Call this the biggest assist of the year so far for Marcus Smart ... the NBA player is donating his blood plasma after beating coronavirus to try to help others recover from the disease as well.
Some COVID-19 experts believe by taking the plasma of a person who's beaten the virus and giving it to currently infected people can help them get better.
The science, officials say, is the antibodies in the plasma can help sick people develop similar coronavirus fighters quicker as well.
The problem? Doctors say finding donors has been tough ... and the NBA, according to ESPN, has actually reached out to its teams to try to get its recovered players to participate.
Enter Smart ... whose agent confirmed Tuesday the Boston Celtics star is more than willing to give up his blood plasma for the potential cure.
Smart said on Twitter last week he was cleared by the Mass. Dept. Of Health after being diagnosed with the virus. He claimed he never once felt sick.
Smart is reportedly one of four players who have made the decision to donate after beating coronavirus already.
Pinterest users stuck at home in coronavirus quarantine have one burning question on their minds ... how in the hell are we supposed to clean our bathroom sinks?!?
Seriously ... the good folks over at Pinterest tell us website users are searching for all sorts of things, but there's been a huge spike in searches for sink cleaning tips.
Pinterest says searches for "how to clean a bathroom sink" are up a whopping 3,404% during the coronavirus pandemic. Kinda makes sense though ... folks who have relied on housekeepers, finally have to fend for themselves.
It's almost like Darwinism.
Pinterest tells us they're also seeing spikes in searches for other topics related to self-care and DIY. Check out these search engine doozies:
"Indoor beekeeping" is up 4,087%
"How to grow spinach from scraps" is up 1,043%
"Yeastless bread recipes" are up 4,400%
"Garden obstacle course kids" is up 1,850%
"Good sleep tips" are up 7,580%
"Calm during chaos quotes" are up 6,299%
Oh, and we'll leave you with this ... searches for Chrissy Teigen bread recipes have also surged an incredible 3,790%.
Just because you're stuck at home doesn't mean you shouldn't enjoy celebrity eye candy!
Thankfully, Cristiano Ronaldo is the hero we all need ... posting a ripped, shirtless quarantine pic while he's essentially banned from leaving the house.
"Breathe in, breathe out. Stay active," Ronaldo posted on IG ... adding, "StayHomeSaveLives."
To his credit, Ronaldo has been using his platforms to encourage people to be SAFE during the COVID-19 pandemic ... posting numerous times on social media to urge his fans to stay home.
Just 24 hours ago, Ronaldo said, "In this difficult moment for the whole world, let’s be thankful for the things that matter - our health, our family, our loved ones."
"Stay home and let’s help all the health workers out there fighting to save lives."
He's right. He's also ripped. So, whether you like your CR7 informative or just topless and quiet ... Ronaldo's here for you.
The case of 'Tiger King' star Carole Baskin's dead husband has fresh eyes on it now, which is welcome news to his lawyer ... who says he's eager to help authorities uncover the truth.
Joe Fritz was the attorney for Don Lewis, Carole's deceased husband ... who was last seen in August 1997. Joe tells TMZ ... he's ecstatic the Hillsborough County Sheriff in Florida is looking into Don's disappearance ... on the heels of the immensely popular Netflix docuseries. He says the more attention the case gets, the better.
Fritz wasn't just Don's lawyer before he went missing, he was his friend, and says there's much more to the story -- and he wants to share everything he knows with cops.
So far, he says they haven't contacted him, but if they do, "I would bring them in my home in a heartbeat and offer them a beer."
As we reported ... the Sheriff is hoping to capitalize on the Netflix series about tiger breeders and Baskin, by asking the public for leads in her former husband's case.
For those who haven't seen it ... Lewis was declared dead 5 years after he disappeared, and folks like Joe Exotic believe Baskin killed him. She's denied any wrongdoing.
Fritz tells us he couldn't believe it when he saw the case was getting reopened, but he thanks social media and the 'Tiger King' buzz for making it happen.
He adds that he's not looking for closure. Joe says it's no secret what happened to Don -- claiming he's heard the true story of what went down and accepts it -- but he wants the truth to prevail and justice to be served for his friend.
As for the docuseries ... Joe says it did a pretty good job telling the story of the big cat people, but he thinks it could have spent more time focusing on Don’s disappearance and debunking Baskin's Costa Rica story.
He says there's a lot more about Don's multi-million-dollar life insurance policy too ... but he hopes it's all revealed in the new investigation.
Chris Cuomosays his initial coronavirus symptoms are very similar to the flu ... and now he's worried about passing the virus along to his family as they quarantine at home.
