Money

6/5 -- 10:50 AM PT -- As promised, 50 Cent and Ben Crump staged an audience on Wednesday in Washington D.C. for Black entrepreneur empowerment ... where they were confronted by a reporter inquiring about 50's voting pick for the upcoming election.

True to the meet-up, the reporter suggests President Joe Biden is pro-Black business but asks 50 if his past support of Donald Trump still holds up, to which 50 says tell them, "I don't know how to answer that question!!!"

50 Cent and Ben Crump are on a mission to increase minority representation in America’s booming booze industry … 'cause they say Black people are missing out on billions!!!

A new Netflix doc has made people believe that TikTok star Miranda Derrick is in a cult -- but she's calling BS ... and putting out a totally different narrative, suggesting she's just fine.

Miranda hopped online Tuesday to clap back at claims made in 'Dancing for the Devil' -- which characterizes her and others involved with 7M Films as brainwashed sheep that are beholden to an alleged cult leader ... but Miranda says that's simply not the case.

In a short clip on her IG Story Tuesday, Miranda first thanked everyone for their support since the 3-part doc dropped last week ... and then teased a lengthy written statement in the following slides, saying she couldn't spill all the tea due to legal reasons.

Sean Kingston was shipped out from California to Florida in his $1 million fraud case, and now a Sunshine State sheriff's office wants to send the singer a bill for the transport costs.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, the Broward County Sheriff's Office is asking the court to have Sean pay back the taxpayers of Broward County for the cost of his extradition.

BCSO says taxpayers shelled out $5,268.53 for Sean's extradition from Cali ... with transport costs going towards commercial airline tickets, hotels, car rental and travel allowances for the U.S. Marshalls and Broward County sheriffs deputies tasked with bringing Sean back to Florida.

Kanye West was accused of a lot of wrongdoing by a former Yeezy employee, but he's hitting back -- claiming it's actually her who's in the wrong ... alleging she's trying to extort him.

A legal rep for Ye tells TMZ ... "In response to these baseless allegations, Ye will be filing a lawsuit against Ms. Pisciotta, who actively pursued him sexually to coerce employment and other material benefits, then engaged in blackmail and extortion when her advances were rejected."

The rep also accuses Lauren Pisciotta -- who sued Ye on Monday for sexual harassment and wrongful termination, among other things -- of stealing Kanye's phone in an attempt to destroy evidence that would run counter to her narrative.

Chris Kirkpatrick of *NSYNC was totally Pete Rose'd in the middle of a celebrity softball game ... getting leveled at home plate and breaking his hand in the process -- but somehow, the dude kept playing through the injury!!

TMZ is told ... the musician was one of several big names invited to participate in the Rock 'N Jock fundraiser for Folds of Honor in Nashville on Monday -- and at one point in the friendly competition, CK proved just how tough boy bands can be!!

The moment went down in the third inning ... when local radio host Jeremy Loper rounded third base and headed for home.

Ippei Mizuhara -- Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter -- just showed up to court and pleaded guilty to two federal charges ... stemming from allegations he stole from the MLB superstar in order to pay off gambling debts.

The 39-year-old hit a Santa Ana, CA courthouse early Tuesday morning ... and was mobbed by a throng of reporters as he made his way to the proceedings.

He did not, however, address the media as he traversed through all the cameras.

Rihanna is expanding her billion-dollar Fenty Beauty empire ... with the addition of a hair care line!!!

On Tuesday, Rihanna rocked a short blonde cropped mullet while starring in a colorful and stylish ad spot to promote the new brand, Fenty Hair, which launches next week on June 13.

The commercial shows off women and men of all races and various hair types -- straight, permed, curled, braided -- and there appear to be several products included in the collection.

Tyrese is looking calm, cool and collected amid a slew of legal woes ... but maybe that's because he just got some great advice from famed lawyer Ben Crump.

The actor/singer was all smiles Monday night at Catch LA, where Tyrese broke bread with the powerhouse civil rights attorney.

Remember, Tyrese is taking on Home Depot ... having filed a $1 million discrimination lawsuit against the corporation -- a case that would seem to be right up Crump's alley. Tyrese claims an HD staffer racially profiled him and 2 Latino men who were working with Tyrese.

Flavor Flav's not letting Red Lobster get lost at sea without a fight ... 'cause he's spending his hard-earned bucks mukbangin' their entire menu -- all in an effort to save 'em.

The Public Enemy MC made good on his promise to help the drowning seafood chain after it recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy -- posting a pic inside one of the restaurants (that's still open) where he ordered every last nibble they had left.

