Simon Cowell Tried Saving Il Divo's Carlos Marin's Life ... Singer Died from COVID

Simon Cowell quietly tried to save the life of Il Divo singer Carlos Marin ... by offering him a private jet so he could get treatment for COVID.

Simon's not the person who made this public ... it was Carlos' wife, Geraldine Larrosa, who told a Spanish outlet, "Simon personally phoned the hospital and offered to help with anything."

Geraldine says Simon offered to fly Carlos to Spain for some sort of treatment ... treatment that presumably was not available at Manchester Royal Hospital where he was fighting for his life.

Carlos' case was so severe, he had to be intubated. He died on December 19 at the age of 53.

The band was devastated, saying, "There will never be another voice or spirit like Carlos'," and Simon was grief-stricken as well. Simon said, "I am finding this so difficult to put into words how I feel right now. I am devastated Carlos Marin has passed away. He loved life. He loved performing and always had so much appreciation towards the fans who supported the group from day 1. Rest in peace Carlos. I will miss you."

Quavo Sued Limo Driver Claims Brutal Assault ... They Really F***** Me Up

Quavo and his crew beat the crap out of a Sin City limo driver ... all because the driver forgot to pick up someone in their group -- this according to a new lawsuit.

The Migos rapper is being sued by the limo driver, who claims the alleged beatdown went down July 3 in Vegas.

According to the suit, obtained by TMZ, the driver claims he was hired to take the Migos and their group from a local club to the Virgin Hotel ... but he says things went south when the passengers started yelling at him about leaving behind a member of their party.

In the docs, the limo driver tried reasoning with his passengers but was told, "shut the f*** up" ... and then someone chucked a bottle at him.

The driver claims it escalated, with as many as 5 of the passengers attacking him unprovoked ... repeatedly punching and kicking him, leaving him riddled with injuries.

According to the suit, the driver claims hotel staff and security had a front-row seat to the alleged beatdown ... but instead of stepping in to stop the fight, they fled for safety inside the hotel.

The limo driver claims the attack left him suffering physical and mental pain and even disfigurement ... and he's going after Quavo, Migos Touring and the hotel for unspecified damages.

We reached out to Migos ... so far, no word back.

Harry Jowsey I Have a Sex Tape That's Way Too Hot to Handle!!!

CELEBRATING XXX-MAS
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Harry Jowsey is about to get too hot to handle all over again -- assuming he actually releases a sex tape he says he has ... which is apparently intense AF.

The reality TV star broke down his potential plan to us, explaining ... yes, he does have an XXX home movie in his vault ... and yes, he's gunning to perhaps get it out to the public in the near future. BTW -- he tells us this thing is high-octane bangin'. 😳

As for why even do this ... seems the dude may want to cash in on his OnlyFans fame, and maybe even dabble in porn, if there's a market there for him -- and we're sure there is.

But now for an even more pressing question ... who the heck did he do the nasty with, and on-camera no less??? Watch -- Harry rules out one person right off the bat, noting it is NOT a fellow 'THTH' costar.

He does, however, give a hint ... which may not be all that shocking to some, considering these two have been spotted out and about together of late ... sparking dating rumors.

In any case, we'll just have to wait and see who the lucky lady actually is -- or if this thing will ever see the light of day to begin with. He does say it's a one-off that he wouldn't necessarily recreate, but something tells us he could be back for more if people eat it up.

Celebrity Deaths in 2021 DMX, Tawny, Virgil ... Shootings, Virus Kill Others

There were a lot of shocking and sad celebrity deaths in 2021 ... including tragic shootings, a drug overdose, stunning cancer revelations and, of course, COVID.

The rap world lost DMX, who died of an OD which triggered a heart attack, plus Young Dolph, Slim 400 and Drakeo the Ruler, who all died from violence.

Trailblazing designer Virgil Abloh succumbed after a battle with cancer ... ditto for Justin Michael Tyler, Dustin Diamond and Norm Macdonald, who never let the world know he was suffering.

The heartbreak continued with Tawny Kitaen, who left the world too soon as a result of heart disease ... and there's Halyna Hutchins, whose shooting death on a movie set likely could have been prevented.

It was a full year living in a pandemic ... and Colin Powell was among those who died from COVID-related complications.

The list of legends gone sadly went on ... Charlie Watts, Cloris Leachman, Stephen Sondheim, Vicente Fernández, Tommy Lasorda, Michael K. Williams, Hank Aaron and Biz Markie.

RIP

Adult Film Star Renee Gracie I Quit Driving Race Cars For Porn ... And Have No Regrets!!

