Barbara Corcoran's got a hot tip for those looking to take advantage of their upcoming stimulus check ... and it's a lot less sharky than you think.
The "Shark Tank" star tells TMZ ... if you're fortunate enough to not have to immediately use the government money to feed your family -- sadly, that's not a given for many Americans -- you should use the stimulus cash to improve your current financial situation.
Barbara says start by paying off your credit cards -- the higher interest ones first -- because those will kill you in the long run.
After that, she advises sitting down and focusing on some good old-fashioned budgeting. We'll let her tell you why it's a good idea ... and there's no better time than the present.
For those looking to use the dough on a stock market bargain ... this 'Shark' doesn't suggest swimming in those waters. Too risky right now.
Corcoran does have some real estate advice that might be of interest to those hunting for an opportunity during the pandemic. Not that $1,200 is gonna get ya far in real estate, she's reminding you of something she's said before -- it's a buyer's market, baby.
Boxing superstar Tyson Fury wanted to help his favorite local pizza joint weather the COVID-19 storm ... so he ordered $700 worth of food -- and tacked on a $125 tip!
Fury and his family -- wife Paris and their 5 children -- are shacked up at their mansion in Lancashire, England ... but they wanted to help stimulate the local economy on Easter Sunday, so they hit up Manjaros Restaurant.
The order was massive ... lamb chops, shrimp, chicken, a bunch of pizzas, pasta ... and 25 cans of Diet Coke!
Total bill came out to £557.35 -- roughly $700 -- and Fury slipped the delivery people a £100 tip ($125). Not bad!
"The food order was just for us and the children," Fury explained to local media ... "We've got 5 children and the food arrived in a lot of boxes."
The delivery driver also told media, "Tyson is a regular customer to Manjaros in Preston, but the restaurant is currently closed and only offering deliveries."
India-born vocalist Barry Hay was 25 years old when he shot to stardom for his rockin' vocals in the Dutch rock band, Golden Earring ... who unleashed the worldwide rock anthem, "Radar Love" in the early '70s, and then "Twilight Zone" in the early '80s.
Barry Hay and all of the original bandmates of Golden Earring are all still involved in the classic rock consortium including George Kooymans on guitar and back-up vocals, Rinus Gerritsen on bass and keyboards and Cesar Zuiderwijk on the skins.
Golden Earring played as recently as last November ... and have plans to play live later this year.
Gavin Newsom's clueless to think churches are not as essential as burger joints and coffee shops ... so claim a group of church leaders suing him over the lockdown.
A group of pastors and church members filed the suit claiming religious services are "essential for the spiritual health of the congregation so that the congregants can exhort one another during these difficult times."
In the docs, obtained by TMZ, one pastor believes they can hold services so long as they abide by social distancing tips recommended by the CDC ... like keeping congregants at least 6 feet apart and requiring they wear masks and gloves.
The leaders claim California's "shelter-at-home" mandate coupled with its "essential workforce" criteria has denied religious groups their fundamental right to continue congregating.
In fact, one pastor claims he was fined $1,000 for holding service on Palm Sunday. The church leaders are pissed they can't hold services ... even after they disinfect churches and practice social distancing.
According to the suit, they're also pissed baristas, burger flippers and laundromat technicians are considered "essential" ... while attending church is NOT.
The Cali church leaders are suing to get Governor Newsom's lockdown order declared unconstitutional for infringing on their right to freely assemble and exercise their religions.
Pro wrestling is "essential" to the State of Florida -- says the state governor which has allowed WWE to remain open during the COVID-19 pandemic.
No joke. This is real.
Jerry Demings -- mayor of Orange County, Florida -- was asked Monday how the WWE Performance Center in Orlando has been allowed to stay in business while non-essential companies have been forced to close their doors.
As we previously reported, WWE has been taping at the Performance Center and plans to shoot "Raw" later today.
So, why exactly?
