Reality TV

Carole Baskin was (again) painted as an unhelpful, suspicious character in the ongoing search for her missing husband, but despite what 'Tiger King 2' suggests ... she says the exact opposite is true.

Joe Exotic's archenemy tells TMZ ... she's done everything in her power to track down Don Lewis -- her one-time hubby, who mysteriously went missing in the '90s and was never found. The 'TK' sequel, however, might have you thinking otherwise.

As you know ... the 2nd installment debuted last week, and a detective with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, Moises Garcia, is prominently featured as they continue to dig into Don's case all these years later. As they delve into Carole's suspected knowledge about his whereabouts, Cpl. Garcia flat out says Carole seems uninterested in helping 'em out.

The reason ... she hasn't cooperated with his office's request for information -- but that's all for a good cause, according to Carole herself ... who says she's done enough already.

CB tells us that since the inception of the original investigation, she's done tons of interviews, forked over scores of documents and given unprecedented access to the authorities to get to the bottom of where the hell Don is. Not just that ... but she put out a $100k reward!

Carole adds, "There is no one who has more to gain from solving the mystery of Don’s disappearance than I do because it would clear my name and stop the idiotic rumors." She further states, "There is nothing that I know that is not either in the Sheriff’s files or in the diary I have published at SaveTheCats.org and no way I am going to have a clearer memory or anything to add twenty-four years later."

While Carole acknowledges she's mostly snubbed Garcia -- she explains she did on the advice of counsel, as she simply has nothing more to contribute.

There's also this ... the new Netflix doc apparently reveals that the Dept. of Homeland Security has already found Don alive and well in Costa Rica. Carole says she hopes that's true -- and it is even more reason she wants to put all the speculation to bed about her alleged involvement, which she says is based on nothing but unfounded rumors.

Bottom line ... Carole isn't about to dig up the past to appease kooks who are hung up on this, and she means that literally. AKA, no septic tank dig is happening on her watch.

Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson continue to give everyone something to talk about, and this time it's all thanks to what is almost certainly -- no, definitely, a hickey on the SNL's stars neck!!!

The bi-coastal duo hit Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica Sunday night ... Kim wearing some signature Balenciaga and Pete in his signature -- jeans, jacket and t-shirt -- but, it was Pete's neck that was the biggest attention grabber.

Witnesses tell us PD was sporting a quarter-sized hickey on the left side of his neck, so ... seems like the couple had a fun "appetizer." They were quite cozy during the meal too, sitting side-by-side in a quiet corner of the restaurant.

From what we're told, there was plenty of touching and feeling going on between 'em while Kim was recently in NYC -- so the hickey shouldn't be a surprise.

TMZ broke the story, Kim and Pete's romance really started to take off during a private dinner between the duo at one of Pete's Staten Island favorites. From there, it was a group dinner at Zero Bond ... and just last week a celebration for Pete's 28th with Flavor Flav and Kris Jenner at her Palm Springs mansion.

Another person featured in 'Tiger King' has died -- only this time, by suicide ... one which happened right in front of a family member, so say cops.

Former reptile dealer Jeff Johnson -- who made a brief appearance in episode 4 of 2020's 'TK' docuseries to talk Carole Baskin -- shot and killed himself in September, and did so in the immediate presence of his wife ... this according to the Oklahoma City Police Department.

Per the incident report, obtained by TMZ, Johnson was arguing with his spouse in their garage on Sept. 8 -- while their children were home as well -- and at one point, the man brought a Glock-style handgun up to his head ... and pulled the trigger.

Johnson's wife called 911 for attempted suicide, and when officers arrived ... they say he still had a pulse and was rushed to a hospital. Unfortunately, Johnson was pronounced dead upon arrival.

The cops note Johnson's wife said her husband had not suffered from any mental illness and had not experienced any prior attempted suicide -- so it's unclear why he did this.

Like we said, Jeff's time on 'Tiger King' was short-lived ... but memorable in that he explained the beef between Joe Exotic and Carole. Interestingly enough, Jeff and Joe are also said to be one-time pals turned foes. Story goes ... Jeff and Joe were cool in the past -- as they both worked in the exotic animals world -- but had a falling out once Jeff Lowe came into the picture. At that point, Jeff bashed them early and often ... and vice versa.

There's a report that Jeff's home was actually burned down during this feuding -- but it's unclear if his beef with Joe and JL are in any way connected. Jeff Lowe tells us that he was in Las Vegas at the time and denies any involvement.

Jeff was 58.

Janet Jackson's Super Bowl wardrobe malfunction is getting reexamined anew -- and there's a lot of finger-pointing ... especially as it relates to Justin Timberlake and Les Moonves.

