Britney Spears' boyfriend has an update on her condition, and strongly insinuates ... it's time for her loyal fans to stand down on claims she's being held against her will or exploited.

We got Britney's bae, Sam Asghari, out in Los Angeles Tuesday and asked him the question that's on everyone's minds ... how's she holding up? He says she's doing "amazing," but then directly addressed the allegations many fans have been making since finding out Britney is in a mental health facility. 

Sam made it clear, he's thankful Britney's fans are so concerned -- but also insisted there's no reason for it.

TMZ broke the story ... Britney checked herself into a mental health facility last month, and she's at the tail end of what we're told would be a 30-day stay. She got a day pass from the facility on Easter Sunday, and spent her time hanging with Sam in Bev Hills. 

The trigger for Brit checking herself into the facility, as we first told you ... was her medicine. We're told doctors were adjusting the cocktail of meds Britney takes. The reality is it's a trial and error process to find the right combination -- and while she was dealing with that she also had to cope with her dad's recent illness.

Fans may or may not choose to buy what Sam's selling here, but he's certainly painting the most positive picture possible.

Travis Scott straight-up jacked a portion of Three 6 Mafia's DJ Paul's track ... so claims DJ Paul in a new lawsuit.

Paul filed legal docs claiming Travis' "No Bystanders" has a hook that's almost identical to DJ Paul's track "Tear Da Club Up." According to docs, obtained by TMZ, Paul says the hook to his track says "Tear da club up, tear da club up" while Travis' track goes "F*** da club up. F*** da club up."

In docs, Paul claims the cadence and sound are virtually identical. What's more ... Paul says Travis used his exact hook from "Tear Da Club Up" for his Grammys performance earlier this year ... line by line.

"No Bystanders" is a part of Travis' massively successful "Astroworld" album ... which debuted No. 1 on The Billboard 200 chart. It was also a fan favorite during the rapper's 55-city tour.

It's not the first time Paul has come out swinging against the younger generation of rappers ... in an interview with us in June he claimed young artists were going to kill hip-hop.  

Paul's now suing to get Travis' track pulled and wants the profits from "No Bystanders" ... which he thinks is around $20 million. We've reached out to Travis' rep, so far no word back.

Van Jones is working hard to bring light to prison reform and start a national conversation about our criminal justice system ... but he says a few celebs are outshining him.

We got the CNN host at Chelsea Studios in NYC Tuesday and asked who he thinks is stepping up the most for the cause ... he points to Meek Mill, calling him a "massive hero" for using his own case as a launching pad to help others.

Van then praises Kim Kardashian West for ignoring the skeptics and proving her ambitions and involvement are no joke ... and he believes it's a sign people from all walks of life have realized we have way too many prisoners in the U.S.

T.I. also gets a major shout-out for working with a church in Georgia to raise $120k to bail out 23 nonviolent offenders for Easter. Van says the rapper's "doing good by the hood," and if more people followed his lead ... things would improve very quickly.

There's a reason Van's so impressed by this group -- and it has nothing to do with celebrity. It's because they're doing the kinds of things he plans to spotlight on his new show, 'The Redemption Project.'

Lee Daniels says there's an important discussion going down right now ... whether Jussie Smollett will be cut from "Empire."

The "Empire" creator was out and about Tuesday in New York City when Adam Glyn asked about the next season of the show, and whether there's a place for Jussie. Here's what's clear ... there's no clear answer for Daniels and Co.  

Also, BTW, there's no clear answer on whether the show is coming back, because Season 6 has not been greenlit ... but we're guessing it will be a go.

As for whether Lee thinks Jussie scammed everyone with the alleged attack, he says there are 2 judges and only 2.

Beyonce's dad is bringing his daughter's story to the stage ... because he's creating a musical based on Destiny's Child and you already know it's gonna be bootylicious! 

Mathew Knowles is producing the show, "Survivor: The Destiny's Child Musical," and he says it's premiering in Houston next year, with additional plans for Broadway, London's West End and even a world tour!

The musical is told from Mathew's perspective, and Beyonce's dad says he wants to pull back the curtain and treat audiences to an honest, behind-the-scenes look at how one of the greatest female music groups of all-time got its start. 

Mathew says the tale will start from the group's humble beginnings, chronicling its rise to superstardom, plus his own pioneering climb into the music industry. Ultimately, Mathew says the show's message is that building a dream takes sacrifice ... even at the cost of everything and everyone you love.  

You know it's gonna be a rockin' production ... and Mathew says the musical's gonna feature a masterful mix of music, dance and beautiful imagery. He's collaborating with Je'Caryous Johnson to bring his story to life. 

No word on who has the inside track on playing Beyonce, Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams, LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson. 

Yes. We are ready for this jelly.

It wasn't easy but Kristoff St. John's death was addressed head-on when "Young and the Restless" hit the airwaves Tuesday with an emotional episode.

The scene begins with 'Y&R' costar Bryton James -- who plays Kristoff's TV son, Devon Hamilton -- walking into his father's house looking for him. James calls out for Kristoff, who for nearly 3 decades played Neil Winters. James says, "C'mon wake up. It's not a party until Neil Winters shows up."

Check out the clip ... it's a heart-wrenching moment when James walks downstairs, inconsolable after realizing his father is gone. As we first reported ... Kristoff was found dead back in February. It was later revealed he died from heart disease.

Tuesday's episode was the beginning of a 4-episode story arc paying tribute to Kristoff. Many of his former costars returned to the show and paid their respects ... including Shemar Moore, who played Kristoff's TV brother, Malcolm.

The network will also honor Kristoff next week with a special tribute episode ... showing clips from the show along with current and former cast members sharing their best memories of him.

Nicolas Cage had something he clearly wanted to get off his chest when he hit up a karaoke bar ... because his rendition of "Purple Rain" was ... emotional.

Nic was at a joint Sunday in L.A.'s Koreatown when he tried his hand and vocal cords on the classic Prince song, and we're guessing the performance was fueled by his desire to annul his recent marriage of 4 days.

As we've reported ... Nic got sick and tired of his new wife, Erika Koike and filed for an annulment. He says they were wasted when they tied the knot in Vegas, and acted on impulse. There were signs it wasn't going to end well ... they got into a heated argument before walking down the aisle.

Erika doesn't see it that way ... she says the marriage was legit, she claims Nic asked her to come back to him, and she wants spousal support. 

As for "Purple Rain" ... Prince once broke it down like this, "Purple rain pertains to the end of the world and being with the one you love and letting your faith/God guide you through the purple rain.”

So, is Nic dedicating this song to Erika, or someone else???

Offset's now facing a felony gun possession charge ... the fallout from his arrest last summer in Georgia.

Prosecutors filed 3 charges against the rapper in February, stemming from his July 2018 arrest where he was pulled over for allegedly making an improper lane change.

The Clayton County D.A.'s Office tells TMZ ... Offset's facing a felony charge for firearms possession by a convicted felon, along with misdemeanor charges for marijuana possession and that lane change.

The good news for Offset -- a felony charge of possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime was dropped.

He entered a plea of not guilty last month and his next court date is scheduled for May.

We broke the story ... the Migos rapper's lawyer believes Offset was targeted because he's rich, successful and black, and believes the cop's initial traffic stop was completely bogus.

We reached out to Offset and his legal team ... no word back so far.