Reality TV

Joe Exotic -- the eccentric, wild and captivating convict tiger breeder featured in the wildly popular Netflix docuseries 'Tiger King' -- is suing from prison ... claiming a huge conspiracy behind him being locked up, and it led to the death of his mom.

If you've seen the show, you know Joe -- real name Joseph Maldonado-Passage -- is one of the biggest names in the big cat business. If you haven't seen it ... SPOILERS AHEAD.

Anyway, Exotic ran a popular zoo in Oklahoma until he was found guilty of a murder-for-hire plot in 2019, but according to new legal docs obtained by TMZ ... he claims he was falsely arrested and imprisoned, and the victim of malicious prosecution and discrimination.

But, let's back up, because firstly ... Joe's suing the U.S. Department of Interior and the U.S. Federal Wildlife Service for placing the "generic tiger" on the endangered species list. Exotic claims this was done for the sole purpose of targeting businesses like his, and essentially ... putting him out of business.

As he puts it, this equates to "stealing my property and promoting an animal rights agenda."

Joe also alleges he was "discriminated against because he is the only person charged with this statute because [he] is an openly gay male with the largest collection of generic tigers and crossbreeds."

According to the suit, he wants $78,840,000 for the loss of his personal property and 18 years' worth of his work with tigers for this.

As for his criminal conviction, he's going after a handful of people involved in the case -- including his former business partner, Jeff Lowe, for allegedly lying to the feds and planting evidence against him.

He accuses another former colleague of being an informant and claims the sum of all this contributed to the passing of his mother, Shirley.

Joe's seeking an additional $15 million for this.

Peter Weber's season of "The Bachelor" is over, but he's still getting around ... putting in time with another contestant -- Kelley Flanagan, at least for now.

Pilot Pete was seen playfully slinging Kelley over his shoulder Wednesday afternoon in Chicago on the shores of Lake Michigan. Folks who saw them tell us Pete was super-flirty and very handsy with Kelley.

Peter can't make up his mind ... remember, his season was marked by his flip-flopping ways. He got engaged to Hannah Ann, called it off months later so he could get with Madison.

Now, he's apparently moved on to Kelley -- making for a pretty impressive trifecta.

'Bachelor' fans are gonna go crazy for this latest twist in Pete's complicated love life. Rumors were swirling about something brewing between Kelley and him, but this is visual confirmation. It's the first time they've been seen together since she was eliminated from the show.

We can't confirm Pete's favorite song is Tupac's, "I Get Around" ... or The Beachboys "I Get Around," if he's really OG -- but it's a good bet.

Lisa Vanderpump says the coronavirus might create a revolving door for shelter dogs -- on one hand, more people are adopting ... but she fears many are also ditching their dogs.

It's a pretty bittersweet reality from the Bravo star, who runs her own rescue center called The Vanderpump Dog Foundation. Lisa came on "TMZ Live" Monday to share the sad news that while, yes, more people are looking for furry friends during quarantine ... a lot of others are also making the tough decision to give up their dogs to shelters.

The reason behind it is more practical than cruel ... Lisa tells us that a lot of folks are simply losing their jobs right now, and they might foresee an unfixable situation when it comes to caring for their canines. As such, they're getting ahead of it and leaving 'em at the pound -- and that can be very sad news for those that don't get adopted.

There's also the issue of adopter's remorse, which Lisa says can be dealt with fairly easily -- just foster first, see if it's for you, and then sleep on it long and hard if you truly think you wanna adopt. The idea, obviously, is to keep these pets forever ... not just during statewide shutdowns and quarantine.

'Bachelor' star Colton Underwood looked worse for wear when he emerged for the first time since announcing he tested positive for coronavirus.

The former leading man of the reality show surfaced Saturday from a home he's been staying at in Huntington Beach, CA ... and as he made his way out to the balcony, certainly looking like someone who was down and out and going through it -- COVID-19, that is. He revealed last week he'd tested positive for the novel virus.

Hood on, sad face ... his look here says it all. He's not happy right now.

Luckily, his girlfriend, Cassie, is right there by his side -- and it appears Colton's neighbors are well aware of his condition and are wishing him well. Cassie was photographed coming to the front porch to receive a bouquet of flowers someone had left there ... presumably for CU.

The coronavirus has officially infiltrated Bachelor Nation ... Colton Underwood says he's tested positive for COVID-19.

Colton just announced his test results Friday on his social media ... the 28-year-old 'Bachelor' star and former NFL player says he tested positive for the virus and has been following all of the social distancing guidelines since last week.

Colton's symptoms started showing a few days ago, and he says he was tested and just got his results back Friday.

He's also got a message for folks out there who are so far hesitant to self-quarantine ... saying we should all stay home as a favor to ourselves and our loved ones.

Colton's staying positive despite the diagnosis ... he says we're all gonna beat the pandemic and emerge stronger than before.

Tons of celebs have revealed positive test results in the past week ... from Tom Hanks to Kevin Durant, Idris Elba, Rudy Gobert, Prince Albert of Monaco, NFL head coach Sean Payton and more.

Mama June's decided a pandemic is the perfect time to get back in front of the camera and become a public figure again, but not on her TV show -- she's getting paid to push a weight loss challenge.

The troubled reality star is promoting something called Boom Bod, a weight loss product that urges customers to use it for 7 days to get energized, motivated and rejuvenated. It's the kinda thing ya see IG models do all the time.

