Posted Mar 9th 2010 1:07PM by TMZ Staff
Ryan Seacrest's stalker, Chidi Uzomah, just pled no contest to felony stalking ... TMZ has learned.
Uzomah, who repeatedly hunted the "American Idol" host down and came close to him while armed with a knife, agreed in court to submit to a 3-month psychiatric evaluation at Chino State Prison in California.
As for prison time, we're told he could serve up to two years behind bars. And it's likely the judge will issue a criminal stay away order to keep Uzomah clear of Ryan Seacrest for the next 10 years.
People who worked on the case say the L.A. County Deputy D.A. assigned to the case, Wendy Segall, drove a hard bargain.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, American Idol, Ryan Seacrest, Exclusives
Tags: american idol, AmericanIdol, chidi uzomah, ChidiUzomah, chino state prison, ChinoStatePrison, plea, ryan seacrest, RyanSeacrest, stalker, wendy segall, WendySegall
Posted Mar 8th 2010 3:45PM by TMZ Staff
Wearing a spiked codpiece, former "American Idol" runner-up Adam Lambert performed at a Mardi Gras party in Sydney over the weekend.
Adam likes to use protection.
Filed under: Paparazzi Photo, American Idol, Fashion, Adam Lambert
Tags: Adam Lambert, AdamLambert, american idol, AmericanIdol, cod piece, CodPiece
Posted Mar 7th 2010 12:27AM by TMZ Staff
Some people can hold it. Kelly Clarkson is not one of those people.
Kelly was performing in Germany on Friday night when she mysteriously disappeared from the stage during a song. The band covered for her for a bit before she finally returned. She finished the song and then admitted, "I'm really sorry, I had to pee."
Such a lady.
Filed under: Music, American Idol
Tags: a.i., american idol, AmericanIdol, bathroom, germany, idol, kelly clarkson, KellyClarkson, pee, video
Posted Mar 4th 2010 4:00AM by TMZ Staff
Simon Cowell got a little touchy-feely with someone on the "American Idol" judge's panel last night -- himself!
Filed under: TV, American Idol
Tags: american idol, AmericanIdol, nipple, simon cowell, SimonCowell
Posted Mar 1st 2010 5:20PM by TMZ Staff
Years before hooking up with Simon Cowell, "American Idol" makeup artist Mezhgan Hussainy was in the clutches of another "A.I." dude ... Clay Aiken.
This pic of Aiken groping Simon's alleged fiancee's breasts dates back over six years ago.
Not that there's anything wrong with that ...
Filed under: American Idol
Tags: american idol, AmericanIdol, breast, chest, Clay aiken, ClayAiken, grab, grope, Mezghan Hussainy, MezghanHussainy
Posted Feb 27th 2010 12:52AM by TMZ Staff
Elliott Yamin had nothing but bad things to say about his trip to Chile ... then a 8.8 earthquake hit and he quickly changed his tune.
The former "American Idol" contestant is in Chile for the Viña del Mar International Song Festival. He bashed the experience last night on Twitter, saying, "Thanks 4 nothing Chile!...what an aweful experience!"
Less than an hour later, an 8.8 magnitude earthquake hit and Yamin began tweeting:
-- "Huge earthquake just now in Chile!!....I swear I thought this was the end of my life!!!!!"
-- "F**k!!!!!! I take it all back everybody!!....I just escaped w my life,from an 8.3 earthquake!!!...is everybody ok?...where was the epicener?"
-- "Complete and utter choas on the streets...no power...my heart is beatin outta my chest!....tsunami warnin...I am only a mile inland!"
Yamin settled down and even began giving interviews via phone. No word on when he plans to leave Chile.
Filed under: American Idol
Tags: american idol, AmericanIdol, chile, earthquake, elliott yamin, ElliottYamin, twitter
Posted Feb 27th 2010 12:51AM by TMZ Staff
Move over, Frank Sinatra -- there's a new man in Sin City and he goes by the name of Gen. Larry Platt.
The genius behind "Pants on the Ground" performed at JET nightclub at the Mirage Hotel last night -- and judging by the bevy of women who surrounded the General ... that song may have taken on a whole new meaning.
Filed under: American Idol, Hot Vegas, Photo Galleries
Tags: jet, larry platt, LarryPlatt, las vegas, LasVegas, mirage, pants on the ground, PantsOnTheGround
Posted Feb 26th 2010 12:08PM by TMZ Staff
Chikezie Eze was arrested after trying to buy men's cologne on a stolen credit card ... law enforcement sources tell TMZ.
We broke the story ... the former "American Idol" was busted at Neiman Marcus last night and booked on felony identity theft.
Chikezie told us earlier today he used a Neiman's credit card with his name on it to purchase two bottles of cologne, but we've now learned the store flagged the plastic as a "stolen credit card."
Chikezie is out on $50,000 bail ... the approximate price of two bottles of cologne at Neiman's.
UPDATE: A rep for Neiman Marcus tells TMZ, "We're cooperating with local authorities."
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, American Idol, Exclusives
Tags: americal idol, AmericalIdol, arrested, busted, Chikezie eze, ChikezieEze, cologne, felony, identity theft, IdentityTheft, neiman marcus, NeimanMarcus, theft
Posted Feb 26th 2010 9:55AM by TMZ Staff
Chikezie Eze is now dealing with a felony arrest because he just wanted to smell good.
