Mary Kay Letourneau -- the former teacher imprisoned after pleading guilty to raping her student, whom she later married -- is dead after battling stage 4 colon cancer ... TMZ has learned.
Mary's now-estranged husband, Vili Fualaau, previously shared her stage 4 cancer diagnosis on Instagram, sharing a photo of himself wearing a medical mask with the caption, "Praying for a miracle."
Her attorney, David H. Gehrke, tells us Mary Kay had been in hospice care for the past month, and Vili had been by her side ... helping take care of her.
Mary and Vili notoriously made headlines in the late '90s, as she was 34, married and had 4 children when she began having sex with him -- her 6th grade student. He was either 12 or 13 at the time.
She pled guilty in 1997 to 2 counts of felony second-degree rape of a child and ended up serving 7 years in prison.
Mary gave birth to 2 of Vili's kids, and they wed in 2005 after she was released from prison. TMZ broke the story ... the couple split in 2017.
We contacted a spokesperson for Vili and they would only say it's a very hard time right now.
Jordana Brewster is waving the white flag on her marriage ... because she just filed for divorce.
The "Fast and the Furious" star filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court last week to divorce film producer Andrew Form after more than 13 years of marriage.
Jordana and Andrew tied the knot way back in May 2007 in a super-private wedding ceremony on Nevis Island in the Caribbean. They dated for two months before getting married, meeting on the set of "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning." Jordana starred in that movie, which Andrew produced.
It's not clear what led to the split, but Jordana and Andrew reportedly separated earlier this year and it's said to be amicable.
The estranged couple will have to settle child custody and/or support issues --- they have two young sons, 6-year-old Julian and 4-year-old Rowan.
We reached out to reps for Jordana and Andrew ... so far, no word back.
The Trump supporters who tried using black paint to cover up a Black Lives Matter street mural in the Bay Area have just been charged with a hate crime.
The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office charged Nichole Anderson and David Nelson with misdemeanor counts Tuesday for their alleged actions on July 4, when Anderson was caught on camera covering up a yellow 'BLM' mural with black paint.
The D.A. says Nelson directly aided in the alleged criminal conduct ... and the Martinez, CA couple are both being charged with a violation of civil rights, vandalism under $400 and possession of tools to commit vandalism or graffiti.
Prosecutors are classifying it as a hate crime because under California penal code ... the alleged civil rights violation was motivated by the race of the victim.
As we reported ... the MAGA couple painted over a 'BLM' mural on a street outside their local courthouse, a mural that had been approved by city officials.
Video showed Anderson using a paint roller to spread black paint over the large yellow letters, while Nelson got into shouting matches with bystanders.
The mural was repainted and our law enforcement sources say police tracked down the couple, who were not arrested, and turned the case over the Contra Costa D.A.
Prosecutors say the couple is facing up to a year in county jail, if convicted on all charges.
Dan Bilzerian fired a whistleblower who sounded the alarm on strange spending patterns at Dan's cannabis and CBD company ... at least according to a new lawsuit.
The popular playboy poker player and cannabis sector CEO is being sued by Curtis Heffernan, who claims he was fired from his job at Dan's weed company, Ignite, after noticing some company funds were being spent on things that seemed personal ... and then blowing the whistle.
According to the lawsuit obtained by TMZ ... Heffernan, who was Ignite's Executive VP, claims he flagged tons of purchases to the company board, such as lavish spending on a $75,000 paintball field, $40k on a rock climbing wall, $60k on a 'Star Wars' gun set, $31k on pool renovations, $50k on a bed frame, $15k on a ping pong table and $88k on a vault.
In the docs, Heffernan claims Dan's company was also burning tons of money on luxury yacht rentals, plus transportation for hot models ... and he says he found other "business expenses" that turned out to be charges for groceries and various household items.
According to the suit, Heffernan claims he told the board at Ignite the company could not afford to keep spending money in the same manner during the pandemic, and in response, Dan falsely accused him of doing drugs and he got canned.
3:07 PM PT -- TMZ's learned phones have been ringing off the hook at Lucia, the restaurant at Bernardus Lodge & Spa where Lofthouse spewed his racist rant. We're told since the July 4 video went viral over the last 24 hours, customers have been calling to show support to both the Asian family and the waitstaff for how they handled the situation.
For instance ... we're told longtime customers and others have called asking how they can get upwards of $1,000 to the waitstaff and offering to cover the family's meal. And, get this ... some have also sent floral arrangements to the hotel with notes commending the staff. Others who called expressed outrage over what they saw.
As for Lofthouse, we're told the Sheriff's Department is investigating the incident as well after a call from the targeted family.
