Manny Pacquiao's taking heat (including a ban from an LA mall) over his comments about gay marriage -- but were his words really taken out of context as he claims? Or is the champ engaging in world class waffling?

Plus, why is Kris Jenner putting her own daughter -- Khloe Kardashian -- through the wringer over her DNA ... on national TV? Seems a little cruel, no? Also, Jennifer Lopez pulls a seriously shrewd business move, and Halle Berry's ridiculous plea to President Obama!

Tim Tebow is definitely down with Jesus ... but he ain't down "MY Jesus" t-shirts -- and he's threatening legal action because he says a website is illegally using his name to sell the merchandise.

TMZ obtained the cease and desist letter Tebow's attorneys sent to cubbytees.com last month -- in which they claim "the Merchandise makes it appear as if Mr. Tebow actually endorses Cubby Tees and its products."

Interestingly, the tee shirts in question do not use Tebow's image or name -- but instead spell out "MY Jesus" using the colors and font of his new team ... the NY Jets. In fact, the website clearly states, "This fun design is not officially endorsed by New York's backup quarterback or the Son of God, but plays off the themes of Tebow's faith and his new team."

Still, Tebow's attorneys are demanding the site stop "any use of Mr. Tebow's name and/or likeness" -- and according to Cubby Tees, Tebow already successfully petitioned eBay to remove the tees.

The shirt makers tell TMZ they aren't backing down, and actually sent a response to team Tebow ... saying the design "shares nothing with Mr. Tebow except for promotion of a common Lord and Savior." The shirts are still for sale.

Props to terezowens.com for the heads-up on the holy war.

Lane Garrison is putting on a real show in jail -- TMZ has learned, the former "Prison Break" star is teaching acting classes ... to his fellow prisoners.

Sources tell TMZ, the L.A. County Sheriff has Lane mentoring about 20 prisoners as part of the "Merit" program -- designed to teach marketable real-world skills to inmates.

In addition to acting, we're told Lane is also giving a crash course in screenwriting as part of the program.

And get this -- Lane's so moved by the experience, we're told he's promised the Sheriff to continue to mentor the prisoners even after he's been released ... whenever that is.

Lane's currently in custody after a domestic violence arrest last month. He's stuck in L.A. County Jail on a parole hold, stemming from his 2007 vehicular manslaughter conviction.

... Line!

Jennifer Lopez isn't sure if she'll come back for a third season of "American Idol," but the big cheese on the show says he wants her back in the worst way.

"A.I." EP Nigel Lythgoe tells TMZ, "We want her back. I want her back." Nigel is reacting to Lopez' comment on "Ellen," saying, "I don't know if I can go for a third year. I miss doing other things. It really does lock you down."

Nigel says, "I know how much she loves doing the show and how much she cares for the kids."  That said, Nigel adds, "It's a business. She has to weigh everything. I know she's gotten lots of offers to do movies and other things."

Ever the optimist, Nigel says by saying she "doesn't know" if she'll come back, it's classic negotiations, which means the door is open. Welcome to Hollywood.

The new season of "Workaholics" is already facing hard times ... and it hasn't even aired yet.

The good people over at Comedy Central just put the above billboard up on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood -- and if it wasn't glaringly obvious ... it features a trio of six-foot boners pressing against some kind of elastic fabric (spandex?).

For those who haven't watched yet, "Workaholics" is about three recent college grads desperately trying to adjust to adulthood.

But by the looks of the billboard -- they'll be fully grown in Season 3.

Back in 2010, HBO's "Hung" released a similarly phallic billboard -- and we daresay, it was even funnier than the Comedy Central version.

Kim Kardashian doesn't care WHAT the Federal Trade Commission says ... she says Skechers worked for her, and THAT'S why she became the company's pitch person.

Kim made a 1-year deal with the company, which touted Shape-Ups as a shoe that promotes toning and weight loss. The FTC now says the claims are bogus ... that there's no proof the shoes do squat.

But Kim is telling friends and family ... when she signed the original deal, she was a habitual Shape-Ups user and it toned the back of her legs and her considerable ass.

Kim says she signed a 1-year deal that ended in January, but even before the expiration she started to hear about the new research which showed the shoe didn't work, so she stopped promoting it all together.

Even though she wasn't about to promote the shoes for other people to wear, Kim had conflicting feelings about using the product herself.

Kim says she wouldn't endorse the shoe now -- but she's not throwing her Shape-Ups out.  She still has them and might still wear them.

Hope springs eternal.


11:00 AM PDT -- A rep for Skechers tells TMZ, the company stands by its toning claims despite agreeing to pay out $40 million in settlement costs. Under the settlement agreement, the rep says Skechers is still permitted to market  Shape-Ups as a toning shoe.

