Paparazzi Video

Kanye West is getting prosecuted for screwing with a photographer's equipment at LAX, but Lamar Odom basically did the same thing and he's not facing criminal charges ... and TMZ knows why.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... honchos in the L.A. City Attorney's Office cut Lamar a break because this is the first time he ever went on the attack against a paparazzo. You'll recall Lamar went into a photog's car and chucked his camera equipment into the street, damaging it. Lamar has been ordered to attend an informal hearing but will NOT face criminal charges.

Our sources say the reason they're going after Kanye is his history of attacking photographers. Specifically, the City Attorney has zeroed in on another incident at LAX back in 2008, when he grabbed a photog's camera and threw it to the ground. The case was filed, but later dismissed after Kanye paid for the repair.

Kanye West has been charged with criminal battery and attempted grand theft for allegedly attacking a paparazzo at LAX on July 19 ... TMZ has learned.

Kanye went off on the photog ... who dared to speak with him as he left the airport. The photog went to the hospital and has filed a lawsuit. The photog hired Gloria Allred, who has said the attack left her client badly injured.

Just days before the attack Kanye issued multiple warnings to the paparazzi NOT to speak to him.

If convicted of both misdemeanors ... Kanye faces a maximum of 1 year in jail.

He'll be arraigned October 10th.

We attempted to reach Kanye's lawyer, Blair Berk, but her assistant said she was unavailable "because it's the highest holy day of the year for Jews" and she was at services.

YOU GOTTA SEE THIS VIDEO ... IT'S CRAZY.

TMZ has obtained video of a paparazzo on an out-of-control bicycle Thursday ... careening into Nicole Kidman and knocking her flat on her butt -- and he was going FAST.

You see photog Carl Wu trying in vain to stop as he careened into Nicole outside the Carlyle Hotel in NYC. You also hear Nicole screaming about pressing charges, and Carl profusely apologizing.

FYI, Carl wasn't arrested because cops said it was just an accident -- but he was cited for riding his bike on a sidewalk.

Amazingly ... Nicole wasn't injured.

Lamar Odom says he's absolutely NOT a drug addict ... doesn't need professional help ... and is confident he'll play in the NBA next season.

He's wrong on all 3 counts.

33-year-old Odom went to Teru Sushi in Studio City last night ... and after taking some photos with fans, he finally addressed the media about drug issues in his life ... claiming everything is hunky-dory.

Problem is ... Odom is clearly in denial. As we've previously reported, just about everyone in his life -- personally and professionally -- knows about his battle with substance abuse, including his wife Khloe Kardashian.

In the last year alone, Lamar's been thrown out of hotels ... busted for DUI ... spent time in rehab ... and dropped from multiple NBA teams.

Still, Lamar insists ... "Life is good."

Gwyneth Paltrow might be the worst driver in all of Los Angeles (and that's saying a lot) 'cause she CUT OFF A SCHOOL BUS ON HER VESPA WITH HER KID ON THE BACKSEAT ... and it was all caught on tape.

Paltrow and husband Chris Martin were picking up their kids from an L.A. school last week on their respective Vespas ... when Paltrow (with one of her young kids on the back of her scooter) darted out into traffic ... right in front of an oncoming school bus.

The bus driver had to slam on the brakes to stop from plowing into the actress ... and GP scooted away as if she didn't just put a bunch of people's lives in danger.

FYI -- school buses are giant and yellow and generally pretty hard to miss ... so we can't really understand why Gwyneth didn't just wait the 2 minutes for traffic to slow down before leaving the school.

We called Gwyneth for comment -- so far, no word back.

Ashley Tisdale is no David Caruso ... which is exactly why she was KICKED OUT of his SUV at LAX yesterday!!!!

The video is pretty good ... Ashley and her entourage arrived to LAX and got into the first black SUV they saw, thinking it was waiting there for them.

Problem is ... there was another actor being picked up from the airport ... a magnificent ginger who starred in such TV classics as "CSI: Miami" and "NYPD Blue" ... DAVID CARUSO!!

They got the boot ... eventually found their car (a smaller black towncar) ... and cleared the way for Caruso to be driven home in the manner he deserves.

YOU DON'T MESS WITH HORATIO'S RIDE!!

Melanie Griffith couldn't be happier for her daughter Dakota Johnson ... saying she's the "proudest mom ever" now that Dakota's playing a nymphomaniac sex slave in the "Fifty Shades of Grey" movie.

You'll recall, Griffith's daughter has just been cast in the role of Anastasia Steele, the protagonist in "Fifty Shades of Grey" alongside Charlie Hunnam (as Christian Grey).

If you know anything about the books, you'll know Anastasia becomes entwined in a disturbing and violent BDSM affair with Christian Grey, essentially becoming Christian's sex-addicted slave. You know, every mother's dream.

At least for Melanie ... watch the clip.