The 2004 debacle receives a deep dive courtesy of a Hulu documentary, titled 'Malfunction: The Dressing Down of Janet Jackson' -- which discusses what happened before, during and especially after JJ's breast was exposed on live TV during the Halftime Show.

The one-hour special doesn't shed much definitive light on how exactly the snafu came to pass -- other than alluding to a secret convo allegedly had between JT and Janet's stylist in her dressing room before the show -- but the fallout is certainly front and center.

In the aftermath of the embarrassing moment, different people who say they were in the know back then claim the then-top dog at CBS, Moonves, actually demanded a face-to-face apology from both Justin and Janet ... implying if they didn't, there'd be trouble.

Reporters who were covering the story at the time say Justin actually stopped by CBS's L.A. office and did exactly that ... metaphorically "kissing the ring," as these folks describe. Janet, however, apparently refused to bend the knee ... and rebuffed Moonves' alleged demand.

The way they explain it ... Moonves was supposedly furious over what had happened, and deeply embarrassed -- so much so, in fact, the documentary suggests he was working behind the scenes to torpedo Janet's career going forward. Meanwhile, JT's career flourished.

The doc also looks at how the media handled things ... and it's clear, Janet became the butt of a running joke that lasted a good while -- one she couldn't escape, and which some talking heads say was a misogynistic, sexist and racist double standard being applied to her.

By the end of it, JT and Moonves are painted as the villains from this saga. We'll say less on LM -- who ended up leaving CBS in disgrace -- but for Justin's part ... he has apologized for the 2004 moment many times, including just earlier this year in a fresh statement.

Many felt he left Janet hanging at the time, and Justin himself seems to acknowledge that ... saying he let her down. Still, on the heels of this doc -- it would appear his apology isn't enough, because folks online are seriously pissed at him over what they perceive as a great injustice that irreparably harmed Janet.

Sheree Whitfield is not on speaking terms with her boyfriend Tyrone Gilliams ... because her reality TV career almost cost him his freedom.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... the 'RHOA' star and Tyrone -- who's currently sentenced to home confinement -- have not spoken since a November 6 incident, when Sheree told Tyrone she was leaving NYC to go visit him in Philadelphia.

The trouble started a few hours before they were scheduled to meet ... because Sheree told Tyrone she would have an 'RHOA' camera crew with her when she got to town.

We're told Sheree wanted him to come film a scene with her in a restaurant -- but, obviously, that would be a huge no-no for Tyrone due to his home confinement. To put it plainly, a judge could've thrown his ass back in prison ... if he'd gone.

That's why he passed on shooting, and production told his attorneys they'd simply edit the show to make it look like Tyrone stood her up.

Making matters worse, this photo started circulating online ... showing Sheree sitting alone at a Philly restaurant. Eagle-eyed fans noticed 2 menus on the table -- not to mention the camera crew -- and assumed Tyrone was there shooting scenes.

Although he wasn't, he was worried about the optics with the courts.

As we first told you ... when Sheree returned to 'RHOA,' she made it clear she wanted her relationship with Tyrone to be a big storyline -- but that seems derailed now. Since the incident in Philly, we're told they have not spoken, and there's been no apology from either side.

Joe Exotic is going across several state lines as he continues to battle an "aggressive cancer," and while he's still in federal custody ... his new home will help cope with his condition.

Federal prison officials tell us Joe was transferred from FMC Fort Worth, TX to FMC Butner in North Carolina Tuesday. According to its website, Butner provides "extensive medical services" with a full hospital and cancer treatment facilities.

As we reported, Joe recently had a biopsy performed on his prostate which revealed an "aggressive cancer." It was late summer when Joe said he was "ready to die" after believing the cancer had spread to his pelvis and to his stomach.

The transfer just happens to come the same week "Tiger King 2" dropped on Netflix. Joe appears in the new season from behind bars, desperate to get out.

It's currently unclear what type of cancer treatments he'll undergo. Bernie Madoff, who suffered from kidney disease, was an inmate at FMC Butner before his death in April 2021.

"The Masked Singer" is gearing up for duets ... and fan-favorite Jesse McCartney is coming back to perform!!!

Production sources tell TMZ ... for the first time ever on the FOX singing competition, the group finalists will be singing duets with top secret guest performers, including previous contestants, international superstars and even a panelist or two.

One of the guest singers is season 3 runner-up Jesse, one of the most popular performers in the show's history as Turtle.

But, more importantly, we're told the way production prepared for these duets was TOP SECRET ... the guest singers have no idea who they’re performing with ... they rehearsed completely separately to tracks, and they met for the first time on stage the day of the performance.

Nelson Thomas was not up to the challenge of a pissed-off husband -- cops say the MTV star got knocked out cold after chatting up a married woman in Las Vegas!!!

