Backpack Kid Sues Fortnite Creator ... Over Floss Dance

EXCLUSIVE
Backpack Kid is the latest to jump into the lawsuit game over Fortnite allegedly ripping off signature dances.
Backpack Kid’s mom filed the latest lawsuit on behalf of her 16-year-old kid, who blew up back in 2016 when he posted videos of himself on Instagram doing a dance, which...
Backpack Kid Sues Fortnite Creator ... Over Floss Dance

"SpongeBob SquarePants" Creator Death Cert Revealed Ashes Spread Under the Sea

EXCLUSIVE
Stephen Hillenburg — the creator of the hit Nickelodeon show “SpongeBob SquarePants” — officially died of heart failure as a result of his ALS, but the more interesting tidbit … his remains were scattered at sea — and you gotta hope he’ll rest i...
"SpongeBob SquarePants" Creator Death Cert Revealed Ashes Spread Under the Sea

"SpongeBob SquarePants" Creator Stephen Hillenburg Dead at 57

Breaking News
There’s no joy at the Krusty Krab — Stephen Hillenburg, the creator of “SpongeBob SquarePants,” died Monday after battling ALS.
Stephen first revealed his ALS diagnosis in 2017. He’s survived by his wife, Karen, and his son, Clay. 
Nickelodeon called h...
"SpongeBob SquarePants" Creator Stephen Hillenburg Dead at 57

Tyler the Creator Body-Shames Kendall Jenner: She"s Got No Ass!

It’s insultingly reductive to say the Kardashians are only famous because of Kim’s sex tape or the sisters’ famously curvy figures.

The entire family (with the possible exception of Rob), has worked hard to build an iconic brand, but there’s no denying that large posteriors still spring to mind at the mention of the name “Kardashian.”

Kendall Jenner may not be a Kardashian by name, but she’s no less a member of the Kard clan than Kim, Khloe or Kourtney.

So when Tyler the Creator called Kendall out for being less curvy than her sisters during a recent performance, the body-shaming insult carried additional resonance.

“I want everybody to shake they ass when this f–king song come on,” Tyler said on stage.

“Hey A$ AP Rocky, shake that ass. Shake it on Jaden [Smith], he next to you, he might like it with his weird ass. Where Kendall? She ain’t go no ass but shake them bones.”

Suffice it to say, things got quite weird at Tyler’s performance over the weekend.

Obviously, it’s his comments about Kendall’s figure that are drawing the most attention — though encouraging A$ AP Rocky to shake his ass on Jaden Smith is pretty odd, too.

But it’s possible that all the uproar over Tyler body-shaming Kendall is baseless.

It’s important to note that Tyler and Kendall are friends, and he has a history of publicly and playfully mocking her.

At Coachella in 2015, Tyler called out Kendall out in brutal fashion during his set on the main stage.

“Kendall Jenner over here thinking she’s cute and sh-tt. Hey Kendall, Kendall, Kendall, I’m over here to your right. F-ck you,” he said.

While many in attendance were shocked by the comment, Kendall responded by playfully flipping Tyler the bird.

He later clarified the nature of their relationship on Instagram, writing:

“@KendallJenner PEOPLE REALLY THINK I HATE YOU LOVE HAHAHAH.”

At one point it was widely rumored that Tyler and Kendall were dating, but the rapper shot those rumors down, jokingly (we think) tweeting:

“Not possible, we’re both gay.”

So in all likelihood, Tyler was just having a laugh with an old friend when he commented on Kendall’s physique.

Now, there are some who will argue that even if they’re friends and the comment was made in jest, it’s still not okay for Tyler to publicly speak about Kendall in those terms.

They may have a point — but the joke is really quite tame compared to some of the other things Tyler has said over the years..

We’re not saying that makes it okay — just pointing out that Kendall probably wasn’t terribly shocked.

View Slideshow: Kendall Jenner: Her 35 Hottest Photos of All Time

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Stan Lee Dies; Marvel Comics Creator Was 95

Stan Lee, arguably the best known comic book creator of all-time, passed away Monday morning at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

He was 95 years old.

Lee’s daughter confirmed this very sad piece of news to TMZ.

