Scandal

Columbus Short -- like the Caribbean island where he's hiding -- is a little beach ... so says the judge in his domestic violence case who just annihilated him in court.

Columbus was a no show in court again Wednesday AM -- and the irate judge has clearly lost his patience, upping his arrest warrant from $40K to $500K ... that means when Columbus is eventually arrested he has to post half a mil before he's set free.

Columbus has been a fugitive from justice after blowing off his domestic violence hearing last month in favor of his extended Barbados vacation.

We're told ... the former "Scandal" star is expected to fly back to the U.S. Wednesday to face the music ... and we're told he will be immediately cuffed and jailed.

Fugitive from justice Columbus Short lied when he claimed the guy he knocked out in an L.A. bar had it coming because he slapped his wife ... fact is, Columbus confessed to the guy IN WRITING.

You'll recall ... Columbus was arrested in March after sucker punching a guy during an engagement party at a West L.A. sports bar. The guy ended up in the hospital with a concussion and broken nose.

Columbus spoke out last month ... claiming he punched the guy in defense of his wife, because the man was taunting the "Scandal" star's wife, slapping her in the face with $20 bills.

But we've obtained a text message Columbus sent to the guy he hit ... sent the very same night of the incident. Columbus wrote, "I know im texting and incriminating myself but I have to own what I did wrong in that situation."

Columbus goes on, "Im so sorry and completely disappointed in myself," adding, "Whether I go to jail or not that will be the worst punishment of all. Losing you guys."

Columbus Short was flush with cash before he got canned from "Scandal" -- banking nearly $65K an episode -- but was a cheapskate when it came to buying jewelry for his wife ... according to his wife.

His soon-to-be-ex, Tanee Short filed new docs in their nasty divorce ... in which she says Columbus earned more than $2.3 million over the last 3.5 years ... the biggest chunk of that from "Scandal" -- which paid him $64,900 per show.

She also claims he raked in an average of 10 grand a pop for nightclub appearances.

Tanee says she's unemployed and lists very limited assets -- some gym equipment and a couple of pieces of jewelry ... a watch and the wedding ring Columbus gave her, worth $3,500.

Columbus Short seems to be making it clear ... he will NOT come back to the U.S. to fight his multiple criminal cases -- and he is thumbing his nose at the United States justice system.

Columbus was in Barbados yesterday when he told the crowd he's packing his bags and moving there for good ... Mind you, there's an active arrest warrant after he failed to show earlier this week in his domestic case.

Columbus has had 4 run-ins with the law in the last 5 months ... and aggressively spoke about his disdain for the people who are accusing him of wrongdoing.

This picture may be enough to put Columbus Short behind bars.

Short chose the Caribbean over court Wednesday. He had been ordered to appear before a judge in his domestic violence case but was a no show. The judge issued an arrest warrant.

Lo and behold ... Columbus was living large at a festival called Fantasy Barbados ... a Mardi-Gras-like celebration.

Nation News on the island got what could be the smoking gun for the judge ... surely enough to throw the book at the former "Scandal" star.

Columbus Short may not be wanted anymore on "Scandal" ... but he's still a wanted man -- as in there's now a warrant out for his arrest.

Short was ordered to show Wednesday morning in criminal court for a hearing in his domestic violence case. His wife was asking the judge for more protection from the actor, who is mired in legal trouble.

But Columbus wasn't there, so the judge issued a bench warrant.

Here's the interesting twist. The day before he was a no-show in a different criminal case. The judge threatened to issue a warrant and Columbus suddenly appeared.

We asked Columbus Tuesday about his belated court appearance. Check out his reaction.

Columbus Short knows his life won't get better unless he stops getting wasted -- so he's vowing to cut out binge drinking ... but he DENIES he's an alcoholic.

Short met Wednesday with Ed Butowsky -- a well-known Dallas money manager -- who tells us Short realized he needs help after several high profile arrests.

Butowsky tells us ... they discussed Short's drinking at length. Butowsky says the ex-"Scandal" star doesn't think he has an alcohol problem and refuses to join a program -- but he did admit to getting drunk more than he should and vowed to aggressively cut back.

We're also told ... Short now knows he needs to stay out of bars ... and cut out all of the people who are bad influences in his life.

Butowsky says he urged Short work with charities to "make his soul feel good." He's also having Short look at rental houses in the Dallas area ... to get out of L.A. for a while.

Columbus Short is finally revealing exactly what drove him into such a rage that he delivered a knockout blow to a guy's face earlier this year -- and it might change your opinion of the hot-headed actor.

Short was on Atlanta's V-103 radio station when he was asked about the bar fight back in March, and he said ... "I had to defend my wife at a bar. This man was being highly, highly disrespectful ... slapping her in the face with $20 bills."

TMZ broke the story ... Columbus knocked out Felton Hyche III, and at the time all we knew was that Hyche had allegedly said or done something rude to Short's wife.

Columbus also explains that Hyche was the one who got physical first -- but if what he says about the money to his wife's face is true, we gotta ask ...

Columbus Short is going back in front of the camera -- instead of appearing in front of a judge -- starring in a new romantic comedy ... and TMZ has a photo from the set.

Short is shooting the movie, "Mr. Right" in Atlanta and took this pic with a couple of his co-stars. The film also stars Erica Tazel from "Justified" (awesome show).