According to the police report, obtained by TMZ, Nelson -- who's starred on "The Challenge" for years -- says he met a woman at ARIA Resort & Casino and started talking to her at the valet area, and then ... WHAM!!! Next thing he knew, Nelson was being awakend by someone telling him he'd just been punched in the face and had his chain stolen.

Cops say they saw video backing up that account ... showing Nelson talking to the woman before the knockout punch put him on the ground -- and the assailant socked him one more time.

Nelson says he was "sucker-punched" and left with a broken nose so swollen he couldn't get treated by a doctor until the swelling went down.

On social media, Nelson claimed he was attacked because someone was trying to steal his $10,000 chain, but the woman's husband, Kevin Dixon, tells a different story.

According to the police report, Dixon copped to the punch ... and said Nelson was talking to his wife in an elevator -- but when he walked off, his wife stayed on and kept talking with Nelson.

He says he lost sight of her and was trying to text and call her, then found her at valet talking to Nelson. Cops say he admitted being jealous, mad and drunk -- a bad combo any night in Vegas.

Dixon was arrested for battery and grand larceny.

Nelson's on the mend, and it looks like his nose is fixed after finally getting treatment.

Tamar Braxton is the latest victim of brazen burglars -- but instead of vowing vengeance ... she's actually sending them prayers.

The singer broke the startling news early Wednesday morning, saying ... "A few hours ago, this broken, bum ass man (one that I know) broke into my home and stole my safe only."

In her post, Tamar notes nothing else was taken -- including valuables like a Birkin bag or a computer or gaming systems -- and that the safe seemed to be the only item sought.

She also had a message for the perp ... "I want you to know first hand that I'm not angry. You did not break me. You did not violate me. What your broken ass don't realize that God gave me that home and every single thing in it during a pandemic, & also during the time when I was all of those things. God personally put the pieces of my life back together again."

She adds, "So pumpkin, you did not steal from me. Those things you took, he will give back to me a million times fold!!! You took from God!!!"

Tamar then got seriously Biblical, saying the crook isn't ready for the kind of vengeance God is about to drop on them. She closed with, "Father, have your way -- Amen."

Carole Baskin is still fighting to have footage of herself removed from "Tiger King 2," and telling us how the series producers allegedly pulled some shady moves to deceive her.

We spoke to the big cat animal rescue owner herself just a day before Netflix is set to debut its sequel to the smash-hit series ... and Carole gave us the behind-the-scenes intel she says led to her filing a lawsuit to stop her image and likeness from being included in 'TK 2.'

For starters, Carole told us on Tuesday's "TMZ Live," she is NOT trying to stop Netflix from putting out a second installment -- she just wants any tie to her nixed from the final product.

As for why she wants out of the project? Well, Carole says she also hated the OG "Tiger King" ... and she alleges producers pitched it to her like it was going to be a "Blackfish"-styled expose on animal abuse. She even claims they even showed her an early promo cut which was exactly that.

As you now know ... "Tiger King" ended up playing as more of an anti-hero tale, with Joe Exotic as the heroic lead, and Carole as the "bad guy" nemesis.

That's Carole's biggest gripe -- what she calls the flat-out misrepresentation of her and her mission ... something she tells us is still haunting her to this day in the form of harassment and threats from rabid fans.

She also addressed what Jeff and Lauren Lowe told us Monday -- namely, that they're gearing up to sue Carole for allegedly tipping off the feds to violations at his now-shutdown Tiger King Park.

Carole says Jeff's fury is misplaced, and everything that's happened to him in the wake of "Tiger King" is his own doing. She claims her team got plenty of video evidence of animal abuse at Jeff's place, and she's airing it on her new Discovery+ show, "Carole Baskin's Cage Fight."

A topless Iman Shumpert lifted his partner over his head AND shouted out LeBron James in his "Dancing With The Stars" routine Monday -- and it was epic!!

The former Knicks star -- who became the first ex-NBA player to advance to the finals of "DWTS" this week -- pulled it all off during his jazz dance with Daniella Karagach.

The two grooved to Kanye West's "Dark Fantasy" ... opening up the performance with Shumpert hoisting Karagach over his head before walking her down the stairs and onto the stage.

The duo put on quite the show ... and then Shumpert broke out LBJ's signature "Silencer" celebration.

Check out the clip, you can see Shump -- who won a championship with LeBron and the Cleveland Cavaliers back in 2016 -- pushed his hands down violently, like James does, before beating his chest in classic LBJ-fashion.

The two scored a 38 out of 40 for the work ... and are now set to compete for the Mirrorball trophy with three other couples next week.

Joe Exotic is getting a helping hand from somebody he once considered a mortal enemy ... and that would be Jeff Lowe, who says he's back on Team JE.

