TMZ’s 18th Anniversary, Timeline of Huge Stories Broken Over the Years

TMZ simply turned 18, and sure — we’re able to take you on an eventful stroll down reminiscence lane that hits all of the highlights, and the largest tales we have damaged over time.

It has been fairly the journey since we first launched in 2005, and we have modified a helluva lot too — however the one factor that is remained the identical all through our practically 20 years is that we report large information about Hollywood … and most of the time, we’re first to do it.

Here is a recap of the place we have been, the tales we have unearthed and the place we go from right here.

Mel Gibson’s Antisemitic DUI Tirade (2006)

We would lined some large tales earlier than this, however breaking the Mel Gibson DUI story again in the summertime of 2006 undoubtedly put TMZ on the map — and for good motive … what our reporting unveiled turned out to be completely nuts, to not point out very ugly.

TMZ bought a maintain of the unique report taken by the arresting officer, and it detailed a wild scene when officers pulled Gibson over alongside the PCH close to Malibu … which erupted into a vulgar and antisemitic rant by the actor that focused Jewish individuals time and again.

Here is only a style of what legislation enforcement heard that night time … “F*****g Jews … The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world.” He additionally requested of 1 officer, “Are you a Jew?”

The Sheriff’s Dept. tried overlaying up the story, telling us there was no such rant. However then we obtained 4 pages of the arresting deputy’s report, during which the rant was described intimately.

Michael Richards Makes use of the N-Phrase (2006)

Michael Richards‘ infamous stand-up set on the Snicker Manufacturing unit in November 2006 will go down in historical past for all of the incorrect causes … ‘trigger he dropped the N-word repeatedly, and TMZ bought the primary video of this low second.

The “Seinfeld” star completely misplaced it that night whereas performing in entrance of a moderate-sized crowd — this after he was heckled by some viewers members, which triggered him to launch right into a horrifically racist tirade … screaming obscenities and racial slurs.

He apologized, however the injury was arguably executed — his profession was by no means fairly the identical.

Britney Spears’ Shaved-Head Umbrella Incident (2007)

Britney Spears began to unravel in late 2006, however all that got here to a (shaved) head in early 2007 when she took clippers to her noggin and cut off her famous long locks … going for a bald look. The manic transfer prompted plenty of concern about her mind-set and well-being.

After all, the whole lot hit the fan only a few days later when she attacked paparazzi who’d adopted her to an L.A. gasoline station — getting out of her automobile and speeding them with an umbrella, all of which was captured on digital camera.

We have been the primary outlet to publish the chaotic scene …. and it marked the start of a downward spiral for Brit, which culminated together with her being thrust right into a court-ordered conservatorship a couple of yr later. In 2021, she was finally released from the conservatorship — cheered on and supported by hordes of her followers within the #FreeBritney movement.

Since then, her erratic behavior has fearful individuals over again — however her issues are nowhere close to what they have been within the mid-2000s … so for now, comparatively talking, she appears to be doing OK.

Tiger Woods’ First Single-Car Crash (2009)

Tiger Woods had a tumultuous yr in 2009 — this after his affair with Rachel Uchitel went public, and began to have an effect on his golf profession. That got here to a head in November of ’09, once we reported he crashed his SUV close to his FL dwelling in a single-vehicle accident.

After all, we later discovered that moments earlier than he crashed, his then-wife Elin Nordegren had confronted him over the affair, and smashed the SUV with a golf membership.

He was by no means arrested over that crash, however it would not be the final time he had an incident on the street … he infamously had a minimum of 2 others, together with one crash that left him badly injured.

Donald Sterling’s Racist Remarks on Tape (2014)

Former Clippers proprietor Donald Sterling was caught on tape disparaging Black people again in 2014 — audio first obtained by TMZ Sports activities — when he chastised his GF for “associating” with African-People and bringing ’em to Clippers video games. The NBA finally ousted him as an proprietor.