A man unleashed a viciously racist verbal attack against a family that was doing nothing but minding their business -- and it turns out ... the guy's the head of a major IT company.
The guy here has been identified as Michael Lofthouse -- CEO of cloud-computing startup Solid8 out in Silicon Valley ... and he was caught on camera this past weekend in Monterey, CA going off on a group of people who were of Asian descent. Lofthouse himself is from the U.K.
Anyway, the video starts after he'd apparently said something pretty vile from his table at a restaurant ... but when the people he attacked started recording him, he clammed up. Only briefly though, because Lofthouse eventually cut loose again, calling the person recording him an "Asian piece of s***."
He went on to invoke President Trump's name ... saying POTUS was gonna screw 'em in November. An employee demanded Lofthouse get the hell out.
The woman who recorded this says the guy's attack was completely unprovoked. She went on to post info about him, including a back and forth in a comment section which appears to show him threatening to kill a guy who called him out for his behavior.
Lofthouse has since gotten rid of his social media accounts. Solid8 hasn't spoken on it yet.
Now, here's a little more context. According to Stop AAPI Hate (an org that documents incidents of discrimination against Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders) ... 832 people in their community have self-reported experiences of harassment in the last three months.
@mynamegangg/Twitter - @myullz/Twitter
That jibes with what we've seen on the streets, especially in L.A. ... with folks like SoCal Karen spewing hate.
The reason for this uptick? Well, the Prez has been blaming China for coronavirus for months now. Still think his "kung flu" jokes are harmless?
3:20 PM PT -- Trump's deputy press secretary, Sarah Matthews, tells TMZ the book is a money grab and the White House is refuting Mary's claims.
Matthews tells us Trump's relationship with his father was "warm" and she adds, "the absurd SAT allegation is completely false."
Donald Trump's a phony, a liar and above all else -- a cruel and dangerous egomaniac now in charge of America's well-being ... according to Mary L. Trump, the President's niece.
Excerpts from Mary's new book, "Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man" have been released, and in it, she alleges her uncle was the original Felicity Huffman ... and not for acting.
Mary claims Trump cheated on a college entrance test -- the SAT -- by paying someone else to take it for him in Queens, NY ... and that high score helped him get into Wharton Business School at Penn.
Trump's niece, who is a clinical psychologist, also says her uncle developed "twisted behaviors" from an upbringing in the rich and notorious real estate family led by his father, Fred Trump Sr. ... which led to him implementing "cheating as a way of life."
She says his own sister -- Maryanne Trump Barry -- referred to him as a "clown" when he began running for prez, and was baffled by Christians supporting him. According to the book, Maryanne said of her brother ... "It’s mind boggling. But that’s all about his base. He has no principles. None!"
As for 45's cruelty and narcissism ... Mary alleges, before her father -- Donald's older brother -- Freddy, died from an alcohol-induced heart attack in 1981, the family sent him to the hospital alone. Donald, she claims, went to the movies instead.
The tell-all book's publication is being challenged by the Trump family -- who cite a confidentiality agreement from nearly 20 years ago -- but so far ... a judge is NOT blocking its planned release next week. Advance copies have already gone out to several media outlets.
Mary has been estranged from the family for years and is the first Trump member to break ranks and divulge alleged family secrets.
The judge is expected to rule soon on whether or not she violated her confidentiality agreement.
4:00 PM PT -- Another apology from DeSean Jackson ... this time, he's apologizing to the Jewish community -- and his Jewish bosses -- vowing to educate himself on why his IG post was so offensive and hurtful.
"I want to apologize to the Jewish community, Jeffrey Lurie, Howie Rosemnan, Doug Peterson, the Eagles organization and out fans for the insensitive and ill-informed posts that I shared on my social media."
Jackson continued, "This apology is more than just words -- it is a promise to do better. I will fully educate myself and work with local and national organizations to be more informed and make a difference in our community."
"I will consider my words and actions moving forward. I will seek out voices from other communities and listen to their words, thoughts and beliefs. In a time of division, I am committed to doing my part in making this world a better place for our children."
Sources connected to Jackson tell TMZ Sports he's spent the day talking with several Jewish people to try to understand why the post was so hurtful and dangerous.
8:57 AM PT -- DeSean has posted a new video -- saying his anti-Semitic posts were a "mistake" ... adding, "I truly apologize for posting it and sorry for any hurt I have caused."
8:52 AM PT -- The Eagles have condemned Jackson's post as "offensive, harmful, and absolutely appalling" -- and are vowing to take "appropriate action."
The team does NOT say if they're considering cutting or suspending the WR.
Here's the team statement in full ...
