Benny Blanco Gambling in Vegas As Selena Posts ... Amid Bieber Pregnancy

BETTIN' BLANCO
TMZ.com

Benny Blanco was in Vegas this week, betting a few bucks ... and apparently not taking the couple-y pics Selena Gomez posted online ... this amid the Biebers' pregnancy news.

New photos and video, obtained by TMZ, show Benny sipping on a drink and making a few bets at the Wynn Thursday -- right around the time Justin and Hailey Bieber announced they were expecting their first child together.

The reason that's relevant ... well, Selena posted some snaps of the two of them around that exact same time as well -- kinda making it seem she was with Benny during the bombshell.

KTLA Entertainment Reporter Sam Rubin Dead at 64 Suffered Heart Attack

update

1:17 PM PT -- Sam Rubin's station KTLA just paid tribute to their late employee -- offering up a moving tribute both online and on the air.

On X, KTLA's account posted a photo of Sam and wrote ... "KTLA 5 is profoundly saddened to report the death of Sam Rubin. Sam was a giant in the local news industry and the entertainment world, and a fixture of Los Angeles morning television for decades."

They added, "His laugh, charm and caring personality touched all who knew him. Sam was a loving husband and father: the roles he cherished the most. Our thoughts are with Sam’s family during this difficult time."

THE HEARTBREAKING ANNOUNCEMENT
KTLA

On TV, KTLA anchor Frank Buckley broke down in tears remembering his colleague -- and it made for an incredibly emotional moment. KTLA says Sam called in sick into work Friday before they learned about his sudden passing.

Stevie Wonder Drake/Kendrick Beef a Distraction ... From Real Wars in World

MORE IMPORTANT THINGS
TMZ.com

Stevie Wonder isn't entertained by Drake and Kendrick Lamar beef -- all war gets a thumbs down in his book ... including real-world ones, which he says are more important.

The music maestro spoke with TMZ Hip Hop Friday about his thoughts on the feud between Drizzy and K.Dot ... -- and while their respective diss songs may have racked up colossal numbers -- Stevie flat-out calls their battle a distraction to real problems going on right now.

Specifically, SW points to actual wars that are unfolding around the globe -- and while he doesn't pinpoint a specific one ... it seems pretty clear he's referring to Israel-Gaza.

Sean Burroughs '98 MLB 1st-Rounder Dead At 43

Sean Burroughs -- the ninth-overall pick in the 1998 MLB Draft -- has suddenly passed away, it was announced on Friday. He was just 43 years old.

The former third baseman was coaching his son's Little League game in California on Thursday when he suffered cardiac arrest.

Burroughs was a standout for the Long Beach Little League World Series teams in 1992-93 ... becoming the first American-born pitcher to throw back-to-back no-hitters as he led his teammates to two titles.

Bert Kreischer No Blow for Me at Brady's Roast ... Everyone Thought I Did!!!

fake party animal
ABC

Bert Kreischer's clearing up a wild story about Tom Brady's roast, saying he did NOT have cocaine on him -- like everyone in the arena suspected -- but admits playing it up for the crowd!

The comedian appeared on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" Thursday night, and spoke about an unaired moment that got the Kia Forum audience jumping -- he showed them a bag full of a white substance and implied he was holding a bit of blow.

Kreischer explains he had a bag full of nicotine pouches, which he put in a clear plastic baggie -- making it look like coke -- and placed it in his pocket.

Brutal Belt Attack NYPD Releases Suspect Photos ... Allegedly Strangled Woman

Police have now ID'd a suspect in the horrific attack that put a woman in the hospital after she was strangled with a belt out in public ... and they've released pictures to help find him.

NYPD shared photos taken from security cameras of the man they believe is responsible for this crime ... who seems to be wearing a similar outfit from the OG vid -- with a durag on his head looking very close to the white cloth the attacker used to cover his face.

STRANGLED IN THE STREET

In the pics, the suspect wears a GAP sweater and white sweatpants. He's about 5'9", according to cops, and he had a backpack with him ... just like the assailant in the video.

Anti-Tesla German Protesters Try Storming Factory ... Thwarted by Cops in Riot Gear!!!

STORMING THE FACTORY

Hundreds of protesters attempted to storm Tesla's factory near Berlin Friday ... and CEO Elon Musk has already called out the demonstrators -- who got into an ugly clash with cops.

German police confirmed they stopped hundreds of activists from accessing Tesla's production site in Grunheide ... after social media footage went viral showing protesters dressed in black charging the factory.

Check it out ... the protesters hold hands as they make their way through the woods and an open field, facing off against police decked out in riot gear. The cops even utilize pepper spray to deter protesters from pursuing the factory.

Zedd Offloads Lavish Encino Mansion Joe & Sophie's Old Crib

Zedd is saying sayonara to one of his Los Angeles area homes ... as he sold the mansion for a pretty penny, TMZ has learned.

The DJ officially parted ways with the 6-bedroom Encino estate, with the sale going through on Thursday for $17,125,000 ... which means he's pocketed a fair amount in the sale, 'cause he bought for quite a bit less a few years ago.

While this is over a million less than his original asking price of $18,999,000 ... Zedd is still walking away in the black, as he nabbed the property from Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner in 2021 for $15.2 million.

'Taxi Driver' Writer Scorsese Had a Real Vicious Dog ... Bit & Ate Part of Thumb!!!