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 just dodged a bullet -- he will NOT be prosecuted for trashing a photog's equipment ... TMZ has learned.

The L.A. City Attorney will not file criminal vandalism charges against Khloe's hubby for destroying a camera guy's equipment last month in Hollywood. Instead, as TMZ reported several days ago, the matter will be set for an informal hearing in the City Attorney's office.

The hearing is basically a sit down with both Lamar and the photog. The hearing office will explain the ground rules when there's a dispute between a celeb and the paparazzi. It's possible ... at the end of the hearing, Lamar could be ordered to attend anger management classes.

But short story ... victory for Lamar.

It happened. Again.

A photog DARED to actually talk while in Kanye West's presence ... despite KW's infamous "Don't ever talk" edict of 2013.

He talked to Kanye. He talked to himself. He talked.

And what happened? Something crazy ... something out of character ... something non-violent.

Kanye actually smiled.

It's the second time we've seen Kanye smile this month. Maybe he's turned a corner.

We'd ask him ... but that would require us to talk ... and we've probably said enough already.

Eminem -- now a notorious recluse who RARELY performs -- rocked the house in NYC last night ... and we got video ... but the real question: how much do you pay Slim Shady to drag him out of hiding?

Eminem took the stage at Pier 36 for G-Shock's 30th Anniversary concert -- yeah, the watch company -- and he performed all his hits, including "The Way I Am" and "Lose Yourself." It was awesome.

But seriously, the guy never shows his face anymore -- especially on stage -- so either he got paid a BUTTLOAD of cash ... or G-Shock's contract negotiation skills are incredible.

Kristen Stewart tore a paparazzo a new a-hole yesterday... dropping f-bombs and screaming, "You don't deserve to breathe the same air I do."

The video's intense ... Kristen is seen hiding behind a gate, waiting for a ride outside some building in Los Angeles, when the photog -- not TMZ -- asks, "Why are you saying f**k off?"

Obviously, Kristen was pissed even before the camera rolled ... but it's unclear what took place BEFORE the paparazzo started recording.

5:28 PM PT -- The victim wants to press charges against Kanye ... law enforcement sources tell TMZ. What's more, our sources say he's been interviewed by cops and they've determined he did indeed suffer injuries during the attack. Cops will refer the case to the D.A. as a felony attempted robbery and not a battery case. The routine is to go after the suspect for the most serious charge.

Kanye West has been named a felony suspect in the LAX attack Friday afternoon ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... police suspect Kanye committed an attempted robbery when he assaulted a photog at the airport and tried to jack his camera.

The case has now been transferred to the Robbery Homicide Unit and cops are currently putting a file together.

Our sources say the case will be referred to the L.A. County D.A. for possible prosecution.

The victim was taken to the hospital after the attack. His condition is unknown.

One of the L.A. photogs Lamar Odom went nuts on this week has lawyered up, law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... and we're told the man plans to press charges against the NBA star.

According to sources, detectives are still investigating the incident -- when Lamar flipped on two photogs in Hollywood, damaging equipment and allegedly smashing one of their cars -- but the case will most likely be forwarded to the L.A. City Attorney soon for criminal prosecution.

It's unclear which photog is pursuing legal recourse ... but we're told one DEFINITELY wants to see Lamar go down for what he did.

As we reported, it appears Lamar snapped because a photog asked questions about Khloe Kardashian ... namely about Lamar's alleged extramarital affair with a stripper.

It's now clear why Lamar Odom flipped out on a paparazzo in L.A. yesterday -- he was pissed that the snapper repeatedly hammered him about a report he cheated on Khloe Kardashian.

The confrontation was all captured on video as the photog -- not a TMZ guy -- rolled up to Lamar's car and asked if he stepped out on Khloe with a stripper.

At first, Lamar calmly answered the question -- saying, "I would never cheat on my wife, that's why I wear my wedding ring."

But things quickly turned -- when Lamar asked the photog for his name and then said, "I'm gonna step out the car and I'm gonna talk to you."

The video cuts ... and when it turns back on, Lamar is in the middle of the street with the photog's gear ... and eventually puts it in his trunk.

The photog pleads for his stuff back -- Lamar replies, "Shut up."

Lamar Odom went absolutely nuts on 2 paparazzi in Hollywood this afternoon ... smashing a car, a camera ... and then fleeing the scene -- apparently with some of the destroyed camera gear.

The violent incident was captured on video ... where Mr. Khloe Kardashian was seen going into the back of a car belonging to one of the paps, and chucking all of the guy's equipment into the middle of a busy street.

He then walked across the street and smashed another photog's car with a metal bar, then picked up all the gear from the street and put it in his trunk.

Curiously, right after raging against the paps, Lamar also had a run-in with a fan -- and couldn't have been nicer. Watch the video ... it's kinda bizarre.

It's unclear why Lamar was so angry ... when the video starts he's already digging through the pap's car.