RISQUE RACER
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Renee Gracie is rakin' in the cash from OnlyFans and porn ... but that wasn't always the case for the adult film star -- telling TMZ Sports her former career as a race car driver was so toxic it forced her to quit the sport altogether.

We talked to the 26-year-old Australian about her time as a driver down under ... and why she transitioned to porn.

"I left for many reasons. It was a toxic environment. Difficult for a female obviously. I got treated differently than everybody else," Gracie says ... "It was just an extremely taxing environment and industry to be in unfortunately for my mental health."

Gracie's story is amazing. She used to be a driver for Paul Morris Motorsport racing team ... where she raced for several years. In 2017, she jumped to another team, Dragon Motor Sport.

Renee eventually left the sport but admits she was down on her luck for a while before turning to OnlyFans.

"I had a bad year in between where I wasn’t racing. I wasn’t racing. I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I was lucky enough when I left racing my fan base actually grew. I had more people following me. I wasn’t controlled by managers and sponsors and stuff."

Despite the stressful experience as a racer, Gracie tells us there are certain aspects she misses, saying "I really miss that exhilarating pressure and the push to always be better. That’s why I started racing."

But, despite sometimes pining for the speed and competition ... the adult film star says she's absolutely confident she made the right career decision.

And we bet there are a whole lot of fans out there who agree.

Skater Ryan Sheckler 'Memba Him?!

Orange County kid Ryan Sheckler brought the world to a grinding halt when he shredded his way to the tops of the podium at an early age as a child skateboard prodigy ... who was flipping his way to gold medals in the Summer X Games at only 13 years of age in 2003.

Sheckler catapulted his career from tech tricks on the coping to some gnarly shows in front of the camera with three seasons of the shredding MTV television shows "Life Of Ryan" in 2007 and a long list of cameos as himself in some rad films.

Guess what he looks like now at 31 years old!

Kourtney K & Travis Barker Boo'd & Bundled Up For Walk on The Beach

If you're wondering how residents in SoCal are handling the cold and rainy weather of this holiday season, look no further than Kourtney Kardashian and her fiancé Travis Barker, who hit the beach for a stroll bundled up in a ton of layers.

The pair hit the sand at the Rosewood Hotel in Montecito Wednesday, and while it certainly didn't look like they were prepared to take a dip ... the couple looked cozy nonetheless. Both were decked out in all-black and sunglasses, Travis kept his hood up to trap in as much heat as possible.

The Rosewood is special to Travis and Kourtney, considering it's the same spot he proposed to her back in October in a proposal fit with what seemed to be thousands of roses.

As for their sandy stroll, unclear if the two had just finished eating and wanted to take in the sights ... each was carrying a cup of something (hopefully warm).

OCTOBER 2021
HAPPILY EVER AFTER
TMZ.com

No details yet on when and where the two will officially say "I Do" -- but there's definitely a strong connection to Montecito -- so maybe they were location scouting.

Then again, there's nothing like a walk down memory lane oceanfront.

Jeff Bezos No No HGH, Source ... It's All Natural!!!

Lots of folks have jumped to the conclusion Jeff Bezos can only get the body we've now seen with the help of human growth hormones -- HGH -- but sources tell TMZ it's all B.S.

The photos of Jeff and girlfriend Lauren Sanchez made people crazy! They're all over St. Barts in the Caribbean ... him without a shirt and revealing a super-jacked bod.

The 57-year-old Amazon titan has been working out like crazy with celeb trainer Wes Okerson. We're told he was on a strict diet and exercise regimen for months.

That said, lots of folks on social media are pooh-poohing Bezos' transformation, chalking it up to HGH.

A source with direct knowledge scoffs at the allegation, telling us the HGH claim is 100% false.

The source insists this is all Jeff and no drugs or other artificial enhancements. A recent report from Page Six says Bezos' trainer is Wesley Okerson, who also apparently was in St. Barts at the same time as Jeff ... so you gotta imagine he's keeping him pumped up.

Lauren apparently like the results on Jeff too, recently posting a pic of the Amazon founder on a paddle board and a "Good job Wes!"

Bezos and Lauren have been ensconced in the Caribbean for more than a week, showing tons of PDA.

Ghislaine Maxwell Found Guilty of 5 Charges ... In Epstein Sex Trafficking Trial

Ghislaine Maxwell has been found guilty on all but one count in her sex trafficking trial.