Martin Scorsese might have the follow-up to his classic "Raging Bull" ... 'cause apparently, he's living with a raging dog -- one that maimed his longtime collaborator.

Paul Schrader -- a legendary Hollywood screenwriter and director -- spoke with Variety to promote his new flick "Oh, Canada," and revealed he had a fearsome run-in with Marty's dog which pulled a move worthy of a "Goodfellas" gangster.

The way Schrader tells it ... he went over to Scorsese's crib in December for dinner -- and, when he went to pet a little Scottish terrier, it went full Cujo and bit him, ripping off and eating part of his thumb!

Dana White FedEx Driver Fired ... After Viral Video

MAIL IT IN!!!

The FedEx driver who carelessly tossed over a dozen packages into his truck has been fired by the delivery giant ... after Dana White captured the incident on camera before posting it on social media, where it went viral!

In case you missed it, White was being chauffeured in the Big Apple on Tuesday when he saw the delivery man throwing box after box ... as if he was Steph Curry shooting jump shots.

HANDLE WITH CARE(LESSNESS)
TMZSports.com

"FedEx. We'll get your shit there, but we'll f*** it up," White said. "My boy don't give a f***." While Dana and many others online found the video comical, FedEx didn't.

Oprah Apologizes for Perpetuating Diet Culture ... Set Unrealistic Standards!!!

PART OF THE PROBLEM
WeightWatchers + Oprah

Oprah Winfrey is acknowledging the role she played in toxic diet culture -- and she's now trying to rectify that ... by embracing weight loss drugs.

The talk show legend opened up about her influence in the weight loss industry during a 3-hour live special for WeightWatchers this week -- and she owned the fact that she'd been feeding into this unhealthy trend for quite literally years.

Oprah says ... "I want to acknowledge that I have been a steadfast participant in this diet culture. Through my platforms, through the magazine, through the talk show for 25 years and online. I’ve been a major contributor to it."

Jackie Robinson KS Statue Thief Pleads Guilty ... Facing 19+ Years In Prison

The 45-year-old man who stole and destroyed a Jackie Robinson statue in Kansas pled guilty on Thursday to multiple charges, including theft, and is now facing over 19 years behind bars!

Remember, the large Jackie statue was stolen on January 25 from a youth baseball park in Wichita, KS ... only to be found burned and destroyed days later at a nearby park.

Multiple people were captured on surveillance video taking the statue, but only one person, Ricky Alderete, has been arrested and charged.

John Mayer Asking Andy Cohen If We Hook Up ... Is Highly Offensive!!!

John Mayer's pissed a journalist asked his pal Andy Cohen if he and John are hooking up -- calling the question demeaning to Andy, himself and the general public.

John put all his emotions down in an open letter to The Hollywood Reporter's co-editor-in-chief, who conducted the interview with Andy -- and in it, he says, "To suggest that people are dubious of a friendship like mine and Andy’s is to undermine the public’s ability to accept and understand diversity in all facets of culture, be it in art or in real life."

ICYMI ... THR told Andy, fans are "dubious" of his friendship with Mayer -- in other words, people think they're banging. Andy responded, "I honestly love John Mayer, and he loves me. But because we are so affectionate to each other, people don’t know what box to put that in." He also flatly denied they're sleeping together.

Shaquille O'Neal Drops Shannon Sharpe Diss Track ... Amid Beef

UPDATE

10:30 AM PT -- It happened -- Shaquille O'Neal just took his beef with Shannon Sharpe to the mic ... dropping a diss track amid their internet feud.

Forget Drake and Kendrick Lamar, there's a new beef taking over -- Shaquille O'Neal vs. Shannon Sharpe ... with the NBA legend sending shots at the NFL Hall of Famer for claiming he's "jealous" of Nikola Jokic.

Kimora Lee Simmons 'Embarrassed' Aoki Got w/ Older Man ... My Daughter Was 'Set Up!!!'

SOUNDS LIKE A SET-UP
TMZ.com

Kimora Lee Simmons says she felt a "little embarrassed" when she saw pics of her 21-year-old daughter kissing a 65-year-old ... especially because she feels like Aoki got played.

We caught up with the fashion mogul Thursday in NYC, and asked her all about Aoki's short-lived tryst with restaurateur, Vittorio Assaf -- she doesn't think it was ever a real relationship, and even referred to him as just a toad Aoki kissed.

KLS adds she feels her daughter was set up ... and, while she doesn't exactly come out and say what she means by that, she certainly implies the vast age difference screwed with her daughter's head.

Abby Lee Miller Blames Prison Time ... For Why She's in a Wheelchair

CUT OFF COLD TURKEY
Just B with Bethenny Frankel

Abby Lee Miller is blaming her time behind bars for the reason she's confined to a wheelchair these days ... suggesting she was punished for her celebrity status.

The "Dance Moms" star stopped by Bethenny Frankel's "Just B" podcast ... where she touched on her time in prison, having previously been convicted of bankruptcy fraud. As Abby put it ... she wasn't able to get access to her meds while incarcerated, allegedly on purpose.

Abby says she was "punished" in prison -- adding that's why she is now in a wheelchair. She says ... "That's why I'm in a wheelchair, because in prison I was punished and taken off all my medication, cold turkey."

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