"I think initially there was a review that was done and they were not initially deemed an essential business,” Demings said.
"With some conversation with the Governor’s office regarding the Governor’s order, they were deemed an essential business. And so, therefore, they were allowed to remain open."
Demings did not go into detail about why the Governor's office changed its stance on WWE.
For their part, WWE tells us the health and safety of talent and staff is their top priority, saying ... “We believe it is now more important than ever to provide people with a diversion from these hard times."
"We are producing content on a closed set with only essential personnel in attendance following appropriate guidelines while taking additional precautions to ensure the health and wellness of our performers and staff. As a brand that has been woven into the fabric of society, WWE and its Superstars bring families together and deliver a sense of hope, determination and perseverance.”
Remember, WWE confirmed a performer hastested positive for COVID-19 -- but they believe that person caught it from medical workers. WWE also says the performer has recovered and they do not believe he or she spread it to other WWE personnel.
Demings addressed that situation on Monday.
“In terms of the specifics associated with the wrestling personality who tested positive, I don’t know any of the details of that obviously because of HIPAA laws," Demings said.
"But, that’s like a little family. A small family of professional athletes that wrestle. And, if one of my family members tested positive in my house, that would be concerning to me."
"We would have to make some provisions in our house to make sure that the rest of us not get infected. So, I would assume that, from a business perspective, the WWE is doing that type of analysis of its own family."
3:50 PM PT -- Dr. Fauci just addressed the reported head-butting that's supposedly been going on behind closed doors with himself and the President's administration, and the guy sure seemed to be trying to put out the fire with a clear and concise timeline of events.
UPDATE
The good doctor was at the podium Monday in the White House Press Briefing Room, where he laid exactly when he and his CDC/NIAID colleagues told DT they strongly suggested shutting stuff down, and how the Prez responded. Sounds like Trump wasn't going rogue or ignoring the advice of the scientists -- he acted on their recommendations when they told him he should ... at least that's what Fauci seems to be saying here.
UPDATE
He DID clarify something he recently said in the press regarding some "pushback" he claimed was taking place among cabinet officials when Fauci and co. first recommended closing up shop for an extended period of time. DF says he used a poor choice of words, and insists Trump officials only raised concerns about ramifications of such an action -- like crippling the economy, job loss, etc. He says NO ONE in Trump's administration told him they shouldn't do it -- which is what many took away from his remarks this past week.
UPDATE
Bottom line ... Fauci says each and every time he and his cohorts suggested the President do something, the answer was yes. When a reporter asked if he was making these clarifications voluntarily, he got a little snippy ... telling her not to even insinuate he wasn't.
UPDATE
Sounds like Dr. Fauci wanted to put any perceived bad blood between him and 45 to bed.
UPDATE
10:57 AM PT -- Trump is not firing Fauci -- even if his retweet suggested he's thinking about it -- and the White House says, "This media chatter is ridiculous."
UPDATE
Hogan Gidley, a spokesman for the Trump administration, insists ... "Dr. Fauci has been and remains a trusted advisor to President Trump."
President Trump hit the retweet button on a call to fire Dr. Anthony Fauci -- which seems to indicate a growing rift between Trump and his pandemic right-hand man.
Trump's promotion of a #FireFauci tweet comes in response to the infectious disease expert's CNN interview Sunday ... where he said the U.S might have prevented deaths if it had put mitigation efforts in place in February, instead of mid-March.
Fauci's comments weren't necessarily a direct shot at Trump -- he told Tapper "what goes into those decisions is complicated" -- but the retweet seems to indicate the Prez took it as one.
Trump retweeted a woman claiming Fauci himself told people "there was nothing to worry about and [COVID-19] posed no threat to the US public at large" on February 29. She then wrote, "Time to #FireFauci..."
The President added ... "Sorry Fake News, it’s all on tape. I banned China long before people spoke up."