We spoke with the "American Idol" alum a few minutes ago about his arrest last night at Neiman Marcus in Beverly Hills for felony identity theft.
Chikezie says he went cologne shopping at Neiman's last night, took two bottles to the counter and presented his Neiman's credit card -- a card he had never used before.
Chikezie says the clerk flagged the card, called security and he was taken downstairs for questioning. He says he was told something was "untrue" on his credit card application, though he had no idea what it could be.
Chikezie says, "They said they were waiting for someone to use the card and when they did they would pull them down."
Chikezie says he has no idea what information on the application might be false, adding, "I am who I am. It's not like I can hide that." He mentioned security said something about the name of his company -- Advanced Business Strategic Solutions -- on the application, but didn't know if that's why Neiman's flagged the card.
Chikezie says, "I haven't done anything wrong myself and I'm pretty confident nothing is going to happen."
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, American Idol, Exclusives
Tags: american idol, AmericanIdol, arrest, beverly hills, BeverlyHills, chikezie eze, ChikezieEze, cologne, credit card, CreditCard, felony, fraud, identity theft, IdentityTheft, neiman marcus, NeimanMarcus
Posted Feb 26th 2010 7:15AM by TMZ Staff
Remember Chikezie from "American Idol?" Well, apparently a sales person at Neiman Marcus remembered him because the singer was busted last night for felony identity theft ... law enforcement sources tell TMZ.
Chikezie Eze was at Neiman Marcus in Beverly Hills when he allegedly tried to use "fraudulent means" -- possibly a phony check or credit card -- to purchase merchandise.
Chikezie was detained by store security until the Beverly Hills cops arrived. The singer was then taken to Bev Hills jail and booked on felony identity theft.
He is currently in jail, where he's being held on $50,000 bail.
UPDATE: We're told Chikezie was busted at the counter of Neiman Marcus with items he was trying to purchase.
UPDATE: Chikezie bailed out.
UPDATE: A rep for Neiman Marcus tells TMZ, "We're cooperating with local authorities."
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, American Idol, Exclusives
Tags: american idol, AmericanIdol, arrest, beverly hills, BeverlyHills, chikezie eze, ChikezieEze, cops, fraudulent charges, FraudulentCharges, identity theft, IdentityTheft, neiman marcus, NeimanMarcus
Posted Feb 25th 2010 2:38PM by TMZ Staff
Simon Cowell and Ellen DeGeneres flat out don't get along, and the tension is building ... this according to multiple "American Idol" sources.
Our insiders say Simon and Ellen aren't even trying to hide it. Ellen can't stand what she believes is Simon's cruelty toward contestants. And, we're told, Simon actually enjoys pissing Ellen off with his blistering critiques.
People working on the show last night tell TMZ ... it was apparent on and off camera ... Simon's tolerance level for the contestants was at an all-time low, and he knew it was making Ellen uncomfortable but clearly didn't care. As one insider put it, "He was intentionally pushing her buttons."
It all started badly ... as Deadline Hollywood first reported .. when Simon showed up late for Ellen's first week of "A.I." taping and made her wait around. Producers separated the two -- who began the season sitting side-by-side -- but the tension has gotten worse.
But business is business. "A.I." is beating the Olympics, and ratings for Ellen's show skyrocketed last week. In Hollywood, contempt has its upside.
Filed under: TV, American Idol, Ellen DeGeneres, Exclusives
Tags: a.i., american idol, AmericanIdol, dislike, ellen DeGeneres, EllenDegeneres, feud, judgdes, judge, judges, olympics, simon cowell, SimonCowell, war
Posted Feb 25th 2010 6:10AM by TMZ Staff
"General" Larry Platt is finally cashing in on his "Pants on the Ground" phenomenon -- because "American Idol's" favorite senior citizen is now getting paid to play in Las Vegas.
Platt is scheduled to perform his semi-hit at JET nightclub at the Mirage Hotel on Friday.
Sources at the hotel tell TMZ Platt is being flown from Atlanta first class ... and will get pampered with free food, lodging, several thousand dollars and, last but not least, a steak dinner!
TMZ spoke to Platt's manager, who said this is just one of many shows Mr. Pants has booked recently ... which means the old man is finally getting the money his musical genius deserves.
Filed under: Music, American Idol, Hot Vegas, Exclusives
Tags: american idol, AmericanIdol, larry platt, LarryPlatt
Posted Feb 23rd 2010 5:14PM by TMZ Staff
A record company claims an "American Idol" contestant who got disqualified from the competition phonied documents to try and get back into the game.
Chris Golightly was booted from the show because he had a record deal when he auditioned in Hollywood last year.
At a news conference today, Golightly produced a document showing he had been released from his record deal before he auditioned at "Idol."
But a few minutes ago, Lawrence D. Franklin, CEO of Dream Project Entertainment, told TMZ after Golightly got disqualified, he approached Franklin and together they phonied a document, backdating the release of his contract to June 7, 2009.
Why did Franklin come clean if he was in on the deception you ask? Franklin tells us ... he belatedly wanted to do the right thing.
Meanwhile, Chris' people say Franklin is full of it.
Filed under: TV, American Idol, Exclusives
