Posted Nov 20th 2009 4:18PM by TMZ Staff
The creator of "Entourage" is vowing to put a stop to the gay and racial "jokes" being thrown around on the set of his show, after one of the stars revealed he's "occasionally" targeted ... and unhappy about it.
Rex Lee -- who plays Lloyd on the show -- was out in L.A. yesterday, where he claimed certain members of the crew "occasionally" make fun of his ethnicity and sexuality on set. Rex added, "I try not to let it bother me."
After Lee's admission, the show's creator Doug Ellin told TMZ he's "shocked and horrified" to hear about the situation and "will be speaking to everybody before we start filming again in March. It's not something condoned or acceptable."
Ellin also told us he already spoke to Lee -- and during the convo, Rex re-confirmed that crew members had made "insensitive gay jokes."
Ellin claims he's now going to lay down the gauntlet, telling Rex if it happens again, the culprit will be fired.
Click here to live chat!Filed under: Paparazzi Video, TV, Entourage, Exclusives
Posted Nov 20th 2009 3:54PM by TMZ Staff
TMZ has obtained the 911 calls made when one of Miley Cyrus' tour buses crashed last night on a highway in Virginia, killing the driver and injuring one passenger. Miley was not involved in any way.
In the first call, the caller tells the dispatcher the bus driver is still alive, but "losing color." This is significant because officials were investigating whether or not the driver died before the crash occurred ... which would help explain how the bus drifted off the road and then crashed.
In the second call, which sounds like it's being made by a different person, the caller says the driver was suffering cardiac arrest.
A third 911 call was made, in which you can hear the caller being instructed on how to perform CPR. This caller also says there are people still trapped in the back of the bus, but they are all okay.
The driver, 53-year-old William Douglas, died at the scene.
UPDATE: Police tell TMZ there were no obvious signs that alcohol played a factor in the crash, and believe Douglas may have had health-related issues. The matter is still under investigation.
Filed under: Miley Cyrus
Posted Nov 20th 2009 3:13PM by TMZ Staff
Joe Francis has cojones. He's taking on Uncle Sam in court over a small bill -- around $34,000,000.
TMZ has obtained legal docs Francis filed in federal court, asking a judge to order the feds to release his money the government has frozen.
The IRS issued a tax lien against Francis earlier this month to the tune of $33,819,087.14. According to the new docs, the government went in and froze Joe's accounts over at UBS and Morgan Stanley. Joe told TMZ the accounts total $100 mil.
The "Girls Gone Wild" chief wants the judge to release the money, stat.
Joe says the frozen accounts have put him on the brink of bankruptcy.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Exclusives, Joe Francis
Posted Nov 20th 2009 2:45PM by TMZ Staff
Gayle King's reaction to Oprah calling it quits in 2011 was simple: "If she's happy, I'm happy for her."
O's BFF was in NYC today, where she made it clear that even after Oprah's off the air she "can't be replaced."
And just like O, Gayle also threw out a shameless plug -- making sure to promo what time Oprah airs in NYC.
Filed under: Paparazzi Video, TV, Oprah
Posted Nov 20th 2009 2:15PM by TMZ Staff
Michael Jackson stiffed the people who installed his TV system at Neverland, this according to a brand spankin' new creditor's claim.
According to a claim filed yesterday, a company called Video & Audio Center (VAC) installed electronic audio and video equipment at Neverland Ranch in late 2003 and early 2004. We're told the company rewired the house, installed plasma TVs and put speakers all over the house.
VAC claims Jackson's camp ran up a bill of $109,540.85 -- and paid $25,000 of that, but never settled the bill completely. According to the docs, VAC says they won a judgment back in 2007 for the remainder.
They're asking for $128,482.77 -- the unpaid bill plus interest.
Filed under: Michael Jackson, Exclusives
Posted Nov 20th 2009 2:00PM by TMZ Staff
To be a successful Victoria's Secret model you need a lot of fake ... hair.
Supermodel Miranda Kerr got ready backstage at the Victoria's Secret runway show in NYC yesterday, amidst a table full of roadkill-looking synthetic weaves.
Who knew these ridiculously hot chicks augmented their beauty?!
Filed under: Paparazzi Photo, Beauty, Hot Bodies
Posted Nov 20th 2009 1:27PM by TMZ Staff
Miley Cyrus won't have to find $4 billion to pay off all the Asians in Los Angeles -- a judge officially let the singer off the hook in a lawsuit over that offensive "Hanoi Montana" photo she took earlier this year.
This morning, a judge threw out the case filed by an Asian woman named Lucie Kim -- on behalf of all the Asians in L.A. -- who claimed the photo was offensive and Miley should have known the media would get its collective hands on it.
After the photo went public, Miley apologized a bunch of times and then went on a campaign of sushi dinners.
Kim claims she's considering filing an appeal to the judge's ruling.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Miley Cyrus
Posted Nov 20th 2009 1:09PM by TMZ Staff
The judge has unsealed the search warrant issued against Applied Pharmacy Services in Las Vegas ... where authorities believe Dr. Conrad Murray obtained the Propofol that ultimately killed Michael Jackson.