Jeff and his wife, Lauren, came on 'TMZ Live' Monday ahead of the premiere of 'Tiger King 2' -- which comes out Wednesday on Netflix -- and they told us a lot has changed.

For starters, Jeff says the GW Exotic Animal Park they operated out of Oklahoma will, indeed, be moved to a new location -- but he claims he's in the process of getting all his animals back from the feds.

You'll recall the government raided the park, confiscated the animals and evicted the Lowes, based on allegations of mistreatment and not having the proper paperwork.

Jeff claims the whole federal investigation was based on BS peddled by none other than Carole Baskin -- and as a result, he insists the feds are about to drop all charges against him.

The next step ... firing off their own lawsuits! Jeff and Lauren told us they're going after Carole, PETA and others he considers responsible for prompting the federal raid. What's even crazier is that he's recruiting Joe's attorneys to help him.

'Teen Mom' star David Eason's got new trouble with the law -- although this time it has nothing to do with his wife, Jenelle Evans -- instead, cops say he broke the law twice while behind the wheel.

David got busted in Columbus County, NC, where he and Jenelle live, for driving on a revoked license. Even worse, cops say he was tooling around town with an open container of alcohol when they stopped him Friday night.

According to the NY Post, David posted a $750 bond, through a bondsman, in order to get released from jail.

Jenelle and David, who were once bitterly estranged, reconciled last year -- however, David apparently didn't make up with the state of North Carolina. According to Jenelle, he failed to pay an old seatbelt ticket ... and that's why his license has been revoked.

The court dates are stacking up for David ... he has 2 of 'em coming up in February for this new arrest, and also from summer 2020 -- for assault with a deadly weapon.

Lisa Rinna's mother, Lois Rinna, is dead ... a few days after suffering a second stroke.

Lisa's mom died Monday morning ... according to Amelia Hamlin, Lisa's daughter and Lois' granddaughter.

The cause of death is unclear but Lisa went public last week with the news her mom had suffered another stroke -- Lois previously suffered a stroke back in 2013 -- getting emotional on social media over what was going on with her mom.

Amelia posted a heartfelt tribute to Lois on Monday, along with a ton of pictures of the family with her "guardian angel."

The model is remembering her late grandma as her best friend, her strength, her rock, her everything ... and she says Lois' "laughter never failed to light up any room you ever walked in."

Amelia is also thanking Lois for being the strength their family needed, and for teaching her what it means to be a strong woman.

You might have seen Lois on TV before ... she made a habit of appearing on "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" over the years with Lisa.

Amelia mentions 5:05 AM in her goodbye post ... which appears to be the time of death.

Lois was 93.

Paris Hilton continues to ride the wedding train ... and the third night was off the hook!

Paris and her new hubby, Carter Reum, went back to their wedding venue -- the Bel-Air estate of her late grandfather Barron Hilton -- and the party was as splashy as it gets.

The guest list was impressive ... Kate Beckinsale, Ashley Benson, Emma Roberts, Jaden Smith, Sofia Richie, Jasmine Tookes and, oh yeah, Nicky Hilton.

Macy Gray performed, as guests danced late, late into the evening.

There were also leftover pillows from Friday night's bash at the Santa Monica Pier. As one guest told us, "People started stealing other people’s Paris pillows. Like one guy took mine from underneath my jacket and purse and started running away, but I got him!"

This presumably was the last night of celebration, and as weddings go, this one was pretty spectacular.

The wedding, Thursday night, was pretty awesome ... with hundreds of guests partying under a massive tent on the property. As for celebs who hit up the bash ... Kim Kardashian, Nicole Richie, Demi Lovato, Paula Abdul, Kyle Richards, Bebe Rexha, Emma Roberts and Evan Ross.

It was followed up by a more relaxed shindig at the Santa Monica Pier, where guests like Lele Pons, Lance Bass and Diplo played games and rode rides.

Erika Jayne is eliminating one specific kind of suitor ... telling us she would be hard-pressed to date another lawyer like her estranged husband Tom Girardi.

We got the 'RHOBH' star leaving Jolie in Los Angeles and our photog asked her how her dating life is going, and if she would ever go out with a lawyer again.

Ya gotta see Erika's initial reaction ... but when we press her, she gets real ... explaining why lawyers are probably not the best fit for her going forward, albeit with one big exception.

As you know, Erika is in the middle of a rocky divorce with Tom and she's been sued for allegedly hiding assets through a "sham divorce." Tom is accused of stealing money intended for families of the 2018 Lion Air Flight 610 crash victims.

Remember ... Erika says intelligence and money are the two most important factors in a partner, while looks and age are lower on the totem pole ... and now we know lawyers are out of bounds.