Real Housewives

The troubled son of former 'RHOC' star Lauri Peterson is recovering after getting slashed in his face during an insane jailhouse ambush ... and TMZ has video of the whole incident.

The brutal attack went down at the Orange County jail in Santa Ana when Josh Waring was on his way back to his cell. He never got there because another inmate jumped out wielding razors wrapped in towels.

This surveillance video of the October 9 showdown shows the attacker sneak into position -- hiding under a staircase -- and then Josh, in pajamas and sandals, is suddenly fighting for his life. Fists start flying and Josh defends himself well for a while -- getting in a few head shots -- but he eventually suffered deep gashes to his chest and face.

The brawl -- which moved off-camera, but was still visible in a mirror -- lasted nearly 90 seconds and only stopped when guards rushed in ... commanding both men to get down on the ground.

Josh's attorney, Joel Garson, tells TMZ ... his client was returning to his cell in the protective custody unit of the jail after making a phone call. He says the normal protocol is for all other inmates to be locked in their cells while another inmate is using the phone.

Garson says guards are supposed to confirm over the intercom that the other inmates are locked away. There's no audio on the surveillance video, so Josh's attorney says he can't tell if that protocol was followed -- but he says he wouldn't be surprised if the attacker was allowed to be out of his cell.

Garson is claiming it could be retaliation against Josh for filing a federal lawsuit against Orange County and its Sheriff's Department for violating his civil rights while he's been behind bars.

Another video shows Josh receiving medical treatment after the attack. He's surrounded by deputies as he describes his injuries. He was concerned the razors used against him weren't sterile, and he could've contracted an STD.

We're told he got 20 stitches to his chest and face, which was slashed from his left eye down to his chin.

The Orange County Sheriff's Department tells us it's opened a criminal investigation into the attack.

Josh has been locked up since 2016 while he awaits trial for attempted murder. He's accused of shooting a man at a sober living home where he was living.

He could get life in prison if convicted.

Garson tells us, based on this video, they are considering adding new claims to the federal lawsuit they've already filed against Orange County.

Vicki Gunvalson is fuming over some good ol' fashioned trash talk her 'RHOC' costar Kelly Dodd dropped because she fears it could sink her real-life career.

According to docs filed Friday, and obtained by TMZ, a Jane Roe is suing Kelly and "The Real Housewives of Orange County" producers at Bravo and NBCUniversal over 3 statements Kelly allegedly barked at Vicki while shooting an episode in Key West:
- "You prey on older people."
- "You are a con woman."
- "You engaged in 'fraud.'"

Vicki says those things are all lies, and she told producers so, in writing ... explaining why each claim was false and could be damaging to her livelihood if they air.

Now, it's pretty clear the person behind the pseudonym, "Jane Roe," is Vicki because she describes herself as a TV personality on 'RHOC' who is also a retirement planning specialist and prez of an insurance and financial services company. So, yeah ... it's Vicki.

In the suit, Vicki points out she's never been sued over the last 31 years of her profession ... and has an A-Plus rating with the Better Business Bureau.

It's unclear from the docs if Kelly's remarks are actually going to air on the current season of 'RHOC,' but Vicki's going on the offensive because she believes the producers are going to leave it in the episode. She has reason to be worried ... in the trailer for season 14, Kelly drops the "con woman" line.

Vicki's not asking producers to kill the whole episode, she just wants those 3 sentences from Kelly's lips to be left on the cutting room floor. As she puts it, NBCUniversal "will suffer no harm to their popular TV program by removing a fraction of an overall episode."

Vicki's suing to get an injunction to block the episode from airing as is, and also for damages.

Eva Marcille is pleading with a judge to keep her baby daddy away from their daughter, because she fears he's capable of going on a killing spree like Chris Dorner.

The 'RHOA' star filed legal docs, obtained by TMZ, responding to Kevin McCall Jr.'s request to have the judge reevaluate their custody arrangement for 5-year-old Marley Rae -- but Eva says there's no need to because her ex is dangerous.

In the docs, Eva claims Kevin is unstable and has admitted to her he could do worse damage than Dorner -- the ex-cop who went on a killing rampage in 2013 that ended with a manhunt and fatal shootout in Southern California.