The website writes that Lee was rushed from his home in Hollywood Hills to the aforementioned facility, although it’s unclear at this time what medical condition prompted the emergency.

The legendary writer, however, had suffered numerous illnesses over the last year or so, including a semi-recent bout of pneumonia and a number of vision issues.

He had receded from the public eye for most of 2018 as a result.

Lee started out in the comic business back in 1939.

Along with Jack Kirby, he co-founded Marvel in 1961 via the introduction of The Fantastic Four.

He went on to create Spider-Man, Black Panther, The Incredible Hulk, X-Men, Iron Man and The Avengers, among many other notable, memorable and beloved characters.

Lee was always revered in the comic book universe, but he became a true pop culture icon about a decade ago after the success of the first Iron Man movie.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has basically taken over the movie world in that time and Lee has made a cameo in every Marvel film to date.

In 2009, the Walt Disney Co. bought Marvel Entertainment for $ 4 billion.

Three years later, The Avengers grossed $ 1.52 billion worldwide take and two years after that, Lee acknowledged his important role not just in the entertainment industry — but in the world as a whole.

“I used to think what I did was not very important,” he told the Chicago Tribune in April of 2014, adding at the time:

“People are building bridges and engaging in medical research, and here I was doing stories about fictional people who do extraordinary, crazy things and wear costumes.

“But I suppose I have come to realize that entertainment is not easily dismissed.”

A native of Manhattan, Lee wrote, art-directed and edited most of Marvel’s series and newspaper strips.

He also wrote a monthly comics’ column, “Stan’s Soapbox,” signing off with his signature phrase, “Excelsior!”

Lee played a vital role as Marvel transitioned into TV during the 1980s, serving as narrator on animated series like Incredible Hulk and X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men, and executive producing the 1990s animated series Spider-Man.

In 2002, Lee published an autobiography, Excelsior! The Amazing Life of Stan Lee.

Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse will be the next installment of the Marvel film franchise and will be released next month; it’s very safe to assume there will be a dedication to Lee in the credits.

The writer’s survivors include a daughter, J.C., and younger brother, Larry Lieber, who works as a writer and artist for Marvel. Another daughter, Jan, died in infancy.

Lee’s wife, Joan, was a hat model whom he married in 1947. She passed away last year.

Said J.C. to TMZ shortly after confirming her dad’s death:

“My father loved all of his fans. He was the greatest, most decent man.”

May he rest in peace.

View Slideshow: Celebrities Who Died in 2018: In Memoriam

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"Modern Family" Creator Steve Levitan"s Divorce Final, Ex Gets Millions

Steve Levitan’s bitter divorce has come to an end, and his ex-wife is walking away with a huge amount of money … but so is he. According to new legal docs obtained by TMZ … Krista Levitan will get at least $ 4 MILLION a year in income from…

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"This Is Us" Creator Dan Fogelman"s Home Burglarized 3 Times in 2 Weeks

“This Is Us” creator Dan Fogelman’s house got hit by burglars who made off with some expensive watches — and then it got hit again … and again. Law enforcement sources tell TMZ … Dan’s San Fernando Valley home was first burglarized a couple…

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"Larry Sanders" Creator Dennis Klein Calls Roseanne "A Pig and a Slob"

The creator of “The Larry Sanders Show” is baffled at everyone’s reaction to Roseanne’s racist tweet, because he says it was just a case of art imitating life. We got Dennis Klein Friday night in WeHo leaving Craig’s, and he was quick to say…

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"Entourage" Creator Doug Ellin Files for Divorce

“Entourage” creator Doug Ellin is filing for divorce, and the honeymoon was barely over … TMZ has learned. Doug filed his divorce petition in L.A., citing irreconcilable differences … and effectively ending his brief marriage to Andrea Adler.…

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"Scrubs" Creator Bill Lawrence and Wife Christa Miller Buy $7.55 Million NYC Condo

“Scrubs” creator Bill Lawrence and his wife, Christa Miller — one of the stars of the series — are living the good life in NYC … in a home fit for a Hollywood power couple. Lawrence — who also co-created “Cougar Town” and “Spin City” –…

