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Lakers owner Jeanie Buss says losing Kobe Bryant is like losing a family member -- but credits KB and his daughter Gianna with helping her find her "purpose" in life.

Jeanie has known Kobe ever since her father (the late Jerry Buss) signed him as a rookie back in 1996 and they had remained extremely close ever since.

Jeanie took Kobe's death extremely hard and waited several days to collect her thoughts before putting out a statement ... and what she produced is touching, sad and inspirational all at the same time.

"Kobe, I don’t know how to express what you mean to me, my family and the Los Angeles Lakers," Buss wrote ... "My father loved you like a son, which makes us family."

"When you invited me to lunch shortly after my father passed away [in 2013], I was struggling to find motivation and purpose," Buss admits.

"Kobe, you brought Gianna with you to spend some time with me. You explained that you wanted to show her that women can be leaders in the NBA, just like the men."

"At first, it seemed like an action of a devoted father setting an example for his daughter. But in actuality -- and I am positively sure you knew EXACTLY what you were doing -- what you did was give me the inspiration and strength I was searching for. I reflect on that day often and it makes me smile and it makes me strong."

Jeanie continued ... "I call on that memory whenever I feel down and need a bit of courage. For everything you did on the court that filled me with so much joy and love, for all the lives you changed through basketball itself, it was that day with Gigi that reignited my drive and determination."

"Vanessa, Natalia, Bianka, and Capri - I am so sorry for your loss. We are grateful to have you in our lives and we will always be here for you."

"To the families that also lost loved ones on Sunday, the entire Laker family mourns with you. Laker Nation - we are one family grieving the loss of people we all loved dearly. We will mourn together, cry together but we will also heal together, love together and win TOGETHER. We love you."

Originally Published -- 10:00 AM PT

Billy Porter's got some solid advice for Lil Nas X on the heels of Pastor Troy's homophobic rant ... brush the dirt off that shoulder.

We got the "Pose" star out Thursday morning in NYC and got his take on Pastor Troy's hateful message directed at Lil Nas X just days after X won 2 Grammys for his hit track "Old Town Road."

Troy's words don't bear repeating here ... but ya gotta give props to Lil Nas X -- who wore a pink leather cowboy suit to the awards show -- for one helluva clap back. Porter doesn't seem surprised .... saying there's still lots of homophobic vibes in hip-hop.

Justin Bieber found more real estate on his body to add a new tat, and this one says a lot about where he is right now ... and where he plans on going.

The Biebs really branched out this time, getting a laurel wreath across his collar bone. The 2 branches connect in the area above his chest and below his neck ... nice and symmetrical.

JB flaunted his new ink Thursday outside a gym in L.A. -- one of his buds gave it an up-close inspection.

As for the meaning of the tattoo ... the laurel wreath is known as a symbol of triumph and nobility. There could also be a religious significance -- many view the wreath as a reminder that victory can only be attained by following God.

Justin's obviously been very open about his Christianity, and he's also revealed he's been through a lot recently, including his Lyme disease diagnosis.

He's fought through it, though, and already this year ... he's released a new single and a documentary. The future's looking bright too, with an upcoming album and tour.

Seems like he's feeling pretty triumphant about it.

Donald Trump and Michael Bloomberg better put their Super Bowl advertisements to good use, by making them fun and exciting ... so says Congressman Andre Carson.

We got the distinguished gentleman from Indiana on Capitol Hill Thursday, and asked him about the mix of commercials and political ads for Sunday's Super Bowl broadcast.

There's gonna be more political ads than usual -- it's an election year, after all -- and Rep. Carson says candidates are gonna do everything they can to capitalize on the massive TV audience tuning in to the Big Game.

It's pretty crazy ... FOX, which is broadcasting the game, says a 30-second commercial's gonna cost up to $5.6 million ... but Carson says the huge price tag is worth every penny.

Rep. Carson's advice for Super Bowl ads ... make them entertaining and engaging, and don't just talk about personal accomplishments.

Offset has been detained by cops after a report of a person with a gun at an L.A. shopping center.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ a call came in just before 8 PM of a person with a gun inside the parking structure at The Grove shopping center. We're told the person who had the weapon allegedly fled the scene, and Offset and members of his entourage have been detained.