Eva also claims Kevin praised a man that killed her good friend and himself in a murder-suicide. She alleges he referred to the guy as his "hero." Eva even included a screenshot from one of Kevin's IG posts where he seemed to make ominous threats against her ... and called himself a "ticking time bomb."

Adding insult to injury, Eva says Kevin's been wrapped up in more legal woes -- including a recent domestic violence charge -- which she believes should disqualify him from spending time with their daughter.

According to the docs, Eva claims Kevin's not only been an absentee father for most of Marley's life, but he also hasn't paid a dime of child support.

She says nothing needs to change in terms of custody, and she wants a judge to toss Kevin's request entirely.

We reached out to Kevin ... so far, no word back.

Joe Giudice is taking full advantage of no longer being held behind bars ... by cutting a rug with his mom and brother in Italy.

Joe's family recently held a celebration for him finally being out of prison, and the good vibes were flowing on the dance floor as everyone gathered around to watch the 3 show off their tarantella moves.

Joe's mom and bro made the trek from New Jersey so they could be there for him when he first arrived after his release from ICE custody last week.

Sources close to Giudice tell TMZ ... he's "doing amazing" staying near Salerno with his extended family -- which includes his grandmother and cousins -- and is talking to Teresa and their kids daily on the phone and via FaceTime.

We're told they will be traveling to visit Joe the first week of November, as well ... and can't wait to be reunited. The trip would have come sooner, but we're told the kids' school schedules delayed it a bit.

The family lawyer, James Leonard, tell us ... "They can’t wait to see each other. They can’t wait to sit down and have dinner as a family for the first time in three and half years. They can’t wait to hug each other for the first time in almost a year and talk and laugh like normal people."

Other than celebrating, we're told Joe's been getting acclimated with his new surroundings and is planning to start the job hunt soon. He's down 55 lbs. from his time in detention thanks to a healthy diet and exercise ... so he's feeling great too.

Kenya Moore's returning for the upcoming season of "The Real Housewives of Atlanta," but it seems the war with her nemesis has fired up again ... even though Kenya says she comes in peace.

Moore was at Sally Beauty in Atlanta Wednesday for the launch of her haircare line, when we asked her about her issues with NeNe Leakes ... and she didn't hold back.

Kenya tells us her former friend has shown her true colors over time, but says she doesn't understand why NeNe's so intimidated by her.

She goes on to call Leakes a bully who's treated all of her 'RHOA' costars terribly, and according to Kenya ... NeNe has "very few friends" left because of it.

Teresa Giudice is keeping things afloat at home in New Jersey while her hubby, Joe, is heading to his new home in Italy ... doing it with the help of some American pigskin.

The 'Real Housewives' star was out Saturday at the SHI Stadium in Piscataway, NJ -- where the Rutgers Scarlet Knights were hosting the Maryland Terrapins for a college football game. Her daughter, Gia, attends Rutgers ... and she was there too, of course.

In fact, it looks like Gia -- who's only 18 -- was enjoying herself with a game day can of ... something. Could be beer, could be lemonade -- eh, who the heck knows?

It seems Gia was feeling pretty fearless ... 'cause she posed for a selfie with what appears to be a campus cop right behind her, who was all smiles as well. School spirit, we suppose.

Joe Giudice is getting his wish -- he's returning to his motherland as he awaits a final decision in his deportation case.

According to federal court records, the judge signed off on Joe's request for his immediate release from an ICE detention center so he can travel to Italy while the courts decide on his appeal of deportation.

We broke the story ... Joe wants to return to his native Italy so he can work and send money back to the States to support his wife, Teresa Giudice, and their 4 daughters, who are all living in New Jersey.

Now he's got the green light, but the question remains ... will it be a temporary trip or permanent?

'Real Housewives of Atlanta' star Eva Marcille's got some baby daddy drama on her hands ... he claims she's blocking his QT with their daughter, so he wants a judge's help.

Kevin McCall Jr.'s attorney -- Adamma Mckinnon -- filed legal docs, obtained by TMZ, claiming Eva's tried to alienate their daughter from him ever since she moved from Los Angeles to Georgia in October 2015.

According to docs, Kevin's requesting a change to their previous custody order, so they can share joint physical and legal custody of 5-year-old Marley Rae.

