Lady Gaga went scorched earth on Vice President Mike Pence and his wife over the weekend ... calling them terrible representations of what it means to be Christian.

Gaga was performing Saturday at the Park Theater in Vegas -- as part of her new residency -- and at one point as she played the piano ... she paused to talk politics and take some shots at the Trump administration, especially the Veep and Second Lady, Karen.

We need more people like Gaga to not be afraid and to speak up. What she says here, thank you for using your voice @ladygaga #ENIGMA ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜💖🖤 pic.twitter.com/kPmJim1VUp

— Kara (@gagaamour) January 20, 2019

The pop star first openly wondered if or when President Trump would reopen the government, which got a huge round of applause. She then launched into a tirade against the Pences over Karen resuming her teaching gig at Immanuel Christian School in VA ... which aims to ban LGBT kids and teachers supportive of them. Gaga didn't pull any punches.

She says, "And to Mike pence who thinks that it's okay that his wife works at a school that bans LGBTQ -- you're wrong. You're the worst representation of what it means to be a Christian."

Gaga continued ... "I am a Christian woman, and what I do know about Christianity is that we bear no prejudice and everybody is welcome. So you can take all that disgrace, Mr. Pence, and look yourself in the mirror and you'll find it right there."

Her speech got a huge roar of approval from the audience. Safe to say ... they agree. 

1/20/19 -- The student who came face-to-face with Nathan Phillips has released a statement to the media about what he claims actually happened Friday. Nick Sandmann, a junior at Covington Catholic High School, says he and his classmates were waiting for their busses to arrive at the Lincoln Memorial when a handful of African-American protesters began shouting "hateful things" at the group of boys. Sandmann says that he and his classmates were given permission by their adult chaperones to sing their school spirit chants in response. At some point during this chanting, Sandmann says a separate group of protesters from the Indigenous People's March approached his group, and claims that Nathan Phillips then "waded" into the crowd with his drum. Other videos that have surfaced online appear to show Phillips doing exactly that.

Here is a video clearly showing that Nathan Phillips approached the students. On the basis of the evidence we now have, I believe that people who issued categorical and one-sided condemnations of the students should retract and apologize. pic.twitter.com/GxmXcMuQgC

— Matthew Schmitz (@matthewschmitz) January 20, 2019

Sandmann says Phillips singled him out for some reason and walked right up to him ... and the clip that has since gone viral is what happened shortly after. Sandmann says he did not provoke Phillips, nor did he block him from going anywhere. He says he only smiled because he sensed Phillips and his group were trying to incite a larger confrontation, and he wanted to communicate that he wouldn't engage. Sandmann says he respects Phillips for his service as a Marine vet, but does not approve of his methods -- namely, getting in people's personal spaces. Sandmann also says he will be cooperating with his school's investigation into the matter. His full statement can be read below. 

Just in: Statement of Nick Sandmann, Covington Catholic High School junior, about the event at the Lincoln Memorial: pic.twitter.com/PkuMh2cVZM

— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) January 20, 2019

5:56 PM PT -- A spokesperson for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Covington says the confrontation between a horde of Catholic high school boys and the Native American war vet is under investigation, adding that students could be expelled. In a statement, the spox says ... "We condemn the actions of the Covington Catholic High School students towards Nathan Phillips specifically, and Native Americans in general, Jan. 18, after the March for Life, in Washington, D.C. We extend our deepest apologies to Mr. Phillips. This behavior is opposed to the Church’s teachings on the dignity and respect of the human person."

A mob of MAGA hat-wearing teenagers swarmed around a Native American Vietnam veteran to harass and drown out his peaceful demonstration -- and the scene was tense.

The face-off went down Friday at the D.C. National Mall -- near Arlington National Cemetery -- where Omaha elder Nathan Phillips, who served in the Vietnam War, was drumming and singing toward the tail end of the Indigenous People's March.

According to local reports, a large group of men -- including many young boys who were wearing MAGA gear -- descended upon Phillips and began mocking him ... with one student getting right up in his face as he peacefully tried reciting his song. 

What's depicted here is alarming ... many of the boys are mimicking Phillips' singing in a demeaning manner as they surround him and a few lingering marchers. As you can see, one of the boys stands face-to-face with Phillips with a smug grin on his face as he continues to drum.

Phillips addressed the altercation afterward in an emotional explanation of why he was singing, and how he internalized what had just happened to him. He explains how youth used to interact with elders, and how times have changed for the worse.

His name is Nathan Phillips. A Vietnam veteran. Here he speaks about the incident.

“I wish I could see that energy, of that mass of young men, making this country really, really, great... Helping those that are hungry.”