Flav's team tells us he and his daughter had a grand time fine dining on RL and nearly finished the entire spread ... returning home with only two boxes, which angered his son. 😂

6/4 7:20 AM -- Tucupita Marcano has been banned from Major League Baseball for life, officials announced Tuesday.

The league released a statement on the decision ... saying it was determined Marcano placed 387 baseball bets, including 231 related to MLB, in 2022 and 2023 -- totaling more than $150,000 on the sport.

The league added Marcano bet on the Pirates 25 times while he was a member of the organization -- although he did not play in any of the games due to his season-ending injury.

6/4/24 -- Josh's company, Preview Models, tells TMZ they worked with Sharaun and did everything in obtaining and using her image on the up and up -- but claims they got a letter from her in November that demanded money over what she felt was an unauthorized use of her likeness.

PM also says that any unauthorized materials pertaining to Sharaun were destroyed, and that they haven't heard a peep from her ... until now. Preview Models also tells us they haven't even been served with any papers pertaining to this suit ... but note that if/when they officially become aware of it, they'll defend themselves ... and might even countersue her if need be.

"90 Day Fiancé" star Josh Weinstein is being dragged to court by a model ... with her claiming his production company used her image to market his business, but is not paying up.

Sharaun Brown just filed a lawsuit against Josh, claiming the reality star's Preview Models production biz used her photos on its website to promote the company, propping her up as a "Celebrity Mentor" and using her to lure in aspiring models.

According to the lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, Sharaun says Preview Models started using her image around February 2023, adding her photos to ads for open casting calls, fashion shows and booking services.

Henry Jarecki -- an award-winning psychiatrist and Hollywood movie producer -- is being dragged to court by one of Jeffrey Epstein's accusers ... a woman who claims Jarecki sexually assaulted and trafficked her.

According to a new lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, the woman claims Jarecki was a close associate of Epstein's, and someone JE relied on as part of Epstein's sex-trafficking operation. She claims Epstein sent her to Jarecki for mental-health treatment and instead of helping her as a psychiatrist, Jarecki raped her.

In the docs, the woman claims she came to the United States around 2010 through a modeling agency but couldn't legally work because she did not have a visa, and she ended up being introduced to Epstein, who she claims began sexually abusing her and controlling her entire life.

Mamie Laverock has a long road to recovery after she was severely injured in a 5-story fall -- this according to her family, who's provided new updates on the tragic situation.

The Hallmark actress' loved ones issued the news on a GoFundMe page for Mamie, where they detailed the extensive surgery she has undergone after her massive fall -- revealing ML has already had 25 hours worth of surgeries. She is expected to have another surgery soon.

They wrote ... "We have nothing but gratitude for the doctors and nurses who have been exemplary in her care since May 26. Mamie is 'doing well' comparatively to when she arrived. Doing well because she has survived these extensive surgeries. She is enduring tremendous pain and continues to not give up."

Alex Jones bawled his eyes out this weekend -- and in the same breath, he let out a scream straight from his bowels, all while claiming his show is on the verge of a shutdown.

Check it out ... Alex was doing an impromptu "Infowars" broadcast this weekend -- where he alleged the feds were attempting to raid and confiscate his studio in Austin, TX ... 'cause a day earlier, he said he learned cops were gonna padlock the door and kick him out.

Unclear where he's getting this info or what might be behind all this, but in any case ... he was airing out his frustrations on the show, with both a war cry and a full-blown sob fest.

Cam'ron just returned fire after Anthony Edwards called out the New York rapper in his latest Adidas commercial ... going OFF on the Timberwolves superstar in a scathing freestyle.

The 22-year-old guard -- who signed with Adidas after turning pro -- released an ad shortly after Minnesota was eliminated from the playoffs last week ... where he clapped back at the people who criticized him by sharing, quite literally, receipts.

One of the naysayers mentioned was Cam'ron ... who said on his "It Is What It Is" podcast that Edwards wasn't a superstar yet.

Seems Karl-Anthony Towns is hoping a little retail therapy will help him get over the Timberwolves' Western Conference finals loss ... 'cause the Minnesota star was seen going on a shopping spree Sunday -- one in which he appeared to buy loads of luxury items.

The four-time NBA All-Star hit Topanga Mall in the Los Angeles area to apparently find comfort in his credit card ... just a couple days after the Dallas Mavericks unceremoniously ended his season.

KAT's longtime girlfriend, Jordyn Woods, joined him for the excursion ... and it's clear the two spent some big bucks as they officially kicked off the basketball player's offseason.