The CNN anchor just gave Anderson Cooper the lowdown on his diagnosis ... explaining he first thought he was dealing with flu-like symptoms -- fever, chills, shortness of breath -- until his doctor dropped some knowledge on him.
It is interesting -- maybe even ironic -- Chris mentioned it feeling flu-like. As you know, CNN and others have given President Trump loads of crap, rightfully so, for initially downplaying coronavirus as just another flu, and no reason for Americans to worry.
Sure, the symptoms can be similar, but these are still two vastly different health issues ... and Chris says it makes it a lot easier for the virus to sneak up on ya. Scary stuff.
It's pretty alarming ... Chris says he's terrified his wife and children could become infected because they're all living under the same roof.
Chris is a trooper, so he's still anchoring his CNN show from his basement as long as he feels up to it ... and we gotta say, his work-from-home setup looks pretty sweet. Not a bad basement to be stuck in for a few weeks.
While Chris remains confident he can beat this thing, he explains why everyone needs to feel a sense of urgency right now.
Before this celebrity spawn was showing off her ultimate fashion sense and starring in movie franchises, she was just another brown-eyed girl growing up in Venice, Los Angeles.
Take a closer look ... this darling daughter of two A-list stars made a name for herself when she appeared as a superhero heartthrob in "X-Men: First Class." The multitalented woman has also risen to fame from her success in music and modeling.
While being stuck at home, you can binge her new television show -- which is a remake of a film starring her mom in 2000.
You'd be mad to not figure out who this little lady is!
Thousands of inmates in California prisons will be released early as officials fear overcrowding could spark a deadly outbreak of the coronavirus.
The move comes in the middle of a pandemic as the nation desperately tries to get a handle on how to stem the disease. Fact is ... jails and prisons are breeding grounds for the virus, with conditions that are often filthy and way too many people packed inside.
Officials hope accelerating parole dates for 3,500 inmates serving terms for nonviolent crimes -- and people due to be released within 60 days -- will help slow the spread of COVID-19, not just to inmates, but those who work within California's 35 prisons. And the other reality ... if inmates get infected, get released and then interact with others ... well, you know the rest.
Then there's this ... the state has blocked the transfer of county jail inmates to prison, according to the L.A. Times. That decision alone will keep 3,000 additional people out of the state's prison system. What's more ... nearly 600 inmates will be moved out of dorms -- home to bunks with close proximity and shared sinks/showers -- and moved to other prison facilities.
As we first reported ... jail inmates feared the worst as early as March 6. An inmate getting out of L.A. County Men's Central Jail said he experienced deplorable conditions while locked up for carjacking. Another inmate told us no one from the jail told the inmates anything about coronavirus or how to prevent it. A lot has changed in a matter of weeks.
NBA star Rudy Gobert is back in action just days after getting cleared of his coronavirus diagnosis ... hitting an intense boxing workout to prove he's back on his grind.
Of course, Gobert was first diagnosed with COVID-19 back on March 11 ... which eventually led to the NBA suspending its season.
The All-Star center -- along with teammate Donovan Mitchell -- was given the green light to get back to action (while still self-quarantining) Friday ... and now, the 27-year-old is keeping his body right.
Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.
Gobert posted a video hitting the mitts with a trainer in an empty gym Tuesday ... captioning the clip with a simple message -- "back at it."
It's great to see things getting back to normal (or as normal as it can be) for Gobert ... who recently explained he lost his sense of taste and smell while dealing with the virus.
No word on when the NBA will get back to playing ... but one thing's for sure -- Gobert will be ready.
Airline carriers, cruise ships and hotels are pissing off would-be travelers seeking refunds in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic ... and most folks are s*** outta luck!!!
Here's the deal ... folks who had domestic and international vacations planned for March, April and May are running into the same problem ... they're asking for refunds from the airlines, cruises and hotels, but are mostly being told the only remedy is credits for future travel.
Our sources tell us Kenya Airways is NOT refunding anyone ... instead, we're told the airline is only offering travel credit good for one year from the date the original flight was booked.
It's bad news for a group of wanderlust women in Los Angeles who tell us they booked flights to Seychelles and Nairobi and lodging at Kenya's exclusive Giraffe Manor, which is also only offering credit good for up to a year.
The group says they booked their $3,000 roundtrip, multi-stop flights last August and were supposed to travel in March and April, but the virus' spread makes it impossible to keep the dates and reservations.
If they want to use the airline credit -- no refunds, remember -- the group must book and complete a new trip by August 2020. As for staying at Giraffe Manor -- a super-popular haunt for celebs -- the 1-year credit means they must compete with all the other people who also had trips canceled this year and those with reservations still in play.
