Oprah Not Arrested for 'Awful FAKE Thing' ... Bogus QAnon Story 'NOT TRUE'

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Oprah Winfrey got trolled by some idiots pushing a bizarre QAnon conspiracy theory, claiming she was arrested in a global sex trafficking ring, and sadly ... she was forced to debunk it herself when her name began trending on Twitter.

Welcome to the new normal?

Oprah responded to the nonsense after her name and the bogus story -- which claims, among other things, that coronavirus is a hoax created to conceal a global drug and child trafficking ring among celebrities -- began trending late Tuesday night.

She wrote ... "Just got a phone call that my name is trending. And being trolled for some awful FAKE thing. It’s NOT TRUE."

Oprah added ... "Haven’t been raided, or arrested. Just sanitizing and self distancing with the rest of the world. Stay safe everybody."

Unfortunately, with a vast majority of the country holed up in their homes and bored on their computers ... the wild conspiracy theory began to spread like a virus, and by Wednesday morning hashtags like #opraharrested and #OPRAHDIDWHAT were also trending.

And if ya aren't familiar ... QAnon followers -- mostly big Trump supporters -- believe there is an anonymous secret agent working in the government who shares messages and symbols showing there is a plot to overthrow the President.

QAnon wackos support the notion that the COVID-19 pandemic is "the biggest covert U.S. intelligence operation that the world has ever seen."

By the way ... the same wild story Oprah's name was involved in also claimed Tom Hanks was actually arrested for pedophilia and is being held in Australia -- and his coronavirus story is fake.

So, there ya go.

'When They See Us' Netflix, Ava DuVernay Sued By Ex-Prosecutor Fairstein

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UPDATE

7:52 AM PT -- A rep for Netflix tells us, "Linda Fairstein's frivolous lawsuit is without merit. We intend to vigorously defend When They See Us and Ava DuVernay and Attica Locke, the incredible team behind the series."

Linda Fairstein, the woman who helped prosecute the now-vindicated Central Park 5, is suing Netflix and director Ava DuVernay over her portrayal in "When They See Us."

Fairstein filed the federal suit Wednesday, saying she fired off a warning to DuVernay before her series was released. Fairstein says she was concerned she would be portrayed in a false and defamatory manner. She says it fell on deaf ears because Ava's only response was Linda had no right to object before seeing the series.

Once it came out in June 2019, Fairstein says every episode in which she appears portrayed her as a "racist, unethical villain who is determined to jail innocent children of color at any cost."

In the suit, obtained by TMZ, Fairstein objects to nearly every single aspect of the case ... as it's portrayed in the series. She denies taking any of the following actions: unlawfully interrogating unaccompanied minors, calling for a roundup of "young black" thugs, manipulating the timeline to pin the jogger's rape on the Central Park 5, referring to people of color as animals, directing NYPD detectives to coerce confessions, and suppressing DNA evidence.

If you've seen the critically acclaimed series, you know that's the entire plot. So, Fairstein is claiming it's ALL a lie, as far as her role in the case.

Fairstein says after "When They See Us" was released her career as a prolific crime author was destroyed. Her publisher and agents dropped her, she lost speaking appearances and was forced to resign from the boards of several non-profit organizations.

Fairstein is suing Netflix, DuVernay and her co-writer, Attica Locke, for defamation. She wants a public apology, removal of the scenes she calls false, and a disclaimer added that labels the series as a dramatization and NOT a true story. She also wants damages.

Originally published -- 7:28 AM PT

Alessandra Ambrosio I Let My Dogs Out, But ... What's My Ex-Fiance Doing Here?!!

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Forget social distancing, Alessandra Ambrosio's just having trouble putting space between herself and her ex-fiance while out for a walk with her current guy.

The retired Victoria's Secret supermodel was out Tuesday in Santa Monica walking her pooches with her BF, Italian fashion designer Nicolò Oddi. Not too long into her walk, she learned it's a very small world after all ... cause she ran into her ex and baby daddy, Jamie Mazur.

