Le Morade

WWE superstar David Otunga took a break from his full time wrestling gig to return to his previous career — attorney-at-law — and much like his “Monday Night Raw” matches … crushed the competition.

TMZ found out Otunga returned to court Thursday morning to represent a man who believes he was wrongfully terminated and denied unemployment benefits. Otunga tells us he was repping the man in his appeal to the NY State Department of Labor.

The proceedings took place before an administrative judge who heard witness testimony and arguments from both sides.

Otunga — who graduated from Harvard Law School before wrestling — told us he “smoked the witness during cross examination.” The judge agreed … Otunga’s client won the appeal and will now get unemployment benefits.

Otunga says he enjoys keeping his legal skills sharp, and adds … “If the outcome of the case is any indication of how I’ll do in the Royal Rumble this weekend, then it looks like I’ll be the winner.”

By the way, Otunga didn’t do it for the cash — he took the case, pro bono.

http://www.tmz.com/2012/01/27/wwe-david-otunga-wrestler-lawyer/

Leonard DiCaprio‘s relationship with his 22-year-old Victoria’s Secret model girlfriend Erin Heatherton really hung in the balance this week — as the couple hit up an awesomely awesome zip line together in Mexico … and we got the pics!

The exact location of Leo and Erin’s Mexican vacation is unclear — but by the looks of the photos, 37-year-old Leo and his little lady friend are having a blast south of the border.

This just in — Leonardo DiCaprio’s life is much better than yours.

http://www.tmz.com/2012/01/27/leonardo-dicaprio-erin-heatheron-mexico-zip-line/

If you wanna party with Diddy at the Playboy Mansion, you better be freakin’ LOADED — because TMZ has learned, tickets for the rapper’s post-Grammys after party top out around $50,000 each.

The cheapest ticket is a slightly more affordable $1,500 and they go up from there — $15,000, $25,000 … all the way up to $50,000 — depending on what services you may require at the black tie affair.

Sources connected with the party promoters tell TMZ, the $50,000 Monster Cabana ticket gets you 2 cabanas, VIP admission for 20 people, buffet dinner, open bar, free bottle service … and 15 dedicated female promotional models.

Thankfully, it’s all for a good cause — the party’s proceeds will go to benefit the Angelwish Foundation for children afflicted by HIV/AIDS.

http://www.tmz.com/2012/01/27/diddy-grammy-after-party-tickets/

“Fear Factor” producers’ plans to serve fresh glasses of donkey semen to contestants on the next episode had NBC execs so concerned … they gave serious thought to killing the stunt, TMZ has learned.

Sources involved in the production tell us the stomach-churning stunt was shot last summer — but NBC honchos were having a tough time swallowing this one as the air date approached.

We’re told the challenge involved teams of twins drinking the full glass of donkey semen — with a glass of urine thrown in for good measure. Contestants had to drain both glasses in order to move on to the next round.

Our sources say NBC execs had multiple pow-wows in the months after the stunt was shot … but eventually gave FF producers the thumbs up.

Calls to NBC were not immediately returned.

The episode airs this coming Monday — and yes, we’re told multiple contestants actually do (gulp) drink up.

So that’s what they mean by donkey punch.

http://www.tmz.com/2012/01/26/fear-factor-donkey-semen-stunt-nbc/

A Southern California temple is trying to shame Mel Gibson into undoing a mess it created by taking out a jumbo loan on its synagogue — a loan it can’t afford to pay back.

Congregation Beth Shalom, located in Corona, sent Mel a letter — obtained by TMZ — in which it is requesting big money from the actor to prevent foreclosure.

Now here’s the shameful part.  In a move resembling a dude accosting you for money at a gas station,  the letter reads in part, “Our proposal to you, Mr. Gibson, is since you have been cited as an Anti-Semitic, and have denied those allegations, what better way to prove to all your fans and the nay Sayers — than to endorse and help raise funds for our cause — SOS, Save Our Synagogue.”

The letter ends with this: “Mr. Gibson, we offer you to be a Mensch and make a sizable contribution to our cause.”

We know Gibson has contributed a fortune to a bunch of L.A. charities, including $5 million to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center — a Jewish hospital.

Mel’s rep tells TMZ … he knows nothing about the request but wishes the temple all the best.

The real issue …. Who knew there were Jews in Corona?

http://www.tmz.com/2012/01/27/mel-gibson-temple-anti-semitic-contribution/

Ryan Seacrest devoured 100+ buffalo wings while watching football?!! Harvey believes … while others aren’t convinced, but just in case — Ryan’s off our Super Bowl party invite list.

http://www.tmz.com/2012/01/26/ryan-seacrest-buffalo-wings-super-bowl-video-tmz-on-tv/

“Fear Factor” producers’ plans to serve fresh glasses of donkey semen to contestants on the next episode had NBC execs so concerned … they gave serious thought to killing the stunt, TMZ has learned.

Sources involved in the production tell us the stomach-churning stunt was shot last summer — but NBC honchos were having a tough time swallowing this one as the air date approached.

We’re told the challenge involved teams of twins drinking the full glass of donkey semen — with a glass of urine thrown in for good measure. Contestants had to drain both glasses in order to move on to the next round.

Our sources say NBC execs had multiple pow-wows in the months after the stunt was shot … but eventually gave FF producers the thumbs up.

Calls to NBC were not immediately returned.

The episode airs this coming Monday — and yes, we’re told multiple contestants actually do (gulp) drink up.

http://www.tmz.com/2012/01/26/fear-factor-donkey-semen-stunt-nbc/

Ashton Kutcher‘s fist pumping in Brazil, Demi Moore‘s hospitalized after getting high like teenagers do — and TMZ staffers are doing PSAs on the dangers of whip-its! The whole world’s upside down. 

http://www.tmz.com/2012/01/27/demi-moore-ashton-kutcher-video-tmz-on-tv/

The Kardashians are so famous … even their store has creepy fans — this according to a recent 911 call … in which a K-Klan clothing store employee begs for police help … because some weirdo won’t stop knocking on their door.

The call was placed on Monday by an employee of D-A-S-H in L.A. — a clothing boutique owned by the Kardashian sisters — but by the time police arrived at the scene, the creep had already taken off.

Sources tell TMZ, the mystery man in question had made a bunch of inappropriate comments that made the girls in the store feel uncomfortable. So when he left the store, they locked the doors behind him.

According to the 911 call, the man came back again and knocked persistently, demanding to be let in — so one girl phoned police.

We’re told the Kardashians are aware of the situation and are currently working with local authorities to track down the suspect. So far, no arrests have been made.

http://www.tmz.com/2012/01/27/kardashian-store-911-dash/

Actor Robert Hegyes, one of the stars of the 70s sitcom “Welcome Back Kotter” died today of an apparent heart attack.

Hegyes was best known for his role as the Puerto Rican-Jew on that show — Juan Luis Pedro Phillipo de Huevos Epstein. Epstein for short.

Hegyes reunited with John Travolta and the rest of the Sweathogs last year to accept TV Land’s 35th Anniversary Award.

He also co-starred on the hit drama, “Cagney and Lacey.”

Hegyes was in his New Jersey home this morning when he suffered the heart attack. He died at JFK Medical Center in Edison, NJ. He was 60 years old.

http://www.tmz.com/2012/01/26/welcome-back-kotter-esptein-actor-robert-hegyes-dead/