Video Via @LeMeTellUSumtin pic.twitter.com/ven8Z034kF

— Greg Hogben (@MyDaughtersArmy) January 19, 2019

Fortunately, there are no reports of violence breaking out ... but it appears these kids were on the verge of something nefarious. Some of the boys have been reported as Covington Catholic High School students in Park Hills, KY. It's unclear why they were in D.C., but it's possible they were there in support of the March for Life, which took place the same day.

Students from Covington Catholic High School in Kentucky wearing #MAGA hats mocked an elder at the #IndigenousPeoplesMarch on the national mall. The Superintendent of Schools Diocese of Covington @supmikeclines was in DC with them.
Call the Catholic school at 859-491-2247 pic.twitter.com/K4h3t9WFts

— Leau Est La Vie Camp (@NoBayouBridge) January 19, 2019

Covington's website temporarily crashed Saturday as tons of people demanded answers from Principal Bob Rowe and other faculty. A communications rep for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Covington released a statement on the matter saying, "We are just now learning about this incident and regret it took place. We are looking into it."

Ironically, CCHS' mission statement reads ... "At Covington Catholic, our primary purpose is to embrace the gospel message of Jesus Christ in order to educate young men spiritually, academically, physically, and socially. With this focus, we are Building Minds and Living Faith."

We've reached out to Covington Catholic High School for comment ... it appears their phone line is busy, as calls are not going through. 

Originally Published -- 1/19 at 11:06 AM PST

Lionel Richie's only son, model Miles Brockman Richie, had a run-in with cops at a U.K. airport after allegedly claiming he had a bomb and then slugging a security guard ... TMZ has learned.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police in London tell us a 24-year-old man "accepted a caution" Saturday for "communicating false information causing a bomb hoax and battery following an incident at Heathrow (Airport) Terminal 5."

Our law enforcement sources say it was Miles who was issued the caution. We're told he was detained, later accepted the caution from police, and then released.

As far as what went down, eyewitnesses tell us Miles was trying to get on a flight, but for some reason wasn't allowed. He became angry and allegedly claimed he had a bomb in his bag, which he'd detonate if he wasn't let on to the plane. 

We're told security showed up and Miles allegedly punched one of the guards. That's when police intervened, detained him, and issued him the caution on site.

According to Metro, accepting a caution in England is essentially the same thing as accepting responsibility for an offense.

When a caution is issued, the person who receives it is not booked or charged with a crime. They also don't need to appear in court. The caution does, however, go on their permanent record. It's a way to keep low-level crimes out of court and a means of unclogging the criminal justice system.

We reached out multiple times to reps for comment ... so far, no word.

Erykah Badu is back with yet another controversial train of thought about unconditional love and seeing the good in people ... this time her focus was on R. Kelly.

The R&B crooner was doing a show Saturday at Chicago's Aragon Ballroom, where she stopped her performance at one point to launch into a tangent about R. Kelly ... which did NOT go over well with the audience in attendance. Far from it, in fact.

Erykah said she wanted to send out a prayer to "R," clearly referring to R. Kelly ... and the remark definitely stunned the crowd for the worse. She said she hopes he sees the light of day if he's done all the things he was accused of on "Surviving R. Kelly."

As the boos mounted, Erykah continued her remarks by openly wondering if anyone who was allegedly assaulted by R. Kelly went on to be an offender themselves ... do they too deserve to be crucified? She followed up by asking, "How do we do this?"

It's a pretty tense scene as Erykah loses her fans more and more with each R. Kelly thought. Eyewitnesses tell us that a few people even got up and left the venue because of how turned off they were by her defending the embattled singer. 

This is very much in line with Erykah's views on Hitler. At least she's consistent ... for whatever that's worth.

Da Brat has quite the hot take on R. Kelly -- she's questioning the role of his alleged victims' parents, and asking one simple question ... do ya keep track of your kids?

We got the legendary femcee Saturday at the Trumpet Awards in Atlanta, where we asked her about R. Kelly -- whom she says she's close with and has shared history. DB and R. Kelly went to the same Chicago high school, and he even wrote her 1st demo record.

Da Brat tries to walk a tight rope here at first, saying she doesn't believe the women in "Surviving R. Kelly" are lying -- and acknowledging R. Kelly probably does need to get help -- but she eventually makes it clear where her allegiance lies ... it's with him. 

Then she drops a bomb -- asking point blank, "Where are the parents?" She says the parents of the young women who are allegedly being held captive by R. Kelly need to take responsibility and get a grip on where their children are at, and who they hang out with.

Regarding his music ... she says she's not deleting one R. Kelly song from her playlist.

Kanye West surprised Kim Kardashian with a live love letter that couldn't have been better delivered than Cupid himself -- so he got the guys who sing in his name to send it.

