled pot and saw smoke inside ... but the rapper and his entourage decided to assert their non-existent civil liberties anyway.

In the end, officers towed 2 Chainz' bus and its passengers to a police lot -- where it sat for hours while cops obtained a search warrant -- and everyone was eventually arrested, 2 Chainz included.

The United States Constitution ... it doesn't work that way.

Lamar Odom is wearing the stress of his marriage -- and possibly his NBA career -- falling apart as he battles addiction to hardcore drugs ... and TMZ has the first photos of him in several days.

Lamar's face looked gaunt when he was spotted Monday afternoon driving his SUV around the San Fernando Valley ... not far from his home with Khloe Kardashian.

As TMZ first reported ...Khloe kicked Odom out of the house last Wednesday when he rejected her attempt to stage an intervention -- hoping to convince him to get treatment for his addiction to crack cocaine.

But 2 interesting signs from Lamar's outing Monday -- he was still wearing his wedding ring ... and he was spotted driving into the gated community where he and Khloe live.