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Travis Barker is suing the people he says cost him his ability to play the drums, tour and live a normal life.

You'll remember ... Barker was involved in a nasty car accident back in July when his SUV collided with a school bus. He's also been sidelined from touring with Blink-182 after suffering nerve damage, damage to his veins and a staph infection.

We're told the injuries have been life-changing for Barker, and a lawsuit has become necessary.

In the lawsuit -- obtained by TMZ -- Barker claims in June he went to The Medical Imaging Center in Santa Monica to receive an MRI as part of his routine checkup for his upcoming tour. Barker was to be sedated before the procedure, but technicians were unable to find a vein, sticking him at least 40x times in the process with a dirty needle and giving him staph. He's suing the medical office.

As for the bus crash ... the driver of the school bus made an illegal left turn and caused the collision. He's suing the driver of the bus and the bus company for the crash.

Travis doesn't specify how much he's asking for in damages, but you can bet it'll be a lot considering he's been unable to drum and has been forced to turn down numerous offers.

9/19 -- Wanda Barzee has been released from the Utah prison shortly after 7 AM PT Wednesday morning after more than 15 years behind bars.

Elizabeth Smart's kidnapper, Wanda Barzee -- who's set to be released from prison Wednesday after 15 years behind bars -- better stay away from her former captive ... or she'll be right back in prison.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... once Barzee's out of prison, she'll be placed on supervised release by the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services System. One term of her release includes no contact, of any form, with Elizabeth.

We're told this requirement is for the full 5 years of her supervised release. Once that ends, Elizabeth can go to court and ask a judge for a protective order -- and based on how she feels about Barzee ... we're betting she will.

Our sources say Barzee's housing arrangement ensures she won't be anywhere near Smart or her family, and federal probation officials will keep an eye on her while she's at home, and also at work, if she finds a job.

The feds will also be in contact with Elizabeth to make sure Wanda hasn't tried to contact her by phone or on the Internet. If she violates the conditions of her probation, Barzee will be brought before a federal judge ... who will likely sentence her to more prison time.

As we reported, despite the Utah parole board deeming Barzee unfit for release ... there's nothing it can do to keep her off the streets because state law requires her release by the time her sentence is complete.

Barzee pled guilty to helping kidnap 14-year-old Smart in 2002, and Smart says Wanda stood idly by as her other abductor, Brian David Mitchell, repeatedly raped her. Mitchell is serving a life sentence in Arizona.

Smart hasn't specified, but says she's taking extreme measures to protect her family.

Jamie Foxx and Katie Holmes have reached can't-be-apart-for-too-long status as a couple -- she flew out to Atlanta to meet him while he films there.

Jamie and Katie busted a sweat Tuesday during a gym sesh in the ATL where Jamie's shooting "Just Mercy" alongside Michael B. Jordan. Katie's been in town for a few days now ... no doubt subscribing to the mantra "couples that work out together, stay together."

It's interesting ... Jamie and Katie dating, for YEARS now, was the worst kept secret in Hollywood -- even though they kept things on the super DL. Then, last September, they finally packed on the PDA during a beach outing in Malibu.

Ben Stein thinks it's total BS Brett Kavanaugh has to go through a Senate hearing over something that allegedly happened when he was in high school -- even if it's true ... and he passionately believes it's not.

We got the 'Ferris Bueller' actor at LAX Tuesday, and our cameraman went head-to-head with him over the allegations made against the Supreme Court Justice nominee by Christine Blasey Ford ... that he sexually assaulted her at a party 36 years ago.

Stein calls it a "f***ing disgrace" and says he's not buying Ford's story ... and questions her motives. When our photog Charlie pushes back, saying it's important to hear them both out to get to the bottom of things ... Stein begs to differ.

It's interesting -- Stein clearly supports Kavanaugh and thinks the claims against him are lies, but when Charlie asks what if it can be proven they're factual ... Stein seems to say it still shouldn't matter.

Justin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin are currently in the eye of the marriage rumor storm, but they're also in the eye of London.

The soon-to-be-married couple was spotted on a date Tuesday. They got in line for the London Eye ferris wheel -- like everyone else -- and eventually took it all the way to the top. Once they were alone, the Biebs and Hailey locked lips like there's no tomorrow.

After the smooch fest, Justin busted out a guitar and got in his element to serenade Hailey outside Buckingham Palace. She looked doe-eyed and smitten by her guy's romantic gesture.

Justin professed his love for Hailey as he sang in front of the crowd that naturally gathered around them.

It's kinda been their thing lately -- make out in public here, there ... and just about everywhere else.

The international trip takes place on the heels of Bieber and Hailey hitting a courthouse in NYC last week to get a marriage license. A lot of people -- including Hailey's uncle, Alec Baldwin -- think they already got hitched, but we're being told that just isn't so.

They may be heading to the altar soon enough though, especially since they now have their marriage license. Sources told us they'd be tying the knot outside the country ... and they're definitely not in the U.S. of A. right now.

Julie Chen just formally announced she's leaving "The Talk" and her departing message thanked both her fans and costars.