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"Cheers" Creator James Burrows Says Cast is Too Old for a Reboot

James Burrows definitely has a dog in the fight to bring back old sitcoms, because he’s the king … he created “Cheers” and directed “Frasier,” “Friends” and “Taxi.” We got the TV legend in NYC Friday night leaving Michael’s restaurant, and asked…

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Adam Levine Buys $35 Million House from "Will and Grace" Creator

Adam Levine is rolling in it, because TMZ has learned he just bought an amazing Beverly Hills estate from “Will and Grace” creator Max Mutchnik … TMZ has learned. The house — once owned by tennis great Pete Sampras — is amazing.  It’s…

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Mark Schwahn, One Tree Hill Creator, Accused of Rampant Sexual Misconduct

Over the past few weeks, accusations of sexual harassment have been leveled against numerous powerful men in Hollywood.

But few allegations have been like this:

On Monday night, the female cast and many crew members from One Tree Hill came together to write an open letter that called out series creator Mark Schwahn for years of unchecked sexual misconduct.

The actresses were inspired to take this unusual step after writer Audrey Wauchope (who currently works on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend) Tweeted on Saturday that she and a colleague were sexually harassed years ago during their time writing for an unnamed series.

Wauchope did not cite Schwahn by name in her barrage of Tweets, either.

But she did write the following:

“Female writers would try to get the spot where the showrunner wouldn’t sit as to not be touched. Often men would help out by sitting next to him, thus protecting the women.

“Sometimes we wouldn’t luck out and he’d just squeeze his disgusting body in between us and put his arms around us, grinning.

“He pet hair. He massaged shoulders. I know he did more but not to me so they’re not my stories to share.”

Wauchope went on to say that the showrunner passed around naked photos of an actress he had slept with, unbeknownst to the actress, and that he tried talking a writer out of getting married because he wanted a chance to have sex with her.

It’s now clear that Wauchope was referring to Mark Schwahn.

In a joint statement – signed by One Tree Hill stars such as Sophia Bush, Hilarie Burton and Bethany Joy Lenz – the female cast members of this former CW hit backed up Wauchope’s claims and alleged Schwahn manipulated many of them “psychologically and emotionally.”

Here is what the powerful letter says:

All of the female cast members of One Tree Hill have chosen this forum to stand together in support of Audrey Wauchope and one another.

To use terminology that has become familiar as the systemic reality of sexual harassment and assault has come more and more to light, Mark Schwahn’s behavior over the duration of the filming of One Tree Hill was something of an “open secret.”

Many of us were, to varying degrees, manipulated psychologically and emotionally. More than one of us is still in treatment for post-traumatic stress.

Many of us were put in uncomfortable positions and had to swiftly learn to fight back, sometimes physically, because it was made clear to us that the supervisors in the room were not the protectors they were supposed to be.

Many of us were spoken to in ways that ran the spectrum from deeply upsetting, to traumatizing, to downright illegal. And a few of us were put in positions where we felt physically unsafe.

More than one woman on our show had her career trajectory threatened.

It continues:

The through line in all of this was, and still is, our unwavering support of and faith in one another. We confided in each other.

We set up safe spaces to talk about his behavior and how to handle it. To warn new women who joined our ranks.

We understood that a lot of it was orchestrated in ways that kept it out of sight for the studio back home. We also understood that no one was fully unaware.

The lack of action that has been routine, the turning of the other cheek, is intolerable.

We collectively want to echo the calls of women everywhere that vehemently demand change, in all industries.

Many of us were told, during filming, that coming forward to talk about this culture would result in our show being canceled and hundreds of lovely, qualified, hard-working, and talented people losing their jobs.

This is not an appropriate amount of pressure to put on young girls.

Many of us since have stayed silent publicly but had very open channels of communication in our friend group and in our industry, because we want Tree Hill to remain the place “where everything’s better and everything’s safe” for our fans; some of whom have said that the show quite literally saved their lives.

But the reality is, no space is safe when it has an underlying and infectious cancer. We have worked at taking our power back, making the conventions our own, and relishing in the good memories.

But there is more work to be done.

View Slideshow: Weinstein Scandal: Which Powerful Men Are Accused of Sexual Misconduct?