The ad was shot in a small kitchen and shows Mama explaining how ya simply add the product to water 3 times a day -- apparently to curb hunger and shed pounds, but she doesn't quite make it clear.

The oddly timed new video is the first June's posted in a long time and seems to be her first paid gig in months. It's unclear when she recorded it -- we know she's been living on the road since selling her home last year.

The new spokeswoman was just spotted Tuesday with her boyfriend, Geno Doak, at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

We're told she was wandering around aimlessly and seemed undeterred by new coronavirus safety guidelines.

'Bachelor' star Peter Weber already proved he's got moves in the fantasy suites ... but did you know he can ball out on the football field too?!?

TMZ Sports has obtained video of PW hitting up a flag football game in California over the weekend ... and we gotta admit -- Pilot Pete's got skillz!!

Of course, it's been a crazy time for Peter -- he cut things off with Madison, got engaged to Hannah Ann, broke up with Hannah Ann, got back together with Madison, pissed off his mom, and broke up with Madison again.

Pretty easy to follow, right??

Anyway ... it looks like everyone is getting over the breakups in their own ways, 'cause Madi has been spotted hanging out with Selena Gomez ... while Peter balls with his bros at the Flag Football California league.

Weber looks like a rec league superstar in the video ... snagging a good interception with a solid return ... and throwing a dart on offense.

The 'Bachelor' might be losing its stakes as far as engagements go, but it's becoming a great set-up show for future dating ... exhibit A being, Tyler Cameron and Hannah Brown.

The former 'Bachelorette' lead and her runner-up contestant last season were spotted together Saturday at the Palm Beach International Airport -- just 30 minutes outside of TC's hometown of Jupiter, FL -- where the guy was doing a chivalrous curbside pickup.

In video obtained by TMZ, you can see Tyler packing Hannah's luggage away in the back, before they both hop in and drive off. Hannah's face isn't perfectly visible here ... but she was there. HB put up tons of video of herself hanging at an empty airport the same day.

We're also told fans were coming up to her in baggage claim to tell her how much they loved her -- so there's no question, this is definitely our girl.

Put two and two together ... and it seems Hannah is once again in Tyler's backyard, hanging out with the guy more than a year after her season ended, and she gave him the boot.

You'll recall ... Hannah was by Tyler's side last weekend following his mother's tragic sudden passing -- where she's said to have attended some events with him. Now, a week later ... here she is again flying back into town to see the dude. Talk about being a good friend!

Of course, Tyler and Hannah could be seeing each other again -- two get-togethers in a week's time could possibly point to that. Plus, they have post-show hang out history as it is.

Despite the fact 'Bachelor' star Peter Weber didn't take his mom's dating advice ... he says she's definitely entertaining enough to get her own show.

The now single pilot was out Friday in L.A. when a photog asked him about his mom, Barbara, stealing the show -- for better or worse -- after appearing in this week's "After the Final Rose" episode.

Peter has no doubt about it ... Babs would kill it if she had her own reality show.

Yeah, he's clearly biased -- but, truth be told, she DID captivate everyone's attention during her tense showdown with Peter's now ex, Madison Prewett.

Remember, Barbara straight-up told Madi she was never gonna be on board with her and Peter's relationship. Barbara also threw immediate shade after Peter and Madi announced their break up Thursday ... posting a video of her dancing to "Leaving on a Jet Plane."

And, if ya thought that was harsh ... don't expect an apology. Peter was also asked about Madi hanging out with Selena Gomez. Ya gotta see his reaction.

"The Bachelor" star Peter Weber learned the hard way mama knows best -- she was never a fan of Madison Prewett and now Madi's a goner cause the couple is dunzo.

Madi and Peter revealed the split Thursday night ... just 2 days after an incredibly tense and awkward "After the Final Rose" finale where Peter's mom, Barbara, let it be known in not so friendly terms ... she's never gonna get on board with the relationship.

Madi, who initially tagged the wrong Pilot Pete account in her Instagram breakup post, said she and Peter decided to go separate ways but never elaborated.

Didn't seem to bother Madi all that much, at least on the surface, because moments after announcing her breakup she was seen partying --  yes, hanging at Target can constitute as partying -- with none other than Selena Gomez.

As for Peter, he seems to be taking this all in stride too. He said, "Madi and I have mutually decided to not pursue our relationship any further. Believe me this was not easy for either of us to be ok with, but after a lot of honest conversations, we have agreed that this is what makes most sense for the two of us."

Tyler Cameron is back to flaunting his pretty mug for work-related purposes as he continues adjusting to life after his mother's sudden passing.

The 'Bachelorette' star showed up to a photoshoot Thursday morning in NYC outside a barbershop in SoHo ... looking dapper in a navy blue coat, jeans and dress shoes. It's unclear what campaign he's shooting ... but he's got some brotherly love to comfort him.

Tyler's brother, Ryan -- a head-turner in his own right -- looked pretty chill just hanging with his big bro. It's certainly a nice distraction after a tough month.

As we reported ... Tyler's mother, Andrea Hermann Cameron, died just 11 days ago after suffering a brain aneurysm at a hospital in Jupiter, Florida. The Camerons are hoping to continue her legacy of giving ... by starting a foundation in her honor.

Tyler's coming off a busy weekend honoring his mother ... and, again, he wasn't alone. He was reportedly hanging out with the 'Bachelorette' herself, Hannah Brown, who visited Tyler in his hometown and attended a couple of events with him.