Kim posted a video to social media Saturday night showing Ye calling her via FaceTime and revealing that he was hanging with none other than R&B group 112 -- who serenaded her with one of their classic hits through the phone ... "Cupid."

It's just Mike and Slim left who are still together and performing as 112, but two seems to be the magic number for KKW ... 'cause she was ecstatic over the performance. She later tweeted, "You guys have no idea how much that call means to me!!!!! 112 is my favorite group! I literally almost cried! Kourtney and Khloe completely feel me. They love 112 too."

As for why they were with Kanye in the first place, sources familiar with the meet-up tell us Ye's planning on collaborating with the two crooners for new music.

Speaking of Mike and Slim ... we ran into them Friday at the Montage Hotel in Bev Hills, where we asked if there was any chance they'd reunite with Q and Daron anytime soon.

Sounds like the answer is still a hard no, but hey ... you can catch 'em live in concert these days if you're still crazy over them. 

A new political feud is quickly emerging online and it's between a couple of the most unlikely people you ever thought would get into it ... Cardi B and one Tomi Lahren.

It all started with Tomi commenting on Cardi's political rants last week about the government shutdown, with Tomi saying, "Looks like @iamcardib is the latest genius political mind to endorse the Democrats. HA! Keep it up, guys! #MAGA2020."

Looks like @iamcardib is the latest genius political mind to endorse the Democrats. HA! Keep it up, guys! #MAGA2020

— Tomi Lahren (@TomiLahren) January 17, 2019

On Sunday, Cardi finally responded by tweeting back a simple, yet very effective one-liner ... "Leave me alone I will dog walk you." Classic Cardi. 

Leave me alone I will dog walk you . https://t.co/FjqIzpUbvp

— iamcardib (@iamcardib) January 20, 2019

Tomi quickly fired back by saying she was sure Cardi would dog walk her, but that fact alone doesn't "make your political rambling any less moronic."

CB kept her cool and composure with one final response (for now) by simply saying, "You’re so blinded with racism that you don’t even realize the decisions the president you root for is destroying the country you claim to love so much .You are a perfect example on no matter how educated or smart you think you are you still a SHEEP!"

Tomi responded to Cardi's reply to someone else who mentioned taxes, telling CB that if she didn't want to pay so much (about $4 mil apparently), she should embrace the GOP.

Something tells us that ain't happening, especially with how many ladies were repping Cardi for the Women's March Saturday. We think she's set.

It was a brutal scene outside a White Castle in Paterson, NJ early Friday morning -- and the new video clearly shows it -- as a group of people appear to be attacking Lezhae Lowder, Fetty Wap's baby mama and her friends. 

Alexis Skyy was there, laying low inside her Benz Truck, which you can see in the drive-thru while the melee occurs ... at least that's what Lezhae tells TMZ.

Lezhae and Alexis allegedly got into it earlier in the night at a bar. According to Alexis, she and her friends then went to the White Castle where Lezhae pulled up and tried to confront her with a knife.  

Although there are no signs of a knife in the video, you see the violence ... someone is stomped and punched repeatedly before being dragged by the hair. At one point you see Lezhae on the ground, covering herself.

The most frightening moment comes when a car tries to drive through the crowd, almost hitting multiple people before crashing into the side of the White Castle. The violence erupts again as the crowd rushes the car, smashing the back windshield.

Lezhae was arrested for misdemeanor reckless endangerment for involvement in the brawl.

The oldest living man died peacefully Sunday morning in his home ... at 113 years old.

Masazo Nonaka was born in 1905. To put this in context, it's when Albert Einstein unveiled to the world his theory of relativity.

Speaking of relativity ... Nonaka was relatively independent. He used a wheelchair to get around and enjoyed reading newspapers and venturing out to a nearby spring bath once a week. He also loved eating sweets at the end of a meal.

His granddaughter said, "We feel shocked at the loss of this big figure. He was, as usual yesterday and passed away without causing our family any fuss at all."

Nonaka doesn't hold the Guinness World Record of all time ... the oldest living man was also from Japan and died in 2013 at 116 years old.

The oldest living woman was from France and died in 1997 at 122. 

RIP

YoYo is still reeling from something that happened with R. Kelly sometime ago when she went to his recording studio with her daughter and the singer's people slipped her daughter his phone number.

The rap legend was in Atlanta Saturday night for the Trumpet Awards at The Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center when she revealed the story her daughter told her.

YoYo says her daughter was over 21 at the time, but R. Kelly didn't know that. She clearly felt betrayed by him and said at that point she knew something was up but didn't know the scope of the problem.

The time frame is unclear, but it seems this happened fairly recently because she says it went down at an L.A. recording studio where she and her daughter were listening to R. Kelly's new album.