"We have spoken with DeSean Jackson about his social media posts. Regardless of his intentions, the messages he shared were offensive, harmful, and absolutely appalling. They have no place in our society, and are not condoned or supported in any way by the organization. We are disappointed and we reiterated to DeSean the importance of not only apologizing, but also using his platform to take action to promote unity, equality, and respect."
"We are continuing to evaluate the circumstances and will take appropriate action. We take these matters very seriously and are committed to continuing to have productive and meaningful conversations with DeSean, as well as all of our players and staff, in order to educate, learn and grow."
This is bad.
NFL star DeSean Jackson claims he's NOT a Jew-hater -- despite posting quotes suggesting a Jewish plot for world domination.
The Philadelphia Eagles WR first posted a screenshot of a book that features a quote attributed to Adolf Hitler -- saying Jews will "extort" and "blackmail" America as part of a greater "plan for world domination."
According to the multiple research websites, including Snopes, the quote is NOT originally from Hitler -- but STILL A HORRIBLE THING TO POST!
There was obvious backlash to the post from people including former Philadelphia Eagles president Joe Banner, who is Jewish.
If a white player said anything about AA’s as outrageous as what Desean Jackson said about Jews tonight there would at least be a serious conversation about cutting him and a need for a team meeting to discuss. Which would be totally appropriate. Absolutely indefensible.
"If a white player said anything about AA’s as outrageous as what Desean Jackson said about Jews tonight there would at least be a serious conversation about cutting him and a need for a team meeting to discuss. Which would be totally appropriate," Banner said.
"Absolutely indefensible."
Jackson later responded on another IG post -- saying, "Anyone who feels I have hate towards the Jewish community took my post the wrong way."
He added, "I have no hatred in my heart towards no one!"
On his IG page, Jackson also features several tributes to Louis Farrakhan -- a man the Anti-Defamation League has dubbed anti-Semitic over his long history of trashing the Jewish people.
Farrakhan has previously referred to Judaism as a "gutter religion" and praised Hitler as a "great man."
Tiffany Haddish is sporting a new look, she just chopped off all her hair, and in true Tiff fashion ... made quite the performance out of it.
The actress and comedian streamed her DIY haircut Tuesday, much to the shock of her followers and some friends in the room.
As you can see, Tiffany started with a full head of hair, but quickly took a pair of scissors to her long locks and started slicing and dicing ... peanut gallery comments be damned!
Tiffany joked about selling some of her locks, and calmed her friends' fears throughout the roughly 20-minute haircut, declaring her hair would grow back and explaining she's got plenty of wigs for upcoming projects.
In the end, Tiffany was sporting a pretty short Afro ... and she couldn't hold back her excitement as she took a brush to her head for what sounds like the first time in a looong time.
Bun B says he's seeing a lot of people compromise their jobs just to express racism -- like the Houston cops now in hot water over a disgustingly racist social media post.
The Houston-native rapper hopped on "TMZ Live" Tuesday and said he's been told by Houston PD brass they're expeditiously dealing with the 2 cops who commented on an image posted by an ex-officer. ICYMI ... a Houston cop who quit the force on June 18 took to Facebook 6 days later and posted a picture comparing black people to monkeys.
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The president of the Houston Police Officers' Union called the post "disgusting," adding "it is not who we are as Houston Police Officers." But, it doesn't end there ... 2 officers currently active on the force commented on the post.
Enter Bun B ... who called out the officers on IG, saying, "You think it’s funny comparing black people to monkeys? We know you work in Houston at the Westside Command Station. Let’s see what your commanders think about this."
Check out the video ... Bun -- who btw is also a guest lecturer at Rice University -- says he's been told Houston PD will be looking into this.
As for why people now feel emboldened to expose themselves as racists ... Bun B says it's no coincidence the current occupant in the White House has essentially given them the green light to pronounce their racism on a larger scale.
But, believe it or not, Bun B agrees there's a silver lining to all of this -- the reckoning has triggered tough conversations about systemic racism, and says it's time to lay out all the cards on the table.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who has been step-for-step with President Trump in downplaying the risks of the coronavirus and urging his country to get back to work, says he's tested positive for COVID-19.
Bolsonaro announced his diagnosis on live TV in Brazil, wearing a mask and telling reporters his coronavirus test came back positive.
Under Bolsonaro, who has trivialized the raging pandemic and repeatedly flouted social distancing, coronavirus cases in Brazil have skyrocketed ... the South American nation is now the 2nd-worst-hit country behind the United States, with over 65,000 deaths and 1.6 million confirmed cases.