And it concludes:

We are all deeply grateful for Audrey’s courage. For one another. And for every male cast mate and crew member who has reached out to our group of women to offer their support these last few days.

They echo the greater rallying cry that must lead us to change: Believe Women. We are all in this together.

The message is signed “With Love and Courage” by:

• Sophia Bush


• Hilarie Burton


• Bethany Joy Lenz


• Danneel Harris


• Michaela McManus


• Kate Voegele


• Daphne Zuniga


• India de Beaufort


• Bevin Prince


• Jana Kramer


• Shantel Van Santen


• Allison Munn

It is also signed by the “Brave Crew And All the rest of the Women We Worked With Who Are Finding Their Voices as We Speak.”

Schwahn currently runs The Royals on E!.

In a statement Monday, the network said it is “monitoring the information carefully” and is “committed to providing a safe working environment in which everyone is treated respectfully and professionally.”

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"Law & Order" Creator Dick Wolf, Culture of Sexual Harassment, Men are Pigs

Powerful men in Hollywood have been preying on women because that’s how lots of men are built … so says “Law & Order” titan Dick Wolf. We got Dick leaving Craig’s Thursday night and he’s not a bit surprised at the Harvey…

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Celeb Hologram Creator Alki David Sued by 2 More Ex-Employees for Sexual Assault, Harassment

Alki David, the man who created Tupac and Michael Jackson holograms, fired 2 women he repeatedly harassed after they rejected his sexual advances … according to a lawsuit. The two ex-employees claim — in lurid detail — David’s office was…

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Celeb Hologram Creator Alki David Sued for Showing His Personal Porn to Employees

Alki David, the Greek tycoon who famously created Tupac and Michael Jackson holograms, forced his employees to watch videos of him having sex with his wife … this according to a new lawsuit. A guy named Grant Zimmerman worked for Alki and says he…

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"Night of the Living Dead" Creator George A. Romero Dead at 77

Legendary horror filmmaker George A. Romero, best known for creating the “Night of the Living Dead” and catapulting the zombie film genre, has passed away. George had been battling lung cancer. He died Sunday in his sleep…

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Tyler, The Creator: Did He Just Come Out as Gay?

Questions are once again being asked about Tyler, The Creator and his sexuality.

This time, fans of the rapper are wondering whether he’s gay after songs from Tyler, The Creator’s upcoming album, “Scum F-ck Flower Boy,” leaked online late Sunday night. 

Do the following lyrics confirm rumors that this musician is gay?

On a track titled “I Ain’t Got Time,” Tyler raps that he’s “been kissing white boys since 2004.”

Later on in the album, in “Garden Shed,” the California rapper spits rhymes that appear to center on the struggle of making this public admission.

They read as follows:

Them feelings I was guardin’, heavy on my mind/All my friends lost, they couldn’t read the signs/I didn’t wanna talk and tell ’em my location, and they ain’t wanna walk.

Truth is, since a youth kid, thought it was a phase, Thought it’d be like the Frank; poof, gone, but, it’s still goin’ on.

Tyler, The Creator is yet to comment on the speculation behind his possible homosexuality.

But this is far from the only time the topic has come up.

In a 2015 Rolling Stone interview, Tyler talks about the rumors of him possibly being gay, making rather blunt comments about his sexuality.

Fans have been torn ever since about whether he was being serious or sarcastic.

“For the past two days I’ve wondered, is Tyler actually gay? I cannot emphasize how much gay humor plays a role in the atmosphere around him. It’s like a continuous loop of the “You know how I know you’re gay?” scene in The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” the article reads.

It continues:

“Never more than a few minutes pass without him saying he’s going to suck someone’s dick or him accusing someone of wanting to suck dick. At one point on the bus, he recalls sending nude photos to a group chat with his friends and no one responded.

My friends are so used to me being gay,” Tyler says. They don’t even care.

“I finally ask, Why all the gay humor?’

“Because I’m gay as fuck,” he says, without a flinch.

For real, the reporter asks?

“No, but I am in love with ’96 Leonardo DiCaprio,” he responded at the time. “I one hundred percent would go gay for ’96 Leo. Oh, and Cole Sprouse.”