It appears they had a brief and somewhat tense encounter ... based on their faces. The former couple, of course, share 11-year-old daughter, Anja, and 7-year-old son, Noah. Jamie had proposed to Alessandra in 2008 but a decade later in March 2018, she announced their breakup.

Four months later, Alessandra started dating Nicolò. We think you'll get no complaints from this group about keeping 6 feet apart!

Amanda Bynes I've Got A Bun in The Oven!!!

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UPDATE

9:09 PM PT -- Amanda has since removed the ultrasound pic.

Amanda Bynes says she's got a baby on board ... and she wants the world to get the first glimpse of her upcoming bundle of joy.

Bynes stunned fans Tuesday when she posted a pic of an ultrasound with the caption, "Baby on board!" Amanda didn't specify, but the daddy-to-be is likely her boyfriend Paul Michael who she's also recently introduced the world to.

The ultrasound appears to be legitimate, with Amanda's name on it and Tuesday's date. Unclear how far into her pregnancy she currently is.

As for her relationship with Paul, it has been rocky as of late ... the two announced they were engaged shortly after Bynes posted about their relationship. The engagement was quickly called off ... but as of late, it appears the two have been back together.

Amanda met Paul in AA and they've only been dating for a few months. She introduced him to her fans on social media by calling him FEBRUARY 2020
MEET MY FIANCÉ

What's not clear is what Amanda's family thinks of the announcement ... Bynes is currently under a conservatorship and family sources tell us they would not have allowed Amanda to get married. We learned her engagement ring was a phony too, a $49 purchase on Amazon.

'Bachelor' Star Peter Weber Here's A Pick Even Mom Would Love ... On Football Field

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'Bachelor' star Peter Weber already proved he's got moves in the fantasy suites ... but did you know he can ball out on the football field too?!?

TMZ Sports has obtained video of PW hitting up a flag football game in California over the weekend ... and we gotta admit -- Pilot Pete's got skillz!!

Of course, it's been a crazy time for Peter -- he cut things off with Madison, got engaged to Hannah Ann, broke up with Hannah Ann, got back together with Madison, pissed off his mom, and broke up with Madison again.

Pretty easy to follow, right??

Anyway ... it looks like everyone is getting over the breakups in their own ways, 'cause Madi has been spotted hanging out with Selena Gomez ... while Peter balls with his bros at the Flag Football California league.

Weber looks like a rec league superstar in the video ... snagging a good interception with a solid return ... and throwing a dart on offense.

We take it mama Barbara will approve.

Guess Who This Purrfect Kid Turned Into!

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Before this cat-loving young lady would grow up to become an Oscar-winning leading lady, she was just a gal growing up in Sydney, Australia ... but did you know she was actually born in Hawaii???

She was inspired to become an actress by watching Margaret Hamilton play the Wicked Witch of the West in the classic film, "The Wizard of Oz" ... so she studied theater in Sydney, alongside fellow Aussie actress Naomi Watts.

Her career began in 1983 at age 16, and 5 years later, she was winning Australian Film Institute awards for Best Supporting Actress and starring alongside Sam Neill in another movie from Down Under in 1989.

A year later, she made her American film debut in one of 1990s highest-grossing films ... which starred her famous boyfriend and future husband.

By 1995, she'd reach worldwide recognition by co-starring in a huge superhero flick, and would go on to star in countless blockbusters, critically-acclaimed Oscar movies and Emmy-winning TV shows.

She's racked up 2 Emmys, 4 Golden Globes and an Academy Award for Best Actress in 2003 ... and that's no lie.

Can you guess who she is?

Brooklyn Nets Kevin Durant Has Coronavirus ... Out with Drake Last Week

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5:23 PM PT -- KD's positive test is probably very interesting to his buddy, Drake.

UPDATE

The Nets were in town to play the Lakers last Tuesday. Of course, Kevin didn't play, but he was at the game, and afterward he kicked it with Drake at Nice Guy in West Hollywood.

UPDATE

It could just be coincidence, but Drake posted video from the basketball court in his Toronto mansion. He said, "My life for the next however long." Makes it sound like he's self-quarantining ... perhaps out of an abundance of safety?