At the start of Brazil's outbreak in March, the 65-year-old Bolsonaro addressed his nation and bragged that he would quickly overcome the virus if he was ever infected, due to his "athlete's background."
The pandemic didn't stop Bolsonaro from mingling at social events and hosting political rallies ... and he's often worn face coverings incorrectly, or not at all. Sound familiar?!?
In addition to his positive test, Bolsonaro is reportedly battling a 100-degree temperature and persistent cough. He says he took an MRI of his lungs, which came back "clear."
And, get this ... Bolsonaro's positive test comes just 3 days after he dined at the home of the U.S. ambassador to Brazil, Todd Chapman. Bolsonaro reportedly complained of feeling tired Saturday night, after his meal with the U.S. ambassador, and felt unwell again Sunday, leading to his test.
If you're wondering why #BlackoutDay2020 is trending, allow us to fill you in ... and then point you in the right direction to partake.
YouTuber Calvin Martyr is credited with launching the unofficial retail holiday, which is in full swing right now -- namely, Blackout Day. It's all about supporting Black-owned businesses, exclusively, today all across the country ... to show solidarity with the Black community.
This is an idea that's been discussed a lot recently, with some notable people -- like Killer Mike, for example -- encouraging folks in the African-American community to get on board.
Basically, the philosophy is this ... the best way to affect real change, while also lifting up Black people at the same time, is to use the power of the dollar and spend it strategically. As they say, money talks in this country, right? Blackout Day 2020 is the mobilization of that principle.
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Now, if you're unfamiliar with what Black-owned businesses are out there and wondering where to start -- we got you. As it turns out, there's plenty from which to choose.
We'll start with national brands and then hone in for more niche markets and products. To start off, we'll highlight AJ Crimson Beauty and Black Girl Sunscreen.
Both companies sell products with darker-skinned customers in mind, but that doesn't mean their stuff is just for Black people either. So, with that in mind, you can browse their wide selection of goods online, or you can pop into a store that carries their line in person.
Let's get to the grub -- because there are TONS of Black-owned food brands you can support too. For canned goods, health food and other fundamentals ... you can hit up Glory Foods, A Dozen Cousins, Iya Foods, EXAU Olive Oil, Neilly's, or Yolele Foods to fill your needs. When it comes to clothes, Milano Di Rouge features some unique styles.
Of course, the marketplace is vast -- and Black business owners have their foot in tech, finance, hair care and beyond. If you look, we're sure you'll find what you need.
Olympics legend Usain Bolt and his girlfriend, Kasi Bennett, have revealed the name of their baby daughter ... and it may be the most perfect name EVER!!!
Olympia Lightning Bolt.
Come on, does it get any better than THAT?!?!
Baby Bolt was born back on May 17 -- but the couple decided to finally go public with the name on Tuesday while celebrating Kasi's 31st birthday.
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In an emotional bday IG post to Kasi, Usain wrote ... "I want nothing but happiness for u and will continue to doing my best keeping a smile on ur face."
"Now we have started a new chapter together with our daughter Olympia Lightning Bolt I look forward to what the future will bring for us but be reassured that I will be the ROCK for this family."
33-year-old Bolt and Bennett have been together for about 7 years now ... and the sprinter had previously shared his excitement about becoming a #GirlDad.
Congrats!!! And, welcome to the world, Olympia!!
Also, CAN YOU IMAGINE IF SHE BECOMES A SPRINTER AND COMPETES IN THE OLYMPICS!
The owner of a Philadelphia bar claims he pulled his gun on a man during a heated confrontation because he thought the guy was reaching for a gun, but apparently ... it was just a bike lock.
It went down Sunday night in the Old City neighborhood, where you see the owner of the Infusion Lounge, Jamie Atlig, pointing his weapon right at the man ... who begins to walk away.
According to witnesses, the man on the sidewalk was yelling at customers for not wearing masks or social distancing, and then things got political with Atlig.
The man allegedly said, "You can have your MAGA privilege," and the owner replied by saying "Trump 2020," and pulling his gun.
Atlig told FOX29 ... he felt threatened because he saw the man reaching for a black, metal object that looked like a gun -- which witnesses say was a bike lock.
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Still, Atlig insists he was in the right, saying ... "He came across and came to attack me. I’m the actual victim in this situation."
The bar owner's lawyer adds ... "He owns a business. He was being threatened as well as his patrons. He pulled out his duly licensed firearm. He diffused the situation. He put the firearm away." Atlig claims he's been receiving death threats since the video went viral.
Philly PD tells us they've opened an investigation into the incident.
Kanye West just got official approval to start building a new monster of a home on his ranch in Wyoming (the lakeside one) -- and by the sound of it, he's got a lot of work to do.