Beyonce’s Sister, Solange, Assaults Jay-Z in Elevator (2014)

Beyoncé‘s sister, Solange Knowles, infamously went on the attack in opposition to her brother-in-law, Jay-Z, in an elevator at a Met Gala occasion all of them attended … and TMZ printed the video first.

The battle was surreal, with Solange hanging Jay-Z … and Bey simply standing by. The precise impetus for her elevator incident has all the time been a bit of unclear — however experiences have advised it was due to one thing Jay straight stated to his spouse and her sibling. Others, nonetheless, have lengthy speculated it was all tied to alleged infidelity on Jay-Z’s half.

Ray Rice Knocks Out Fiancée in Elevator (2014)

Former Ravens celebrity operating again Ray Rice was captured on video punching his then-fiancée in an elevator … and TMZ Sports activities was the primary outlet to publish the clip, which modified his profession eternally.

Not solely was he released from the Ravens, however he was suspended indefinitely by the NFL — which landed him in a authorized battle with the league, with Rice finally profitable. Nonetheless, the injury was executed … he was by no means signed to a different crew, and introduced he was retiring from soccer in 2018.

Tristan Thompson Cheats on Khloe Kardashian (2017)

The daddy of Khloe Kardashian‘s kids, Tristan Thompson, was knee-deep in cleavage months earlier than she was as a consequence of give delivery to their first child — an unsightly incident of dishonest that was captured on surveillance video in 2017 … and first posted by TMZ in 2018.

The dishonest scandal rocked their relationship for a great whereas — particularly when, in a separate incident, Jordyn Woods briefly bought concerned with Tristan. Since then, the ex-couple’s had another child together … and, regardless of all of it, stay pleasant.

Kanye West Says Slavery Was a “Choice” (2018)

Kanye West‘s embrace of Donald Trump kicked off what many think about a significant pivot within the rapper’s profession and private life towards the latter half of the 2010s — together with plenty of radical concepts, similar to declaring American slavery “was a choice” … an notorious assertion he made whereas showing on “TMZ Live.”

Many right here bear in mind his look in our workplace fairly effectively … and you may argue it was the beginning of the troubling trajectory he is been on ever since. His public praise for Hitler in 2022 can be a really contemporary reminiscence.

Jussie Smollett’s Hate Crime “Hoax” (2019)

Jussie Smollett claimed he was attacked by Trump MAGA supporters in early 2019 — he stated they hurled racist and homophobic epithets at him, however later a jury of his friends discovered that to be complete BS.

TMZ broke the preliminary story … when nearly everybody believed the “Empire” star had, in reality, been the sufferer of a hate crime. The man’s story began to unravel, although, within the weeks thereafter, with police finally popping out and accusing him of constructing all of it up.

After plenty of authorized forwards and backwards … Jussie lastly went to trial, and was found guilty of submitting a false police report — however he has since appealed the choice, and has maintained his innocence all through the saga.

There’ve been loads of different high-profile tales we have damaged and tracked — however these actually stand out as our largest. Now then, on to the onerous half … deaths.

We have misplaced plenty of big celebs over time, and TMZ has usually been first to inform the world about their passing. Listed below are a few of the most well-known and stunning ones.

Michael Jackson (2009)

The importance and enormity of Michael Jackson‘s dying in the summertime of 2009 was misplaced on nobody — together with ourselves once we have been the primary information outlet to substantiate and report it.

As we reported … the King of Pop suffered cardiac arrest at his L.A. dwelling — this after an overdose from propofol and benzodiazepine … which had been administered by his physician on the time, Conrad Murray. Murray was finally convicted of manslaughter within the case.

After all, whereas Murray may’ve been the final one to manage ache treatment to Michael — it had been one thing that was occurring for years … which we lined in a documentary.

It goes with out saying, his dying rocked the world — and his followers mourned for weeks on finish.

Whitney Houston (2012)

Whitney Houston‘s sudden passing in 2012 was simply as stunning as Michael’s … if not, maybe, extra tragic.

