TV

Jussie Smollett believes there’s one overarching reason he was sent to jail, and it’s not because of the hoax … he says it’s because he’s Black. Sources with direct knowledge and in constant touch with the “Empire” actor tell TMZ … Jussie fully expected to get jail time. He told his defense team before sentencing

Jussie Smollett will be held in protective custody — as requested — while serving his time behind bars. Judge James Linn ordered the actor’s 150-day jail sentence, and specified he’ll serve it under protective custody. According to legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Judge Linn says Smollett and his team requested the protection. The goal of

Clint Arlis, one of the contestants on season 11 of “The Bachelorette,” died by suicide … TMZ has confirmed. According to the coroner’s report, obtained by TMZ, cops found Clint dead in his parent’s Illinois home back in January, he was found hanging in a bedroom closet. The report says officers found a note left

Tarek El Moussa and Christina Haack being on the same page is a rarity these days, but the exes, and their HGTV bosses, are in lockstep about pulling the plug on “Flip or Flop” … TMZ has learned. Sources familiar with the situation tell us … Tarek and Christina’s contracts for the show were up,

Play video content Jussie Smollett is about to be sentenced in his elaborate hoax case — he’s facing up to 3 years in prison, and we’re live streaming the Chicago court hearing. Remember … a jury in Illinois found the “Empire” actor guilty of 5 of the 6 felony counts against him for lying to

“MasterChef” contestant Mary Jayne alleges she toiled away in a kitchen to shoot an episode the same day she suffered a stroke, despite pleas for help … and now she’s filed a lawsuit. Mary, who was featured on season 11 of the FOX cooking show, is suing its production companies, claiming producers pressured her to

“Bones” actor Heath Freeman died from an overdose of multiple opioids and narcotics, including fentanyl and cocaine … according to the medical examiner’s report. Heath was found dead in his Austin, TX home last November, and the Travis County Medical Examiner says he had a lethal cocktail of booze and several drugs. Specifically, the report

Russia might have an enemy on its hands that’s more effective than any other adversary, and that’s Anonymous … which claims to have hijacked Vladimir Putin‘s regularly scheduled propaganda programming. The notorious hacking group — which has been involved in high-profile leaks over the years — is taking responsibility for the mass disruption of multiple

Los Angeles local Amy Smart was in her early 20s when she blasted her way into the entertainment biz back in 2000 with some top-notch breakout roles including the college hottie Beth — who gets involved in a wild night of partying, sex and camcorders — in the 2000 college comedy “Road Trip.” Around that

Johnny Brown, who played housing project superintendent Nathan Bookman on the massively hit show “Good Times,” has died. Johnny’s daughter Sharon Catherine Brown tells TMZ, he was at his doctor’s office in L.A. Wednesday getting his pacemaker checked out, and shortly after he left he went into cardiac arrest and collapsed. He was taken to

Play video content ABC Joy Behar co-hosts a show that gets rough and tumble, and Thursday the tumble part took center stage, as she performed a spectacular face plant as the show began. Joy’s view from “The View” was hardwood after she tried to take a seat but seriously misjudged where she was plopping down.

Tim Considine, famous for his work on TV shows like “The Hardy Boys” and “My Three Sons,” has died. The veteran actor died Thursday at his home in Los Angeles, where he was surrounded by family … according to his son, Christopher. We’re told the cause of death is not immediately known but it was

Play video content TMZ.com “Euphoria” star Angus Cloud says his show doesn’t glorify substance abuse, and insists drugs are not something to take lightly. We got Angus Thursday leaving the Revolve Social Club in L.A., and he talked about all things “Euphoria” — mainly, if the hit HBO dramedy is sending the wrong message to

Play video content TMZ.com Grace Franklin — 16-year-old granddaughter of Aretha Franklin — is opening up after not making it past the auditions on “American Idol” … a TV moment that’s shocked the country. Grace — joined by her dad and Aretha’s son, Kecalf — tells TMZ … in the moment of being rejected from

Play video content TMZ.com Michael Rapaport is commending President Zelensky for his bravery … giving his seal of approval to a fellow Jewish man and comedian. We got Michael in NYC on Thursday, and he had nothing but praise for the Ukrainian President — who Rapaport believes has been a great leader through such uncertain

WWE is taking a stand against Russia — Vince McMahon‘s organization just announced it is cutting all ties to the country amid the invasion of Ukraine. WWE made the move official on Thursday … saying its programs will no longer be shown on Russian broadcast partner Match as a response to Vladimir Putin‘s decision to

While Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky is desperately hoping the European Union will accept his country, British TV’s already welcoming him with open arms by buying his sitcom … about becoming prez. Zelensky’s comedy, “Servant of the People,” is going to be airing on the UK’s Channel 4, which purchased the series … clearly seizing on

Darren Criss‘ older brother, Charles Criss, has died by suicide — and his sibling is sending out a powerful message about mental health in the wake of such a tragedy. The actor revealed the sad news Wednesday in a social media post, throwing up a bunch of photos of his bro, as well as a