If you haven't been paying attention, Trump has been touting his China travel restrictions for saving lives -- something Fauci's praised him for as well -- while ignoring his other missteps.
Trump's next coronavirus task force briefing -- typically attended by Fauci -- is gonna be interesting.
The evangelical pastor who vowed to keep preaching unless he was "in jail or the hospital" has died of COVID-19 ... only weeks after defiantly opening his church doors.
Bishop Gerald Glenn showed off his jam-packed congregation back on March 22 at the New Deliverance Evangelistic Church in Richmond, VA ... telling followers to stand up and prove their numbers ... despite social distancing guidelines and warnings against large gatherings in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.
His church announced that Glenn died on, of all days, Easter Sunday from COVID-19 a week after testing positive for the novel coronavirus.
During that infamous in-person service, the Bishop said he firmly believed God was larger than the virus and said he was proud of being "controversial" for violating safety protocols. The Bishop also claimed he was an "essential" worker, saying he's a preacher and he talks to God.
The Bishop's wife, Marcietia Glenn, is also infected with COVID-19.
The couple's daughter, Mar-Gerie Crawley, reportedly said her father dismissed his symptoms at first because he has a health condition that often results in fevers and infections. Now, she's urging everyone to stay home, saying the virus has become very real to her.
YouTube star Vitaly Zdorovetskiy beat the hell out of a Miami woman out for a jog on Easter Sunday ... according to cops, who arrested him for a felony.
According to legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Vitaly was arrested Sunday night ... after a woman told cops she was jogging by herself Sunday in Miami Beach when Vitaly suddenly jumped out and tackled her to the ground. She claims he straddled her and repeatedly punched her in the chest and face.
The alleged victim told police she screamed for help during the attack -- which she said was witnessed by several residents and passersby -- so Vitaly ran back inside a nearby home. According to the docs, he was later arrested there.
First responders treated the alleged victim for a cut above her right eye that will require stitches, according to the affidavit, and she also complained of pain and soreness to her chest area.
The alleged victim told cops she had never seen or met Vitaly -- who's infamously pulled pranks such as rushing the field at the World Cup in Brazil as well as a zombie prank in Miami.
Our law enforcement sources tell us Vitaly posted a $7,500 bond Monday and has been released from custody.
The 93-year-old woman who held up a sign from her window pleading for more beer just got a special delivery ... and now she's cracking cold ones in coronavirus lockdown.
Olive Veronesi just got 150 brews delivered to her home in Seminole, PA courtesy of Coors Light, which apparently caught wind of her plea after it started going viral over the weekend.
Olive went viral when her relative posted the picture of her on social media -- the senior citizen was holding up a sign in that read, "I NEED MORE BEER!!" along with a cold Coors Light.
The image spread like wildfire, with more than 4 MILLION people seeing it on Facebook. Tons of people offered to get Olive some brewskis, and then Coors Light stepped up and sent her 10 15-packs of cans.
Pennsylvania has some pretty annoying liquor laws, but the good folks of the commonwealth can still get their booze delivered to the front step.
Now, the mountains are cold inside Olive's place and she's got a new sign ... "GOT MORE BEER!"
Tragic news ... Karl-Anthony Towns' mother, Jacqueline Towns, has died after a lengthy battle with coronavirus.
The Minnesota Timberwolves star announced last month his mom contracted the disease in mid-March ... and was put in a medically induced coma shortly after because of complications.
"The Towns family is heartbroken by the untimely passing of Jacqueline Towns, due to complications as a result of COVID-19," the team said in a statement.
"Jackie, as she was affectionately known among family and friends, has been battling the virus for more than a month when she succumbed on April 13th."
The statement continued, "Jackie was many things to many people - a wife, mother, daughter, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. The matriarch of the Towns family, she was an incredible source of strength; a fiery, caring, and extremely loving person, who touched everyone she met. Her passion was palpable and her energy will never be replaced."