It is NOT clear if Offset or anyone he was with actually had a weapon, and police are currently investigating the situation.

In video -- obtained by TMZ -- Offset can be seen in a yellow hoodie asking officers why he's been cuffed ... the officer pushes the Migos rapper up against a wall.

We are told Offset is currently being held near the security station of The Grove.

Sikorsky, the manufacturer of the helicopter that crashed with Kobe Bryant and 8 others, had actively taken steps to make sure other fliers of the S-76 add the critical system missing from Kobe's chopper.

The specific model flying Kobe was the S-76B and, as you know, the NTSB said it wasn't equipped with a Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS). It was an optional feature until 2005 -- Kobe's was built in 1991.

Sources familiar with Sikorsky tell us before Kobe's crash ... the company frequently reached out to customers of older S-76 models and urged them to implement new safety measures like TAWS.

The company says it regularly notifies customers of enhanced technology offerings, but for obvious reasons ... it's a top priority now.

The NTSB also revealed Kobe's helicopter didn't have a cockpit voice or flight data recorder (aka a black box) -- because, once again, they weren't standard until recently.

Sikorsky tells us TAWS and a black box have been standard since they rolled out their S-76D in 2012.

As we reported ... the NTSB says it previously made 2 safety recommendations to the FAA about the warning system and the black box, but the FAA didn't take action. The strong insinuation is those instruments could have helped Kobe's pilot avoid catastrophe ... and helped investigators figure out what went wrong.

The NTSB first recommended mandatory black boxes and warning systems in 2006 following a crash the year before, but neither are currently mandated by the FAA for commercial flights.

Sikorsky says it's deeply saddened by the Kobe tragedy and is "actively supporting the NTSB investigation," adding ... "Safety is our top priority. If there are any actionable findings from the investigation, we will immediately inform our S-76 customers."

Russell Wilson may have come up short on his quest for the Super Bowl this year, but he's winning off the field -- Ciara's pregnant ... and this child matches his jersey number.

The husband and wife made the announcement together Thursday morning ... via back-to-back posts on Instagram with the simple caption, "Number 3."

Russell's selfie featured a pregnant Ciara posing in the background, and he made sure to flaunt a #3 around his neck too.

This will be the couple's second child together, but her third. She has a son, Future Jr., from her previous relationship with Future. Wilson became his stepfather when he and Ciara wed in England in July 2016.

Ciara and Russell welcomed their first kid, a daughter named Sienna Princess, in April 2017.

It's unclear when Ciara's due, but she's due to take the stage at Rolling Stone's Super Bowl concert Saturday in Miami at SLS South Beach.

And, now we know ... she'll be singing for 2.

Shaun Weiss -- best known for playing Goldberg in "The Mighty Ducks" films -- has reached the point of grave concern ... and desperately needs help before it's too late.

Sources close to the troubled 41-year-old actor tell TMZ ... he's currently living on the street and dealing with several life-threatening problems, including diabetes, mental illness and drug addiction.

We're told friends of Shaun's have been trying to get him into various rehab facilities for years now, but it's been difficult due to long wait lists ... along with his inability to stay out of trouble.

Our sources say things have gotten so bad for Weiss that he's basically in survival mode right now ... which is why he resorts to trying to steal stuff.

We're told anytime he manages to get his hands on some clothing or money, he gets attacked by other homeless people and robbed. Even worse, a friend bought him a van to live in ... and it was allegedly set on fire.

Those close to Shaun say he's in dire need of detox, rehab and medical aid including dental work ... because he's lost most of his teeth, which makes it difficult to eat.

It's sad stuff for sure, and our sources say even his own sister has been unable to help. We're told she agreed to take Shaun in at her Northern California home a few weeks ago but kicked him out a few days ago due to his behavior.

He was arrested for residential burglary and being under the influence of methamphetamine shortly afterward.

As we've reported ... Weiss posed for another shockingly sad mug shot back in August 2018 when he was arrested for public intoxication, but his downward spiral started about a year before that with arrests for petty theft and meth.