Meanwhile, Priceline is so swamped with calls the travel agency is only handling inquiries on flights that are within the next 72 hours. For almost every major airline, it's taking at least 2 hours to get on the phone with a real person, and in some cases it's taking 2 days.
Oh and get this ... Carnival Cruises made a California grandpa fight and claw for a refund for a $7,500 family vacation with his wife, children and grandkids ... this after the 71-year-old man warned the cruise line he couldn't risk it with his health only to be offered credit for a future cruise.
The fam was supposed to set sail from Long Beach April 11, but Craig Morris wasn't about to set foot on the ship. Until this week, Carnival reportedly insisted Craig would not be refunded for the cost of the tickets and he fought the cruise line for 2 weeks trying to get his money back.
In the end, Carnival suspended all voyages until May 11 and the cruise line is finally telling Morris and other travelers they can opt for full refunds, but only after they pissed a bunch of customers off by only offering credits for future trips.
Meanwhile, people across the globe are still getting infected and dying from COVID-19. Talk about #FirstWorldProblems.
3:45 PM PT -- Jon has just broken his silence on the situation ... saying he's "disappointed" in himself for letting people down.
UPDATE
Here's the full statement issued through Jon's rep Denise White:
UPDATE
"While we all work to understand and cope with stress and uncertainties surrounding the current state of our world, I want to express how truly disappointed I am that I have become the source of a negative headline again, especially during these trying times."
UPDATE
"I am disappointed for letting down the people I care about the most, my family, friends and my fans. This morning I entered into a plea deal with the Albuquerque DA's office. I accept full responsibility for my actions and I know that I have some personal work to do to which involves the unhealthy relationship I have with alcohol."
UPDATE
"I have dedicated so much time and energy to improve my community, and I will not allow this personal setback to hinder my work within the community when we need it most. I truly appreciate the support I have received from the community of Albuquerque and all my fans around the world. I very much look forward to putting this behind me."
UPDATE
"Thank you all for your continued love and support and please take care of yourselves."
UFC superstar Jon Joneshas pled guilty to driving while intoxicated stemming from a March 26 arrest in New Mexico, officials tell TMZ Sports.
The reigning UFC light heavyweight champ has struck a deal with prosecutors in which he agreed to 1-year supervised probation. The sentence has not yet been approved by a judge but that's just a matter of time at this point.
As part of the deal, Jones will serve 96 hours in a community custody program -- which is a form of incarceration, but not in a traditional jail cell. We're told it's similar to house arrest. He will wear an ankle monitor, which allows authorities to make sure he doesn't leave his residence unless he has permission.
Officials say Jones will be ordered to "complete a minimum of 90 day out-patient treatment, maximum fines and fees, community service and all other requirements of reporting to probation."
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, officials are allowing Jones to participate in the outpatient program via video conferencing.
As for the community service, Jones must complete 48 total hours.
Jones must also install an ignition interlock device in any vehicle he operates -- which requires him to complete a breathalyzer (to test for alcohol) before the car will start.
"His attorney and Mr. Jones have been made aware that if he fails to do this, the State will seek to impose the balance of any jail time without regard for any exceptional circumstances," officials say.
Get this ... officials WILL allow Jones to use marijuana during his probation, as long as he has a valid medical card.
As we previously reported, Jones was arrested around 1 AM on March 26 after cops responded to reports of gunfire in the Albuquerque area.
When cops found Jones alone in his Jeep, he appeared intoxicated and admitted to drinking earlier in the evening.
As for the other charges, which include negligent use of a deadly weapon and open containers, those will be dropped in exchange for Jones' guilty plea on the DWI.
Dr. Ozsays there are positives and negatives to the public wearing surgical masks to combat the coronavirus, but says we should remember ... those precious N95 masks ain't your only option.
Oz tackled the raging debate about who should go mask on -- only people with symptoms, all of us or save them all for medical professionals? He says it's been confusing due to mixed messages from public officials and politicians.
He says the N95 masks are very effective, but he recommends saving those for first responders, nurses and doctors. For the rest of us, the doctor recommends making your own ... and maybe even make a fashion statement with it.
Oz also warns against getting a false sense of security when you put on a mask -- they can create an inadvertent risk, which he explains.
As for his time in quarantine -- Dr. Oz spoke to us from his basement, and says that's where he's been for 10 days now. He's urging everyone else to do the same, unless you absolutely need to go somewhere.
Oz admits he did have one reason to go out, and it's a pretty good one.
The doc has given us a series of helpful tips over the past month of the pandemic -- from canceling handshakes to prescribing regular sex for quarantined couples -- so keep an ear open for more.