Towns' father, Karl Towns Sr., had also been infected by the virus ... but made a full recovery.
"The Towns family is extremely grateful for the outpouring of love and support they have received during this very difficult time," the T-Wolves said. "They would like to thank the medical warriors at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center and JFK Medical Center, who fought for Jackie day in and day out, and helped Karl Sr. recover from the same virus that took Jackie's life."
"The family is devastated by their tremendous loss, and respectfully requests privacy at this time of great mourning."
Dr. Anthony Fauci fills our minds with crucial knowledge about the coronavirus, and now he can fill you up with a tangy brew, too -- he's got his own beer down South.
Check out this new line that Wild Heaven Beer just rolled out, called Fauci Spring. The Georgia microbrewery decided to make a pale ale made with acai -- the super-hip superfood that's supposed to be good for your health. So, yeah ... Fauci works.
Fauci's can is a deep sea blue, and they've also rolled out a companion lager ... Don't Stand So Close to Me. Clever and refreshing ... if you're looking for a laugh to go with your buzz.
You've probably heard, or experienced, beer sales have spiked during quarantine, and now Fauci can get in on the action ... in spirit. Or rather, malt. As for how these new brews taste ... the jury's still out. If you're a fruity beer guy or gal, it'll probably be right up your alley.
And, perhaps more pressing of a question ... how are people supposed to get their hands on these??? Presumably, Wild Heaven will get 'em into local grocery stores ASAP. Warm weather is coming, and people are trapped inside ... perfect time to roll out a summery brew. Just sayin' ...
Joe Exotic may have just gotten a break, because the star witness who testified against him in his murder-for-hire trial may have just shown the kind of bias that gets some convictions reversed.
We interviewed Allen Glover and many others for Monday night's 9 PM FOX primetime special, "TMZ Investigates: Tiger King -- What Really Went Down?" Glover made it clear ... he wished he could do more to hurt Joe as payback for, as Glover said, all the misery he caused people and animals. He even says he was gunning to pay Joe back.
As you probably know by now, Joe gave Glover $3k -- Glover says it was money to kill Joe's nemesis, Carole Baskin, but Joe says it was for him to get the hell out of the zoo.
Glover's testimony was critical, because he's the only person Joe actually gave money to, and that shows the overt act that the jury clearly felt proved Joe was out for blood.
But, what he told us -- that he wished he could do more to hurt Joe -- is the kind of bias that defense lawyers love, and juries look at with suspicion.
There's something else ... Jeff Lowe and others tell us about the number of people Joe spouted off to, saying he wanted to have Carole killed and even offered some as much as $50k to do the job. A lot of people felt those who are serious about murder for hire don't tell the world.
Tonight's special also gets into the new investigation into the death of Carole's second husband, Don Lewis. The Sheriff tells us he's suspicious of Carole and others, although he points out she's neither a suspect nor person of interest. Carole has denied any involvement in Don's disappearance.
And, we have exclusive information about various new federal investigations that are targeting people prominently featured in the series. We know the nature of the investigations, and why some federal agencies didn't give a damn until 'Tiger King' dropped.
We have lots of new videos, exclusive interviews and new information. Check it out tonight at 9 PM ET.
Howie Mandel is back judging "America's Got Talent" ... and while it's gonna be much different, he's hoping everyone is getting on his level when it comes to getting touchy-feely!!!
The comedian and famed germaphobe joined us Monday on "TMZ Live" to talk about 'AGT' getting back to work, shooting the show remotely. That seems to suit Howie just fine, considering the coronavirus scare they had on set last month.
You gotta see his description of the moment Heidi Klum coughed, throwing Howie into a tailspin. As we reported, 'AGT' lost its studio audience shortly after that, and then shut down altogether.
You'll recall, that was around the time Howie showed up in a hazmat suit to shoot the show. We all laughed, but he says the fear was real for him ... although, thankfully, Heidi ended up testing negative for COVID-19.