Kevin says it's in Marley's best interest for them to spend more time together and "foster a parental bond." Kevin also wants Marley to take his last name. Right now she's Marley Sterling -- the last name of Eva's current husband, Michael Sterling.

Former 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' star Peter Thomas is pulling the plug on his North Carolina sports bar ... and it's all because the place is dealing with some tax issues.

According to federal records, Peter's Sports One Bar and Lounge in Charlotte was hit with a tax lien for nearly $237,000 ... and now the establishment is closing its doors after racking up a huge debt.

Sources close to Peter tell TMZ ... the bar didn't have enough money to stay afloat after committing funds to other projects, and the place fell behind on its taxes. We're told Sports One Bar and Lounge will be shuttered for 3 to 6 months while Peter and the bar's legal team clear everything up and pay down the debt.

It's been a rough year for Peter ... as we first reported, he was arrested in Miami back in March on an out of state warrant for allegedly writing a $4,000 check that bounced.

Joe Giudice just got shot down by a judge in his immigration case -- he's been ordered to stay locked up while his deportation case plays out.

Joe petitioned the court earlier this month -- where he appeared via video conference -- asking to be released pending his appeal of his deportation. Now the judge has ruled, and it's not in his favor.

He will remain locked up in the ICE detention facility he's been a resident of since his release from prison in March -- the Clinton County Correctional Facility.

The Giudice family attorney, James Leonard Jr., tells TMZ, "We are absolutely devastated. Our system of justice has failed this family. We are now at the mercy of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. God willing they will return this man home to his four daughters."

TMZ broke the story ... Joe's homesick and tired of being kept behind bars and he feels he should be let out from ICE custody while he's appealing. Joe says the least the judge can do is let him see his family, especially if he's in danger of getting deported soon anyway.

As we've previously reported ... Joe was immediately transferred to ICE custody when a judge ordered his deportation to his native Italy. This after serving a 41-month sentence for conspiracy to commit wire and bankruptcy fraud.

Joe appealed that decision and lost. But, he appealed again to a higher court ... and that's where we're at now. Joe wanted to be home in New Jersey with his family as he awaits the judge's final ruling.

Kenya Moore is calling it quits with her husband, Marc Daly, after just over 2 years of marriage.

"The Real Housewives of Atlanta" star says it's with "profound sadness" that she is divorcing Daly. She adds ... "Due to recent and ongoing circumstances, I can no longer continue in the marriage."

Kenya added, in a statement to People, her daughter, Brooklyn, is and will always be her sole focus and concern.

Daly reportedly says he made the decision to split from Kenya, but they will continue to co-parent their daughter in a loving way. He also issued a thinly-veiled legal threat, saying ... "Rumors, innuendo or false accusations only serve to hurt our family and will be addressed through counsel as the law permits."

Kenya and Marc tied the knot in a surprise ceremony in St. Lucia in June 2017. After struggling to get pregnant for months, Kenya posted an ultrasound in June 2018 to prove she was expecting at age 49. She gave birth to Brooklyn -- who she calls her "miracle baby" -- in November.

Kenya's relationship with Marc ruffled some feathers among the 'RHOA' cast and crew because of his alleged unwillingness to be part of the the show.

Well, this is one way to eliminate that issue.

Joe Giudice is tired of being kept behind bars and feels the least the judge can do is let him out to see his family ... especially if he's going to get deported soon anyway.

Sources close to Teresa's husband tell TMZ ... he'll have a bond hearing Wednesday morning in a Pennsylvania immigration court to decide whether he can be released from ICE custody while he's appealing his deportation case.

We're told Joe's extended family will be attending along with Teresa, but not his kids. Joe won't physically be in the courtroom, as he's being held some hours away at the Clinton County Correctional Facility ... but he'll appear by video.

Our sources say the former 'Real Housewives of New Jersey' star is extremely homesick and believes he's getting a raw deal ... remaining behind bars.

Joe went to prison in March 2016 and has been detained ever since, even after serving his 41-month sentence for conspiracy to commit wire and bankruptcy fraud.

As we reported ... he was released from federal prison in March but was immediately transferred to ICE custody, because a judge ordered him to be deported to his native Italy once he got out. However, Giudice appealed that decision and lost, but appealed again to a higher court ... which is where the case stands now.