TMZ obtained the building and zone permits Ye and co. filed in Cody, Wyoming, which were just signed off on over the past couple months. According to his plans, the guy's got a 10-bedroom mansion in mind ... and then some.
Like we said, Ye's paperwork says he plans to build a single-family residence -- the primary one he'll use for him, Kim and the kids -- which will replace the set of lakeside cabins and dwellings currently there. Kanye estimates the crib will be about 52,000 sq. ft!!!
Speaking of massive square footage, he also filed docs seeking permission to build TWO underground garages at 10,000 sq. feet a pop. He got the OK on those plans as well.
On top of that, it appears Kanye plans to construct two new lake houses on top of ones that are there right now.
It's funny -- the docs say if he needs a new septic system for any of this work .. he's gotta get wastewater permits before breaking ground. Bathroom needs get special attention. 😅
Anyway, it looks like Kanye's settling in even more up there on the prairie -- but unclear if this means a full-blown, permanent move is in the stars. Probably not.
At any rate, here's hoping this construction job moves a little faster than the one undertaken at their Hidden Hills compound, which took years to complete. Good luck!
12:20 PM PT -- Floyd may need to raise his asking price -- because Caitlyn Jenner charges MORE than him on Cameo!
Caitlyn's current rate is $2,500 -- which makes her the most expensive celeb on the platform. Wow, Floyd's first "L."
Want a personalized shout-out from Floyd Mayweather?? Hope you've got an extra GRAND laying around -- 'cause TBE is charging $999 for Cameo vids!!!
Floyd joined the popular site this week ... and in true Money Mayweather style, he claims he's now "the most expensive celeb" on the app.
So, what exactly does a thousand bucks get you from Floyd? Mayweather says he'll provide customizable messages -- both for personal and commercial use -- at "an affordable rate."
Some of the examples ... Floyd says he can give birthday shout-outs, motivational messages and even boxing tips!!
"I want to be the first celebrity to make a million dollars on Cameo," Floyd said.
Mayweather says the Cameo signup is all part of a partnership with Stardam, a company that helps facilitate celeb endorsements for businesses.
In other words, if you own a burger stand and want Floyd Mayweather to make a custom video talking about how he LOOOVES your food, he'll do it -- for a price.
And, Stardam claims Mayweather is available for green screen vids ... which should make for some interesting clips down the road.
By the way, if you're wondering how Floyd's Cameo price compares to other big-name sports celebs ... it appears to be the most by a pretty good amount.
NFL legends like Ray Lewis and Brett Favre charge $300 per vid ... while boxing legends like Mike Tyson ($300) and Roy Jones Jr. ($199) are cashing in at a much lower rate than Floyd as well.
OneUnited Bank -- which boasts being America's largest Black-owned bank -- is growing even larger along with the Black Lives Matter movement ... and helping folks in need.
The bank's CEO, Kevin Cohee, tells TMZ ... the numbers are in for June, and they're pretty stunning. Cohee says OneUnited boosted its customer base by 50 percent in the last month alone, and saw a record 50 million deposits into various accounts.
One of those customers is Kammeo Bennett, a mother of 7 who was working as an Uber driver when the coronavirus hit. The pandemic sent her income to a screeching halt one day, but the bank helped her get back on her feet.
Kammeo needed money to support her family and reached out to a few banks about a PPP loan, but didn't follow through with an application until she found OneUnited Bank, which, as a black-owned institution, made her feel more comfortable as a black woman.
Bennett ending up being the first OneUnited customer awarded a PPP loan. She says she couldn't believe it when the bank called, and says the loan was her saving grace.
Cohee says there's an increased demand for the bank's services across the board, and website traffic was up 100 percent in June compared to all of last year!
We're told the boost in biz has resulted in OneUnited doubling its social media team, and increasing its customer service reps by 50 percent since March.
Though the surge in OneUnited's numbers coincides with a month in which Americans took to the streets toprotest racism and police brutality, Cohee says the wheels were set in motion before the coronavirus pandemic shutdowns.
Cohee attributes the rise in business beginning in March to some new technology rollouts that made online banking at OneUnited easier. It also had a hit with its Harriet Tubman debit card a month earlier.
However, the CEO says after the news of Ahmaud Arbery's slaying and the death of George Floyd at the hands of police officers ... the Black community began focusing on supporting Black business more, including the bank.
Cohee says the institution is founded on engaging in the social activism that people want to support ... and that's the major reason for the spike.
As for that activism ... OneUnited is supporting Blackout Day 2020 on July 7, an economic boycott urging people to support Black-owned businesses exclusively.