According to the rep, Skechers only agreed to settle because fighting every single lawsuit would've been really expensive.

Joey Lawrence is taking it all off ... or most of it at least ... because the 90s heartthrob just inked a deal with the man-stripper crew at Chippendales in Vegas.

A rep for the beefcake brigade tells TMZ, the 36-year-old former "Blossom" star will don the legendary bow tie ... and not much else ... for a special engagement at the Rio from June 7th-24th.

We're told Joey will sing, dance ... the "whole nine yards."

Joey's celebrity MC predecessors at the famed strip show include 98 Degrees singer Jeff Timmons and former "Bachelor" star Jake Pavelka.

It's unclear how much Lawrence is getting paid for the gig -- but in those parts, there's only one currency ... singles.

The Skechers fitness shoes Kim Kardashian tried to convince you to buy don't actually work ... not even a little bit ... so says the federal government.

The Federal Trade Commission has determined Skechers made unfounded claims about its Shape-Ups shoes ... pushed by hot-bodied spokespeople like Kim K and Brooke Burke.

According to the FTC, Skechers lied about clinical studies which the company said proved the shoes help people lose weight and strengthen muscles in the ass, legs and stomach.

In fact, Skechers has agreed to pay $40 million in settlement costs ... and anyone who bought the shoes will be eligible for a refund.

Still, Skechers is reportedly disputing the FTC decision -- and plans to conduct more research on the effects of the shoe.

Manny Pacquiao says he DOES NOT believe gay people should be put to death ... and blames the media for twisting his words about his stance on gay marriage.

Manny has been under fire ever since the National Conservative Examiner published an interview in which Pacquiao says gay marriage is against the will of God.

The Examiner article includes a reference to Leviticus 20:13 -- which says gays "must be put to death." But now the journalist who conducted the interview is admitting Pacquiao NEVER specifically referenced that bible verse.

Pacquiao has now released a statement saying, "I didn’t say that, that’s a lie ... I didn’t know that quote from Leviticus because I haven’t read the Book of Leviticus yet."

He continues, "I’m not against gay people ... I have a relative who is also gay. We can’t help it if they were born that way." 

Still, Manny says he's AGAINST same-sex marriage -- "What I’m critical off [sic] are actions that violate the word of God. I only gave out my opinion that same sex marriage is against the law of God.”

Believe it or not, but "sleazy" popstar Ke$ha put away her usual ragged outfits, torn stockings, morning-after smeared makeup and ratty weave to do her best Blake Lively impersonation by bathing and glamming it up at an event in Beverly Hills last night.

The 25-year-old looks great, now if she could only do something about her music.

Hours after a report surfaced in which Manny Pacquiao allegedly insinuated that all gay people should be put to death ... the boxer rolled over to his L.A. gym ... where he was SWARMED by adoring fans.

Manny ignited a media firestorm yesterday over an interview with National Conservative Examiner. Manny was asked about Obama's stance on gay marriage ... and the report made it seem as though he referenced Leviticus 20:13.

"If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads."

After the report surfaced, Manny was reportedly banned from The Grove in L.A. -- where he was supposed to do an interview with Mario Lopez from "Extra."

Instead, Manny hit the gym ... cheered on by his fans.

A rep for "Extra" tells us the interview has been rescheduled to a different location.  

So, we gotta ask ...

Nick Stahl -- the actor who played John Connor in "Terminator 3" -- is missing ... this according to his wife.

Law enforcement officials confirm ... Stahl's wife filed a missing person's report with the L.A.P.D. on Monday ... saying she last saw the 32-year-old actor on May 9.

Sources tell TMZ ... it is believed Stahl had been frequenting the Skid Row area of Downtown Los Angeles recently ... and there are concerns he may have gotten himself involved in some bad stuff.

Back in February, Nick's wife had filed court papers, expressing serious concerns that Nick may be using drugs ... and sources say she fears drugs may have something to do with his disappearance.

Stahl's rep declined to comment on the situation.

OneRepublic drummer Edward Fisher smashed through the front door of his girlfriend's home ... and pushed her through the cabinets ... so says the GF.

TMZ broke the story ... Fisher was arrested in Denver. CO yesterday after cops say he went on a rampage early Tuesday morning.

After the arrest, Fisher's GF Loni Rae spoke with FOX31 in Denver ... and explained, "Things just got out of hand and he snapped ... and my entire cabinets are ripped off from my walls."

"I had my feet up against the wall trying not to let him in, and he busted through the door and he pushed me through the cabinets."

Loni says she doesn't want to see Edward anymore -- "We tried to make it work ... and we have to let God handle it now."


8:19 AM PDT -- According to police, Fisher initially told cops HE was the real victim ... claiming Loni Rae trapped him in a bathroom and "struck him several times in the head" ... and that's why he had a gash on his forehead.