We're told Joe just wants to be able to return home to New Jersey while he waits for a final ruling.

The Giudice family attorney, James Leonard Jr., tells us ... "What is happening to Joe Giudice and to his family and thousands of other families regarding these draconian immigration laws is nothing short of inhumane."

He adds ... "We are praying for some sort of relief tomorrow from the Court. This family has paid their debt to society and then some. Enough is enough."

'Real Housewife' Gina Kirschenheiter's husband just got nailed by the Orange County D.A. with 2 felony charges related to an alleged domestic violence incident.

The D.A. is charging Matthew with domestic violence and false imprisonment of Gina back in June. According to docs, the incident went down on June 22. We know the 'RHOC' star had filed for a restraining order against Matthew back in June ... and it appears the charges stem from that same incident.

Matthew allegedly "inflicted corporal injury resulting in a traumatic condition" upon Gina. The D.A. doesn't list details about the false imprisonment charge ... but often in domestic violence cases, it means the defendant prevented the victim from leaving a room or their home.

Matt was arrested back in June, but prosecutors didn't charge him until today.

Gina had filed for divorce in April 2018, and will be officially single on Jan. 1, 2020.

Kyle Richards says Camille Grammer's dead wrong by suggesting she shut out CG for another season of 'Real Housewives' -- however, we're sensing there's no love lost here.

We got the 'RHOBH' star Tuesday night as she left Craig's in WeHo, and our camera guy asked Kyle straight-up ... was Camille's non-vite back for Season 10 Kyle's doing, as Camille herself claimed on Twitter just last week? Kyle shoots down that notion completely.

She tells us that she doesn't know why Camille might've said that, as Kyle claims there isn't any bad blood between the two of 'em. Kyle also denies that it's "her show" now.

We ask a follow-up question about Garcelle Beauvais being cast for the forthcoming season -- and becoming the first black woman to star on 'RHOBH' -- and Kyle says she couldn't be more thrilled ... adding that she's gonna kill it as a main housewife.

It's interesting ... rumors have circulated that during the taping of Season 9's reunion show earlier this year, Camille made some eyebrow-raising comments that didn't air, including an alleged comment about not having to apologize for being a white woman.

Not saying one thing might have to do with the other, but the timing of everything certainly makes you wonder if that might've been tied to Camille not being asked back.

Feel free to raise a glass in honor of Luann de Lesseps reaching the end of her 1-year probation, but forgive her if she doesn't join you -- she's planning to stick with the sober life.

The 'Real Housewives of New York' star was on "TMZ Live" Wednesday to talk about her milestone. The judge ordered her to stay off drugs and alcohol during probation, and Luann told us it's had a profound impact on her life.

Yeah, she could be celebrating with champagne -- we know she's down with mimosas -- but Luann says she's now enjoying sobriety.

As you know ... she'd been on probation from her Christmas Eve 2017 arrest after an alleged drunken dispute with cops in Palm Beach, FL. Video from inside the patrol car showed Luann going nuclear ... threatening to kill an officer.

Luann didn't hold back, btw, when we asked her about her sometimes-nemesis on 'RHOC,' Bethenny Frankel, quitting the show this week. For those expecting a "ding dong the Wicked Witch is dead" kinda moment -- watch the clip.

Luann de Lesseps is just a day away from being a free woman -- and one day closer to being able to guzzle mimosas without a care in the world ... at least, legally.

The 'Real Housewives of New York' star needs to keep her nose clean for 24 hours, and then she'll have completed her probation stemming from her drunken arrest in Florida .. according to NYC Dept. of Probation spokesperson Candace Sandy.

It's a huge deal for Luann because this saga's been going on since Christmas Eve 2017, when she was busted in Palm Beach after an alleged drunken dispute with cops. Police video from inside the patrol car shows Luann going off on the officer, saying she'd kill him if he continued touching her.

We broke the story ... Luann dodged a felony charge and a jail stint by copping a plea deal, and she was ordered to knock out 50 hours of community service and attend 2 AA meetings a week in her home state of New York. She also had to stay away from drugs and alcohol, and submit to random testing during one year of probation.