The woman Soulja Boy describes as a bitter ex-GF is suing him over the alleged kidnapping and assault case that led to him doing time last year.

Kayla Myers says she was partying with Soulja and co. at his Malibu home on Feb. 1, 2019 when she decided to leave at 2 AM. She admits her exit didn't go smoothly -- as she backed out, her car went off the driveway ... which pissed off one of Soulja's female assistants and sparked an argument between Kayla and the woman.

In her lawsuit, Kayla claims she was knocked to the ground, and then Soulja came over to kick her in the stomach and bash her in the head "with a large gun" -- and then told her she was going to die as he held the gun to her head.

According to docs, obtained by TMZ, she claims Soulja directed the assistant to drag Kayla to the garage, tie her up with duct tape and give her a shower. That sounds bizarre, but Kayla claims he wanted to clean her up from the ass-kicking she'd just suffered in the dirt outside the house.

Later, Kayla claims she was being held captive -- tied up with an extension cord -- in the garage when a male assistant offered to release her if she performed oral sex. In the suit, she says she felt she had no choice and did it. After that she was released at 8 AM ... she says with one final indignity -- Soulja allegedly said, "Now get this bitch outta here before I knock her down the stairs."

Kayla claims she suffered 3 fractured ribs and a bruised face. As we reported, she reported all of this to police, who conducted a raid at Soulja's house, where they found guns ... a probation violation. As you know, Soulja ended up doing time in L.A. County jail last summer.

Kobe Bryant's wife, Vanessa, has made her first public move since her husband and their daughter, Gigi, died tragically in a helicopter crash ... sharing a heartbreaking image of her lost loves.

Vanessa just changed the profile image on her official Instagram account to a picture of Kobe and Gigi ... and it's the first time she's publicly acknowledged the shocking loss.

In the pic, Kobe is embracing Gigi. She's got her arm on his shoulder, and he's lovingly gazing down. The snap is from the 2016 NBA All-Star Game in Toronto, the last of Kobe's 18 All-Star appearances.

Vanessa hasn't said anything publicly yet about her husband and daughter's passing, and you gotta feel for her in this extremely rough time ... but this picture speaks volumes.

TMZ broke the story ... Kobe and Gigi died in a devastating helicopter crash in Calabasas on Sunday morning, which claimed the lives of 7 others.

All 9 passengers of the chopper have been identified ... including Kobe, Gigi, John Altobelli, Keri Altobelli, Alyssa Altobelli, Sarah Chester, Payton Chester, Christina Mauser and the pilot, Ara Zobayan.

Kobe and Gigi were heading to the Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks for her basketball game.

Here's MTV's "Floribama Shore" star Nilsa Prowant flying off the handle and smashing a car window to pieces during a drunken arrest ... and ya gotta see the damage!!!

The wild video picks up with Nilsa giving revelers the middle finger and spewing profanities as she climbs into the back of a taxi cab after a night of partying in St. Petersburg.

Nilsa's talking to cops after flashing onlookers in public, and you hear an officer standing outside the taxi tell her she's free to go if she calms down.

All of a sudden, Nilsa becomes belligerent ... she starts pounding the rear driver's side window with her fists, and when she starts kicking the glass, it shatters!!!

After the glass flies everywhere, sirens wail and police swarm, with cops ordering Nilsa to get out of the car before leading her away in a pair of handcuffs.

We broke the story ... Nilsa was arrested and booked for disorderly conduct and exposure of sexual organs.

The arrest is real bad news for Nilsa, but great for her producers -- who got some killer content for the episode airing tonight at 8/7c on MTV.

Ex-Laker Smush Parker knows exactly what he would have said if he and Kobe Bryant ever crossed paths again -- but now that he can't, it's become a huge regret.

Parker, the starting point guard for the Lakers for from 2005 to 2007, told us ... he wishes they could have officially buried the hatchet, man-to-man, over having said playing with Kobe is an "overrated" experience.