As we first reported … she drowned in a bathtub on the Beverly Hilton lodge, which ended up being drug-related. An post-mortem later revealed her system was full of cocaine and different substances on the time of her dying. Officers finally dominated it as unintended.

Paul Walker (2013)

Paul Walker‘s dying shocked Hollywood past due to how he perished … a fiery automobile crash, which TMZ was first to report on the time.

In 2013, Paul and his pal, Roger Rodas, have been leaving a charity occasion within the San Fernando Valley — they usually bought right into a high-powered Porsche, with Paul driving passenger as Roger was driving. They ended up driving down a street extremely quick, and Roger misplaced management of the automobile.

The automobile slammed right into a concrete wall and went up in flames … killing both of them. Paul was in the midst of filming for the seventh ‘Quick & Livid’ film — and had to get replaced on digital camera by his brothers as stand-ins.

Prince (2016)

Prince‘s death was yet one more earth-shattering story TMZ broke in 2016 — rivaling the gravity of Michael and Whitney … and leaving music followers in every single place shocked and heartbroken.

The “Purple Rain” singer handed below comparable circumstances in comparison with his contemporaries — particularly, an unintended drug overdose … solely this one was the results of fentanyl-laced painkillers that he’d obtained below suspicious circumstances.

Because the investigation into his dying unfolded … the complete extent of Prince’s persistent ache grew to become recognized to the general public — the person had been battling via a number of illnesses and medical setbacks all through his life, which bought him hooked on highly effective treatment to alleviate his signs.

TMZ produced a documentary overlaying Prince’s final days … uncovering the unhappy fact about his habit.

Mac Miller (2018)

One other dying that got here as an terrible shock was Mac Miller‘s … a loss TMZ broke in 2018.

As we first reported … Mac’s physique was discovered at his dwelling after an accidental overdose. An investigation revealed he’d taken Percocet that have been laced with fentanyl … and over the course of three years, the drug sellers concerned in supplying these to him landed in court docket.

They have been all prosecuted, and a handful of them have since pleaded responsible.

Kobe Bryant (2020)

Kobe Bryant‘s dying is by far one of many saddest, most tragic, TMZ has ever damaged … transcending sports activities, leisure and media at giant.

In early 2020, he and a a number of Mamba Academy athletes and their mother and father — together with his younger daughter Gianna — have been in a non-public helicopter, flying from Orange County to Thousand Oaks in dense fog when it crashed into a mountain in Calabasas, killing all 9 individuals aboard.

The L.A. County Sheriff’s investigation that adopted finally revealed unseemly crash scene pictures have been taken by some first responders — one thing for which Kobe’s widow, Vanessa Bryant, sued and won following an arduous authorized course of.

Angus Cloud (2023)

The “Euphoria” star was an up-and-coming expertise in Hollywood, which is why once we first reported his sudden death … it took the world abruptly.

Angus Cloud was discovered unresponsive at his mom’s dwelling this yr, and after an post-mortem was executed, it was decided he’d suffered an unintended overdose. His castmates — which included Zendaya, Jacob Elordi, Sydney Sweeney and others — all mourned his passing.

Matthew Perry (2023)

Matthew Perry‘s dying this yr remains to be contemporary for his household, castmates and the hundreds of thousands of adoring followers he gained as a beloved “Friends” star … however, additionally, for his bravery in sharing his struggles with substance abuse.

We broke the story … Matthew was found dead at his home final month, the place he was submerged in his sizzling tub, the reason for which has but to be decided. Whereas many suspected medication or alcohol may’ve been at play, there’s been no proof of that in any respect — and many individuals near him have informed us he was sober, glad and feeling higher than ever.

With plenty of unanswered questions, the one factor Hollywood has been capable of do is mourn and bear in mind his legacy … which was full of guffaws and pleasure.

His well-known costars not too long ago attended a private funeral for him — and have publicly stated they’re reeling from the information.

Naturally, there are various different tales we have damaged over our 18-year historical past — however these stand out as a few of the ones that proceed to resonate.