Ryan Seacrest says it's gonna take major adjustments, but "American Idol" will deliver all the show's usual elements ... while keeping everyone involved safe.
Ryan joined us on Tuesday's "TMZ Live" from his home studio in L.A. -- where he's been doing "Live with Kelly and Ryan," his radio shows and, of course, pushing forward on the upcoming 'Idol' season.
BTW, you can tell he's working from home ... 'cause this ain't the Seacrest 'do you're used to seeing.
The magic of modern technology has worked wonders, so far, but Ryan told us he and the other 'Idol' honchos are still sorting out how to pull off what would normally be live episodes. He says the end goal is giving the audience what it expects ... singers' performances, judges' comments and fan voting.
We broke the story ... 'Idol' producers tried for as long as they could to find a way to produce the show in studio, but ultimately decided it can't be done for health and safety reasons.
Check out Tuesday's "TMZ Live" for more with Ryan ... including why he thinks changes, due to the pandemic, could permanently affect the entertainment biz.
Krisand Kylie Jenner want to do everything they can to make sure those battling coronavirus stay protected ... they're donating hand sanitizer to healthcare employees on the front line.
Kylie and Kris are teaming up with COTY -- the majority stakeholder for Kylie Cosmetics and Kylie Skin -- to produce hand sanitizers for hospitals in Southern California. The product will then be donated to workers taking on the public health crisis. We're told each bottle contains a special message, "Dedicated to first responders working to support our communities."
Kylie andKim Kardashian West have already eachpledged $1 million to coronavirus relief efforts ... and both sisters have urged their followers to take warnings seriously and to stay home.
It's been exactly one year since Nipsey Hussle was shot dead in L.A. -- but his memory lives on ... and some of the biggest athletes in the world are paying tribute to the fallen rapper.
Hussle's music definitely struck a chord with athletes in all sports -- with stars like Russell Westbrook, Kyrie Irving, DeSean Jackson and more speaking out about how much Nipsey meant to them.
"Hussle Day!! R.I.P to the legend," Russell said ... "We miss you bro!! #themarathoncontinues."
Kyrie said, "I didn't know you personally Nip, but just know you inspired me beyond measure. Thank you."
New Orleans Saints WR Michael Thomas (who's from L.A.) added, "I lost my homie and his soul still attached to me. Rest In Peace Nip Hussle the Great. I’m still lapping up for you."
Broncos star Davontae Harris said, "Today is about NIPSEY HUSSLE save the pandemic talk for tomorrow."
R. Kelly's firing back at prosecutors who say he shouldn't get released early due to coronavirus risks -- arguing prison is a petri dish, and insisting he can't properly prep for trial from jail.
The singer's legal team filed a reply to the feds' response to Kelly's original motion last week, in which they asked a judge to let R. Kelly out of jail on bond ... mainly because he feared coming down with COVID-19.
Uncle Sam's responded ... R. Kelly isn't old enough (65 or older) to be considered high-risk. They also said a recent surgery he had doesn't make him more susceptible to the virus. On top of all that, the feds say R. Kelly's been provided with plenty of soap and cleaning supplies.
Kelly claims that's not the case, especially for other inmates to whom he might be exposed. The feds say MCC Chicago is up to snuff with CDC guidelines and adds that no one at the jail has tested positive.
R. Kelly's attorney, Steven Greenberg, isn't buying prosecutors' logic. In the new docs he says prison is basically a breeding ground for bacteria, and it's only a matter of time before someone gets the virus and spreads it like wildfire.
He also says his client is being deprived of his right to prep for trial because he can't meet face-to-face with his lawyers. MCC Chicago's banned all visitors due to the pandemic. Greenberg says inmates there are fighting for phone time, and they're having a hard time getting ahold of him.
Kelly and his attorney are doubling down ... insisting he should be granted release on bond, but the judge has yet to rule.
You've seen virtual birthday parties. Virtual weddings. Even a virtual bris!
But, have you seen an entire college marching band come together from their own homes to jam out their school's FIGHT SONG?! Well, you have now!
Check out the Ohio University Marching 110 -- AKA, "The Most Exciting Band In The Land" -- performing a virtual rendition of "Stand Up and Cheer" despite the quarantine keeping the musicians' miles apart.
It's really amazing stuff -- and even made its way to the desk of Ohio governor Mike DeWine who dedicated the performance to "all our wonderful healthcare workers and first responders across #Ohio."
FYI ... the Marching 110 has a knack for going viral -- you may have seen them busting out renditions of "Gangnam Style" and "Party Rock Anthem."
The new performance isn't just inspiring -- it also made us hyped for football season ... which immediately made us sad that it might not be happening in 2020 thanks to that stupid virus.