UPDATE
UPDATE

2:52 PM PT -- The L.A. Lakers -- the last team to play the Nets before the league's suspension -- just had a conference call with all the players ... and everyone will be tested for COVID-19 and undergo a 14-day quarantine, according to Brad Turner.

UPDATE

2:29 PM PT -- Kevin Durant says he is one of the Nets players who tested positive for coronavirus.

UPDATE

The NBA superstar told The Athletic he's feeling fine -- but adds, "Everyone be careful, take care of yourself and quarantine. We're going to get through this."

The coronavirus has just hit the Brooklyn Nets ... HARD.

The team announced FOUR players have tested positive for COVID-19 -- which is essentially a THIRD of the roster!

No, the team is not naming names -- at least not yet. Before today, no one on the team had been diagnosed with coronavirus.

In fact, before today only 3 NBA players had tested positive -- Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell from the Utah Jazz and Christian Wood of the Detroit Pistons.

Of the four, one player is exhibiting symptoms while three are asymptomatic," the team said in a statement.

"All four players are presently isolated and under the care of team physicians."

"The organization is currently notifying anyone who has had known contact with the players, including recent opponents, and is working closely with state and local health authorities on reporting."

"All players and members of the Nets travel party are being asked to remain isolated, closely monitor their health and maintain constant communication with team medical staff. The health of our players and staff is of the highest priority to the organization and the team is doing everything within its power to ensure that those affected receive the best care possible."

Originally published -- 1:10 PM PT

Harvey Weinstein Sued For Assault and Battery

Published

Harvey Weinstein coerced an actress into having sex with him by dangling a role in a film, then threatened to ruin her career if she didn't give in ... this according to a new lawsuit.

The disgraced movie mogul is being sued for sexual assault and battery by a Jane Doe, according to new legal docs obtained by TMZ.

According to the suit, the woman met Weinstein at an event in Los Angeles back in 2014, and he told her "I run Hollywood," before suggesting they should meet-up later.

In the docs, the woman claims she went to meet Weinstein in the lobby of the Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills, but he didn't come down, and he told her to come up to his room.

In the suit, the woman claims Weinstein answered the door wearing a bathrobe without a belt, and told her she was perfect for a few of his projects. And, that he was the "King of Hollywood" and she should be smart about behaving and being nice to the right folks.

The woman claims Weinstein excused himself to use the bathroom, and when she heard the shower running, she left the hotel room. She claims he had someone send her a script for a movie, then demanded she meet him again at the Peninsula, and that's when things got sexual.

In the docs, the woman says when she went back to Weinstein's room for what she thought was a business meeting, he was again wearing his bathrobe and threatened to blacklist her from Hollywood. She says she felt she had no choice but to let Weinstein have his way with her, and they had sex while he demanded she call him "King."

After the alleged encounter, the woman says she fell into a state of shock, became depressed, had a mental breakdown and became distressed to the point she started losing hair.

The woman is going after Weinstein for damages.

Weinstein's spokesperson, Juda Engelmayer, tells TMZ ..."We are reviewing the allegations and will reserve further comment until we learn more."

As you know ... Weinstein was jailed on Rikers Island after being sentenced to 23 years for his rape and assault cases.

Times Square's Naked Cowboy Busking to a Whole Lotta Nothin' ... Cool Face Mask Though!!!

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New York City's famous half-naked cowboy just got himself some new coverage that is very timely -- although his decision to hit the streets really isn't.

The Times Square street performer -- who's well known in the Big Apple and a regular staple for tourists -- was seen out Tuesday wearing a face mask in addition to his usual get-up (tighty-whities, 10-gallon hat, boots and guitar). So, not a huge change, to be real.

He was out there doing his shtick, and while we can appreciate the effort for social commentary ... it doesn't look like there were very many souls around to bask in its glory.

Frankly, New York City -- along with several other big cities across the country -- is by and large a ghost town these days amid the coronavirus outbreak ... which is forcing governments to mandate lockdowns and self-quarantining. Not cowboy, though ... he's still going strong, it seems.

When it comes to social distancing ... it looks like New Yorkers might've beaten our boy to the punch. Whatevs ... take it away, NB!