The longtime talk show host and CBS anchor appeared in a pre-recorded video Tuesday at the bottom of the show, where she said, in part, that she was leaving "The Talk" to spend more time with her husband, Les Moonves, and their young son.

Julie, who eventually became teary-eyed during her remarks, thanked all the hosts of "The Talk," singling out each one and quickly reminiscing on their friendship. She ended with "I love you all, and I know this show and the sisterhood it stands for will live on for many, many, many more years to come. You ladies got this, and I cannot be more proud to call you my friends. I love you."

The camera eventually cut back to the main set where all the ladies were in tears. Sara Gilbert quickly thanked Julie for her contributions to "The Talk" and the program ended from there without further discussion.

As we reported ... Julie was slated to make the announcement that she would be off of "The Talk" effective immediately. No word on whether she's leaving her "Big Brother" hosting gig just yet, but it appears she'll be sticking it out for the short term. She's hosting again this week.

Julie returned to "Big Brother" last week without mentioning the sexual assault allegations against her husband, Les Moonves. She also didn't talk about his forced resignation from CBS in the wake of several women coming forward to accuse him of past sexual misconduct.

She did, however, sign off on Thursday's episode as Julie Chen Moonves ... clearly showing her support for her husband.

If you've seen Ex-NBA tough guy Matt Barnes play basketball, chances are you've seen him high as a kite ... because MB says he smoked weed before every game he played ... SINCE HIGH SCHOOL.

Barnes appeared on Van Lathan's 'Red Pill Podcast' and talked openly about the taboo of marijuana usage in pro sports ... and how he hopes to work with the NBA to change policies banning weed.

Matt then went on to explain he's not a poser ... he's an advocate and an avid smoker ... saying he toked up before NBA games.

"We'd have shoot around at 11, I'd be done by 12, back to the house by 12:30. Roll a joint, smoke it. Take a nap, wake up, eat, shower, and go to the game."

BTW -- Matt also told a HILARIOUS STORY about how he learned his limits with weed, and how going a little too hard with it led to some not-so-awesome results on the basketball court.

11:40 AM PT -- A spokesperson for Sesame Workshop has countered Saltzman, telling TMZ ... "As we have always said, Bert and Ernie are best friends. They were created to teach preschoolers that people can be good friends with those who are very different from themselves."

They continue, "Even though they are identified as male characters and possess many human traits and characteristics (as most Sesame Street Muppets™ do), they remain puppets, and do not have a sexual orientation."

Frank Oz -- longtime puppeteer for the show and hands behind some of the beloved characters, including Bert -- also denounced Saltzman, saying, "It seems Mr. Mark Saltzman was asked if Bert & Ernie are gay. It's fine that he feels they are. They're not, of course. But why that question? Does it really matter? Why the need to define people as only gay? There's much more to a human being than just straightness or gayness."

Bert and Ernie are finally out ... a "Sesame Street" writer is confirming the iconic characters are a gay couple.

Bert and Ernie have been on the show since it started in 1969, and there's always been speculation about the true nature of their relationship. Mark Saltzman, who joined the "Sesame Street" crew in 1984, cleared it all up by telling Queerty he wrote Bert and Ernie as a gay couple.

He says the 'Sesame' duo is a reflection of his own same-sex relationship and not about pushing an agenda.

Mark says he based Bert and Ernie on his relationship with film editor Arnold Glassman -- Mark was Ernie and Arnold was Bert.

Of course, Bert and Ernie have shared a basement apartment at 123 Sesame Street for the last 49 years ... although they've always slept in separate beds. Still, their chemistry -- while playfully arguing and bickering -- was always palpable.

Mark's revelation might be more of a formality -- the fact is, Bert and Ernie are longtime gay icons for many in the LGBT community.

2:22 PM PT -- LeSean just replied to the docs, saying, "The allegations made against me today regarding my relationship with my son are provably false, outrageously inaccurate and offensive. I have a loving and close knit relationship with my son."

He continues, "The young boy is my whole life. With a custody case coming in November, I can see why these false allegations are surfacing."

LeSean McCoy's baby mama claims the NFL star used their son as a pawn in order to vouch for his character, so she would shoot down rumors he was involved in a home invasion that left another one of McCoy's baby mamas brutally beaten.

You'll recall, McCoy's home was hit in a home invasion back in July that left ex-GF Delicia Cordon almost unrecognizable because she was so badly beaten. Cordon and others insinuated McCoy may have orchestrated the attack because he allegedly wanted Cordon out of the house. Cordon has since filed a lawsuit against LeSean.

On Tuesday, McCoy's baby mama -- Stephanie Maisonet -- filed new docs in the Cordon lawsuit.

Maisonet claims the day before the home invasion, she overheard LeSean on the phone saying, "I need to get this bitch out of my house."

Maisonet says after the attack on Cordon, LeSean called her -- something he didn't often do -- and offered her a deal. Maisonet claims McCoy told her if she'd publicly support his character and insinuate he wasn't behind the attack, he'd roll over in their custody case with their 6-year-old son ... and let her enroll the child in school in Miami.