The woman who caught a beating at the hands of Columbus Short's estranged wife now wants to press criminal charges ... TMZ has learned.

As TMZ first reported, Short's wife, Tanee McCall, went BALLISTIC and attacked Short's friend, Tilly Key, back in February when Key showed up at Short's house to help him move out. For some reason, Short recorded the whole thing.

Now law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Key showed up at the Lost Hills Sheriff Station Thursday and filed a battery report against McCall. We're told police will interview Columbus and Tanee.

We're told Key has been getting a lot of random phone calls lately and noticed lots of random accounts on Twitter have started following her. She panicked, and filed the police report.

Key even got into it with McCall this week online ... after McCall favorited a tweet of Key's, to which Key responded, "Stay away from me... I have 2 years to press charges. You already told me 'I'm gonna slit your throat, I'm gonna kill you, gonna break your neck' that's enough already."

Former "Scandal" star Columbus Short didn't give up on his entertainment career after his infamous firing -- he's already back on the grind trying to claw his way back to the top ... doing the comedy club circuit.

Short was outside Flappers comedy club in Burbank this week and we asked about his burgeoning career as a comic -- he had a pretty fantastic sense of humor ... and even fired off a joke about how his life is in the crapper.

Short's also getting back into the music world ... working with R&B producer Knotch (seen in the video above) on some new tracks of his own.

It was all fun and games until we asked if any of Short's "Scandal" coworkers stood by him after he got canned ... and things got dark real fast.

Ex-"Scandal" star Columbus Short is playing a dangerous and illegal game of cat and mouse ... repeatedly contacting his estranged wife in violation of a court order ... so claims his ex.

Tanee McCall-Short's lawyer claimed in court Wednesday he repeatedly violated a stay away order ... contacting Tanee on 6 separate occasions.

Short's lawyer could have asked to hold Columbus in contempt, but instead the attorney asked the judge to make the temporary order permanent. The judge is considering what to do ... in the meantime the restraining order was extended to July 30th.

TMZ broke the story ... Tanee got the TRO -- and filed for divorce -- after Short allegedly put a knife to her throat and threatened murder/suicide.

"Scandal" EP Shonda Rhimes BLASTED Deadline Hollywood for putting up a fake story saying Columbus Short had been recast ... only minutes after the story went up. SHOTS FIRED!!!

Short -- who recently got the boot from the show and whose character appeared to be dead at the end of last season -- was to be replaced by some guy named Eric West ... according to Deadline.

But Rhimes shot down that report right quick, tweeting out, "I've never heard of Eric West. Harrison is not being recast EVER. How about reporters CHECK THEIR SOURCES before running with a story? Um, @Deadline? Handle yourself."

Even West -- who would have gone down in infamy with the likes of Dick Sargent, Sarah Chalke and countless others -- got in the act, tweeting simply, "This is news to me."

Deadline quickly updated its story, calling it an "elaborate hoax" -- but still wouldn't drop it, writing, "It is unclear yet whether Short would be replaced."

Sounds pretty clear to us.

The guy Columbus Short allegedly beat up in a bar fight has had it with the former "Scandal" star ... and now plans to sue after an out-of-court settlement fell apart because Columbus pled poverty.

The victim's lawyer tells TMZ ... Short offered to pay a handsome sum to settle with the guy he allegedly knocked out. But the lawyer says Columbus pulled the plug, saying he was just sacked from "Scandal" and his income stream dried up like a riverbed in drought-stricken California.

We're told the victim had asked Columbus for several hundred thousand dollars to cover medical expenses -- including an expected surgery to repair facial fractures. And of course, he wants something for his pain and suffering.

We're told Columbus can expect a lawsuit as early as Friday.

Columbus' lawyer had no comment.

Columbus Short doesn't know when to stop -- at least according to his wife, who claims the former "Scandal" star broke into their house over Easter weekend ... and ransacked the joint.

Short's wife Tanee has filed new court docs, claiming Short busted into their marital home while she was away -- despite a restraining order barring him from the premises -- and left a trail of destruction in his wake.

Tanee claims Short broke a door off its hinges, ripped off her bed sheets, left on a bunch of lights (electricity ain't cheap) -- and made her fear for her safety and the safety of their 2-year-old daughter.

TMZ broke the story, Tanee obtained the restraining order earlier this month, claiming Short put a knife to her throat and threatened to kill her. The order bars Short from entering their home, but he's fighting it ... insisting he has the right to come and go as he pleases because his name is on the lease.

Tanee says the break-in is further proof the restraining order is necessary.

Columbus Short will NOT be returning to "Scandal" -- and sources connected with ABC says it's because the network decided to give him the axe over allegations of domestic violence.

Columbus just released this statement: "At this time I must confirm my exit from a show I've called home for 3 years, with what is the most talented ensemble in television today."

Short goes on: "Everything must come to an end and unfortunately the time has come for Harrison Wright to exit the canvas. I wish nothing but the best for Shonda, Kerry and the rest of the cast..."

Short story ... it would appear Harrison ate the bullet that was aimed at him in the season finale.

TMZ broke the story ... Short's wife just got a restraining order against him after he allegedly put a knife to her throat and threatened to kill her. He's also been charged in connection with another incident with domestic violence and child abuse. He was arrested for yet another incident of alleged domestic abuse. And he was arrested recently for allegedly clocking a dude in a bar.