As for adjusting to life in the middle of a pandemic -- he's taking social distancing to the extreme, and has one major takeaway. The man who quit handshaking many years ago, says it's time everyone else realizes, "There's no reason to touch anybody!"
Howie and his wife just celebrated their 40th anniversary, but check out his prediction for making it to 41 ... if this lockdown continues much longer.😅
The XFL -- Vince McMahon's pro football league -- has officially filed for bankruptcy ... just days after folding the league, TMZ Sports has learned.
A league spokesperson tells us, "The XFL quickly captured the hearts and imaginations of millions of people who love football."
"Unfortunately, as a new enterprise, we were not insulated from the harsh economic impacts and uncertainties caused by the COVID-19 crisis."
"Accordingly, we have filed a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code."
"This is a heartbreaking time for many, including our passionate fans, players and staff, and we are thankful to them, our television partners, and the many Americans who rallied to the XFL for the love of football."
Sources tell us ... the COVID-19 pandemic, which essentially shut down the league -- caused the XFL to lose "tens of millions in revenue" since it wiped out regular-season games and playoff games.
We're told ... despite the financial blow, employees were paid full wages up until April 12 as well as any accrued vacation days.
We're also told the XFL will refund ticket holders, and are currently in that process.
As for the filing, we're told the timing was to maximize the return investors.
Among the creditors ... XFL lists head coaches Bob Stoops ($1,083,333.33), Mark Trestman ($777,777.78), Jonathan Hayes ($633,333.33), Winston Moss ($583,333.33) and others.
A Florida man coughed on cops during his arrest, wishing them death from the novel coronavirus ... and it's all on police bodycam video.
The Volusia County Sheriff's Office says deputies were responding to a domestic violence disturbance Saturday after the suspect, Brent Smith, allegedly came home drunk and threatened his mother with a butter knife, leading to his arrest and some nasty threats towards cops.
In the video, Smith is sitting handcuffed in the back of the patrol car when he tells a deputy, "I hope you die. I hope you catch corona. I hope the coronavirus, I hope it latches on to you, I hope it makes you puke." Then the guy starts coughing again.
During his arrest, cops also say Smith started coughing and threatened to bash "their f***ing brains in."
Smith was booked with a slew of crimes ... threatening and assaulting a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery on a person 65 or older, tampering with a witness, robbery by sudden snatching, grand theft and violation of probation on an original charge of aggravated battery on a pregnant person.
As if threatening your own mother, allegedly, wasn't bad enough -- this guy had to go throw coronavirus in the mix, as Florida is reeling. The state has at least 19,895 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and over 460 people have died.
Rita Wilson going viral for spittin' "Hip Hop Hooray" -- and the remix that followed -- is giving Naughty By Nature a new lease on life ... one they're using to help others.
The rap trio came on "TMZ Live" Monday to tell us about the coolest part of their collab with Rita -- all the money from it is going to the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund. Treach, Vin and Kay Gee told us exactly who will benefit from the fund ... and turns out, his timing couldn't be any better.
Fact is ... several people working behind the scenes on some of the biggest records and musical performances we all enjoy are struggling immensely right now, and NBN wanted to make sure the proceeds from their remix with Rita went directly into those folks' pockets.
Of course, this all comes after Rita posted a video of herself rapping to the classic '90s tune -- which then turned into a full-fledged collaboration between her and the boys here. The remix features Rita rapping in place of Vinnie ... and she plugs in seamlessly.
Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.
As for how Rita got this good at rapping the song, well ... the fellas get into that story too. Turns out, she had to learn it for a movie role -- and the rest is hip-hop history, as they say.
There's another silver lining too in this joining of forces -- Naughty By Nature tells us the renewed interest in their music couldn't have happened at a better time, when people are at home and have nothing but time on their hands to discover old gems.
Might we recommend ... their entire discography? It's all gold 😎