According to the affidavit, during the search of Dr. Murray's home and office, cops recovered a sales receipt from Applied Pharmacy. The receipt showed that on May 12, 2009, Dr. Murray purchased 4 100 ml vials of Propofol. He also purchased 3 vials of benzos. One of the drugs Murray purchased -- Flumazenil -- is actually an antidote to a benzo, used to counteract the effects of benzos.
The receipt for the drugs totaled $853, with a $65 FedEx fee to overnight the drugs.
The affidavit states that cops were on the hunt for Visa and FedEx information linking Dr. Murray to the sale of Propofol by Applied Pharmacy.
The affidavit says at the scene of Michael Jackson's death at his home, Propofol was recovered "in Dr. Murray's doctor's bag and on the bedside table." The Propofol was in 20 ml and 100 ml bottles.
According to the affidavit, Dr. Murray told cops he was not the first doc to introduce Jackson to Propofol. Dr. Murray stated Dr. Arnold Klein and Dr. Allan Metzger had given Jackson medicine that was not working.
And there's this ... according to the docs, "Detectives interviewed Grace Owanda (sic), Jackson's children's nanny. Owanda stated that Jackson was currently being treated by Dr. [Arnold] Klein and the last physician to treat Jackson was Dr. Larry Koplin."
Filed under: Michael Jackson, Exclusives
Posted Nov 20th 2009 12:39PM by TMZ Staff
Britney Spears' paparazzo ex boyfriend was just sentenced to 45 days in county jail after pleading no contest last month to leaving the scene of an accident.
But it's not as bad as it seems ... Adnan Ghalib gets ONE day credit for time already spent behind bars. Score!
Ghalib will also be placed on formal probation for 36 months, has to complete 52 weeks of anger management classes and 45 days of Caltrans (hard labor).
This all stems from an incident back in February, when Ghalib allegedly ran over a process server with his car. Ghalib was initially charged with three felonies: assault with a deadly weapon, battery and hit-and-run, but the first two charges were dropped as a part of his plea deal.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Britney Spears
Posted Nov 20th 2009 11:04AM by TMZ Staff
Oprah just made her big announcement live on her show -- revealing the "real" reason she's walking away after 25 years.
She started strong, then began to cry, then regained her composure -- and in between shameless promotion for her next season, Oprah told her audience that pulling the plug, "feels right."
"I love this show ... this show has been my life and I love it enough to know when it's time to say goodbye. 25 years feels right in my bones and my spirit. It's the perfect number, the exact right time."
And then there was this moment:
"For some of you, long time Oprah viewers, you have literally grown up with me ... we've grown together ... you had your family and you raised your children and you left a spot for me in your morning or afternoon -- depending on when the Oprah show airs in your town."
Click here to live chat!
Filed under: TV, Oprah
Posted Nov 20th 2009 11:02AM by TMZ Staff
No longer sporting the protective boot he's been rocking as of late, David Beckham took his various sons for frozen yogurt at a Pinkberry in Brentwood yesterday ... without injuring himself.
Even Becks has to bribe his kids with Swirly Goodness every once in a while.
Filed under: Paparazzi Photo, Becks & Posh, Talk Sports
Posted Nov 20th 2009 11:00AM by TMZ Staff
UPDATE: Miley was not in any of the buses traveling in the caravan. The Cyrus Family released the following statement: "We are deeply saddened by the loss of Bill "Uncle Bill" Douglas. Members of our tour are like members of our family. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family in the midst of this tragedy. He will truly be missed."
The North Carolina concert Miley Cyrus was traveling to when one of her tour buses crashed, killing the driver, is still set to go on as planned.
TMZ spoke with an employee at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex in Greensboro, NC who tells us they've been flooded with calls asking about Miley's concert on Sunday. At this point, the employee tells us, "The show is going on as scheduled."
As we previously reported, one person was killed when the bus veered off the road in Virgina and crashed onto its side. The bus was part of a four-vehicle caravan, one of which was carrying Miley - though her bus was not involved in the accident.
The ill-fated bus was loaded with several members of Miley's concert lighting team.
Filed under: Music, Miley Cyrus, Exclusives
Posted Nov 20th 2009 9:38AM by TMZ Staff
UPDATE: Oprah knows a thing or two about sweeps -- and is saving her big announcement for the end of the show.
Oprah is about to personally announce that she's ending her reign as maybe the most successful person ever to host a show on TV. And you can see it all go down on TMZ.
BTW, as we first reported, Oprah insiders are telling us one of the reasons behind the timing is that Oprah is angling to get ABC to slide "The Dr. Oz Show" into her time slot. "Oz" becomes a free agent at exactly the same time Oprah will go off the air.
We're also told other talk shows are angling to get the time period, which is primo real estate in TV land.
Click here to live chat!Filed under: TV, Oprah