The 2009 interview obviously caused a huge rift, with Kobe eventually responding ... "I tell Steve [Nash], you won MVP, but I was playing with Smush Parker. [Nash's] playing with [Leandro] Barbosa. I'm playing with Smush and Kwame [Brown]. My goodness."

Kobe added, "Smush Parker was the worst. He shouldn't have been in the NBA, but we were too cheap to pay for a point guard. We let him walk on."

Despite the shots fired -- in both directions -- it's obvious Smush is now hurting over Kobe's death. He's even more upset about never getting the chance to square things right with his former teammate face-to-face. Smush says he did apologize in a letter to Kobe, who never responded.

Minnesota-born Kurt Harland (aka Kurt Harland Larson) was only 25 years old when he gained fame for founding and fronting the '80s experimental synthpop group, Information Society, which released their hit single, "What's On Your Mind (Pure Energy)" that was also found on their 1988 self-titled album Information Society.

Fun Fact: In the "What's On Your Mind" song there's a super catchy sample of the words "pure energy" ... which was a soundbite from Leonard Nimoy's "Star Trek" character Spock on a classic 1967 episode titled "Errand Of Mercy."

Nikki Bella's not quite at the bulging baby bump stage, but she's still drawing attention to the bun in her oven ... her first!!!

Check out this pic of the WWE superstar doing the classic bump cradle during a walk Wednesday afternoon in Los Angeles. She was on her way to visit a friend, and it ain't hard to figure out what they'll be discussing.

It's pretty crazy ... Nikki and her twin, Brie Bella, are both pregnant, and their due dates are only a week and a half apart. That's some serious womb symmetry!!!

As we reported ... Nikki got engaged back in November to her former "Dancing With The Stars" partner, Artem Chigvintsev, and she says they weren't even trying to get pregnant.

Brie says she was also shocked by her second pregnancy with husband -- and fellow WWE superstar -- Daniel Bryan after resigning herself to being a mother of one.

No word on sex or baby names yet. We sense a synchronized gender reveal in the near future. Congrats!!!

The comedian who openly celebrated Kobe Bryant's death is triggering a wave of threats aimed at the comedy club where he was supposed to perform ... forcing cancellations.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Ari Shaffir was scheduled to do stand-up at the New York Comedy Club Tuesday night at 9:15 PM, but the club was forced to call cops after getting multiple phoned-in threats.

Our sources say someone called threatening to shoot up the place because a comedian scheduled to perform there made a vile joke about Kobe. We're told the caller didn't mention Shaffir by name, but it's no secret -- he DID stir anger just hours after Kobe's death.

Our law enforcement sources say the shows were canceled by the club due to numerous threatening calls.

The day Kobe died, Shaffir tweeted a selfie video, saying, "Kobe Bryant died 23 years too late today. He got away with rape because all the Hollywood liberals who attack comedy enjoy rooting for the Lakers more than they dislike rape. Big ups to the hero who forgot to gas up his chopper. I hate the Lakers. What a great day!"

Yeah, pretty vile.

Shaffir posted another video later and doubled down, saying Kobe's death was a "good story" because "the guy got away with rape." Shaffir deleted it, but the damage was done.

We're told the club filed a complaint with the NYPD for aggravated harassment 25 minutes before Shaffir's set time. No arrests have been made and the case is still under investigation.

Shaffir, who swiftly got dropped by his talent agency after the Instagram video, later took to Instagram to explain his video in epic failure.

Here's Harry Styles frolicking with sexy bikini models on a beach in Malibu for a music video shoot, and he can't keep his hands off ... the props.

We know what you're thinking, but it's all good, clean fun. Harry's shooting the vid for his new single, "Watermelon Sugar" ... so, naturally there are plenty of melons on set.

Harry sure looks like he's having the time of his life. Most likely because he's surrounded by waves and babes, and looking fly in a yellow Hawaiian shirt and matching trunks.

Not to worry ... no melons were harmed in the making of the video. Harry's got extremely soft hands. Well, that's what we imagine, anyway. Like you don't?!?

As we reported ... Harry debuted his new album, "Fine Line," last month during a show at The Forum in Inglewood, CA and his fans freaked out. "Watermelon Sugar" is one of the new tracks from that record.