There was also the time, about two years ago, when rumors surfaced of Tyler dating Kendall Jenner.

“Apparently we’re dating,” Jenner Tweeted in response, to which Tyler shot back: “Not possible, we’re both gay.”

Of course… Kendall is NOT gay. So, once again, it was difficult to tell if Tyler was joking here.

Going back further to 2012, this was Tyler’s statement after fellow Odd Future member and frequent collaborator Frank Ocean came out as gay:

“My Big Brother Finally Fucking Did That. Proud Of That N***a Cause I Know That S**t Is Difficult Or Whatever. Anyway. Im A Toilet.”

So there you have it.

Maybe. Possible. It’s unclear, really.

If Tyler, The Creator really is gay, more power to him.

And if he’s just using these rumors to make headlines and sell records, well… good for him as well.

That’s some brilliant marketing right there and it also shows he’s open to homosexuality, unlike other rappers who take the opposite approach and drop gay epithets throughout their songs.

View Slideshow: 39 Celebrities Who Are Out and Proud!

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Paddington Bear Creator Michael Bond Passes Away at 91

You can be aware of something your whole life without knowing anything about its creator.

Paddington Bear’s creator, Michael Bond, has died at age 91.

He passed away at home after a brief illness.

On December 24th, 1956, Michael Bond noticed a lonely-looking stuffed bear sitting on a shelf.

On impulse, he bought it for his wife.

Inspired, he wrote A Bear Called Paddington in just 10 days.

On October 13th, 1958, that book was published.

But that was only the beginning.

Paddington Bear’s adventures in books have been ongoing.

The last story about the marmalade-loving bear, titled Paddington’s Finest Hour, came out in April.

It’s not uncommon for authors to keep publishing until their dying days.

Needless to say, it’s very rare for an author to continue writing for 61 years.

Not to mention having such a degree of success and a cultural impact that spans the globe.

Michael Bond had an Order Of The British Empire, which is like an Order of Merlin from Harry Potter, except real.

(I was a kid when Harry Potter came out and there are a lot of things that I thought were wizard things that turned out to just be British)

The Duke of Cambridge himself presented Bond with the award in an Investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

This was only two years ago.

HarperCollins issued a statement about Michael Bond’s passing:

“It is with great sadness that we announce that Michael Bond, CBE, the creator of one of Britain’s best-loved children’s characters, Paddington, died at home yesterday aged 91 following a short illness.”

Michael Bond’s own daughter, Karen Jankel, also spoke about her late father:

“It’s a shock to everybody. For me, he was the most wonderful father you can imagine, so obviously our loss is personal.”

Of course.

So many people think of their favorite singers or actors or writers with regard to their art, celebrity status, and creations.

It’s too easy to forget that they’re real people with families and personal relationships that have nothing to do with their craft.

Karen, however, seems very aware of her father’s global cultural impact, and her statement includes a nod to that:

“But it’s wonderful that he’s left the legacy of his books and Paddington that will live on for ever, which is really very special.”

“The whole world is lucky to have had him … Paddington himself is so real to all of us. He’s still a part of our family and we’re very lucky.”

We can’t imagine how hard it is to to tailor your response to fans while you’re still grieving.

Karen Jankel continues, honoring her father’s work.

“For him, writing was his life. It was wonderful he could continue writing until the end,” she said. “Because … Paddington and his other characters were so real to him, he became alive to everybody else.”

But she doesn’t leave out his character.

“You can tell just by reading his books what a lovely person he was. I never came across anybody who disliked my father. He was one of those people that people instinctively warmed to and he was as funny as a person and delightful as he was in his writing and as a father”

That is incredibly touching.

A lot of people grew up with Paddington Bear, and most of them are old enough to appreciate the joy that this man’s creation brought them as children.

Future children will enjoy Paddington Bear all the same — that’s the magic of creating a legacy like that.

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Paddington Bear Creator Michael Bond Dead at 91

Michael Bond — the creator of the cuddly Paddington Bear that sparked a series of famous children’s books — has died. Bond’s publisher HarperCollins announced the author died Tuesday in his home following a short illness. Bond’s first book in 1958…

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