Maisonet says she allowed a friend of McCoy's to access her Instagram account and post a positive message about the NFLer.

In the docs -- obtained by TMZ Sports -- Maisonet says she believes LeSean has abused their son on multiple occasions ... even making a report with child services. She concludes, "I regret ever agreeing to help LeSean McCoy in this case ... I feel like I am sending our son to a monster every two weeks."

She also included a photo of their son, showing alleged bruises from LeSean on his face.

Kanye West is moving to Chicago ... but that doesn't mean he's abandoning L.A.

Kanye made the announcement Monday at a Windy City event with Chance the Rapper, saying, "I gotta let y'all know that I'm moving back to Chicago and I'm never leaving again."

We know a thing or two about the latest development, and it has nothing to do with Kanye fleeing Los Angeles, where he lives with Kim Kardashian West and their 3 kids.

Sources close to Kanye say he and Kim have already found a home in Chi-Town and that's where we know he wants to establish his permanent residence, but they are keeping all of their properties in L.A.

In addition to the house they just built, they have multiple properties in L.A., including 300 acres that Kanye is developing, and that project is still a go.

We're told Kanye will move his Yeezy offices from Calabasas to Chicago.

It's a little confusing, but we're told Kanye views it this way ... that he will have a home base in Chicago, but apparently he believes he can have more than one home base.

Tiger Woods can throw back a celebratory cocktail or 2 because he's off probation for his DUI ... TMZ has learned.

Eldrick's probation was terminated by a judge a month earlier than expected because he "successfully completed all regular and special conditions" ... according to a new legal doc obtained by TMZ.

As we reported ... Woods copped a plea in his DUI case at his Florida hearing on October 27, 2017, and as part of his deal to avoid jail time he agreed to enter a DUI diversion program. He was also put on probation for 12 months, ordered to perform 50 hours of community service, and prohibited from drinking alcohol or taking drugs during the probation period ... but now it's over.

The golf legend was arrested for DUI on May 29, 2017 in Jupiter, FL after cops found him asleep at the wheel of his 2015 Mercedes. Once he awoke, Tiger was a discombobulated mess, which he claimed was the result of taking a cocktail of Rx drugs.

Scores of female McDonald's employees are staging a #MeToo walkout across 10 major cities ... protesting the company's alleged mishandling of sexual harassment complaints.

The strike is slated to begin during the lunch rush in major cities, including L.A., Miami, New Orleans, San Francisco and Chicago. The walkout won't go down at all McDees, only some. It's the first-ever nationwide walkout in protest of sexual harassment.

McDonald's employees are protesting what they say is widespread sexual harassment by coworkers or superiors ... alleging they groped or propositioned them for sex. The employees -- in conjunction with an advocacy group fighting for a minimum wage of $15 per hour -- say they were either retaliated against or fired after reporting the alleged incidents to supervisors.

The employees are demanding, among other things, mandatory sexual harassment training for managers and a better enforcement of its "zero-tolerance" sexual harassment policy.

Another advocacy group also plans to fly a plane over McDonald's corporate headquarters in Chicago with a banner that'll read, "McDonald's: Stop Sexual Harassment."

Justin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin are not married, according to multiple sources directly connected to both, despite what Hailey's uncle, Alec Baldwin, said.

Alec told "Access Hollywood" Monday night, "They just went off and got married. They went ahead and did it without listening to anyone."

Our Justin and Hailey sources say it's just not so ... they have not tied the knot.

As we reported, Justin and Hailey got a marriage license last week at a New York City courthouse, but did not seal the deal.

After reports incorrectly stated the couple tied the knot, Hailey tweeted, "I understand where the speculation is coming from, but I'm not married yet!"

Hurricane Florence victims are getting a huge assist from Michael Jordan ... 'cause the NBA's best-ever is sending $2 MILLION to help anyone affected by the storm.

Jordan -- who owns the Charlotte Hornets -- says he's giving $1 mil to the American Red Cross and another million to the Foundation For The Carolinas' Hurricane Florence Response fund.

The Hornets are also donating food boxes.

The team says it's also created "Carolina Strong" shirts ... and says 100 percent of the profits will be donated as well.

By the way ... Jordan and the Hornets aren't the only big-league club pitching in on the relief efforts -- the Atlanta Braves handed out free tickets to those forced to flee last week.

Here's your first look at Michael Bay's new action movie starring Ryan Reynolds, and judging by this wild car chase ... it's gonna be a thrilling and very expensive ride!

Ryan was tearing through a busy plaza in Florence, Italy in a lime green Alfa Romeo Giulia. Tires screeching, engine roaring and people jumping out of the way ... as they filmed "Six Underground." The Bay-directed flick has a reported budget of $150 million -- the most expensive Netflix original movie ever.

So far, they're keeping the plot under wraps. Thanks to this clip, we at least we know you're gonna get a heavy dose of Ryan's mug hanging out windows like a golden retriever.