Maxwell faced 6 charges ...  accused of soliciting and grooming minors for abuse and sex crimes at the hands of Jeffrey Epstein, which date from 1994 up until 2004. She was convicted on 5 counts, including sex trafficking of a minor. The jury deliberated for 6 days.

During the trial, 4 women testified that they had been sexually abused by Jeffrey Epstein when they were all under the age of 18 ... and said Maxwell helped Epstein and sometimes even participated in the abuse.

Maxwell pled not guilty to all charges. Her lawyers insisted she had been a scapegoat for Epstein ... who committed suicide in custody back in 2019 while awaiting trial.

She could face decades behind bars.

U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of NY Damian Williams released a statement on the verdict saying, "A unanimous jury has found Ghislaine Maxwell guilty of one of the worst crimes imaginable – facilitating and participating in the sexual abuse of children. Crimes that she committed with her long-time partner and co-conspirator, Jeffrey Epstein. The road to justice has been far too long. But, today, justice has been done.  I want to commend the bravery of the girls – now grown women – who stepped out of the shadows and into the courtroom.”

Armie Hammer Resurfaces in Caymans After Rehab ... Poolside with his Kids

Armie Hammer has resurfaced after months of rehab ... he's back in the Cayman Islands with his kids.

Armie looks relaxed in a bathing suit and t-shirt, strolling poolside with his son.

It's the first time we've seen him since he left the rehab facility where he's been receiving treatment for more than half a year.

As you know, Hammer has been accused by several women of sexual abuse. The L.A. County D.A. is reviewing a file involving an alleged 2017 rape, but law enforcement sources tell us the case will not likely be filed. Hammer has denied the allegations.

Hammer had been dating a dental hygienist from the Caymans ... it's unclear if they're still together

Hammer and his wife, Elizabeth Chambers, along with their kids were spending time in the Caymans at the beginning of the pandemic. They separated last year and she filed for divorce in July 2020. They got married in 2010.

Angie Kukawski Kardashians Business Manager Murdered at 55 ... Boyfriend Charged, D.A. Claims Killing Was 'Sadistic'

UPDATE

1:39 PM PT -- The Kardashian/Jenner Family has released a statement saying ... "Angela was truly the best. She cared about everyone of us and made things happen that were impossible. She will be greatly missed and we send our sincere condolences to her family and loved ones during this most difficult time."

UPDATE

1:11 PM PT -- We've learned the murder weapon was a knife, and the D.A. claims Angie's boyfriend murdered her "with the intent to cause cruel and extreme pain and suffering for the purpose of revenge, extortion, persuasion and for a sadistic purpose."

Kim Kardashian's business manager has been murdered, and the manager's boyfriend has been charged with the crime.

Angie Kukawski repped a bunch of celebs, including Kim. According to the LAPD, Angie had been reported missing and on December 23, police went to an address in Simi Valley where they found her body inside a vehicle.

Her boyfriend, 49-year-old Jason Barker, was arrested and charged with her murder.

Police claim Barker killed Angie at her Sherman Oaks home, put her body in the car and drove it to Simi.

Angie worked for a number of other celebs, including Nicki Minaj and Kanye. She also did work for Tupac's estate.

A member of her firm, Todd Bozick, told Variety, “We are saddened and heartbroken by the loss of our colleague, Angie Kukawski. Angie was a kind, wonderful person, and she will be greatly missed by all who knew her. Our deepest condolences go out to all of Angie’s family and friends.”

Angie was 55.  RIP

Originally Published -- 11:57 AM PT

Avicii Diary Pages Revealed Entry Day Before Suicide

Avicii's final words before taking his own life have been revealed in a new book, and it underscores the tragedy.

As we reported ... the 28-year-old Swedish DJ committed suicide back in April 2018, using a broken glass bottle.

Diary entries he wrote just before his death are in the book, "Tim – The Official Biography of Avicii” and they are heartbreaking.

The grim entries were written while he was in the hospital and in rehab ... He wrote, "Those days in hospital were the most anxiety and stress-free days I can remember the past six years, those were my true vacations, as depressing as it might sound.”

The EDM singer opened up about his long battle with drug and alcohol abuse... "I had a hard time accepting never drinking again though strongly suggested from all doctors to wait at least a year before even having a beer.” That had shades of a dangerous turn in the rehab movement -- California rehab, which suggests addicts can drink moderately and smoke weed. Experts say it's a recipe for disaster.

He went on ... “Of course, I didn’t listen to the majority of the doctors, I listened to the couple who said it was OK if I was careful. I was ignorant and naive and touring the world, still on the never-ending tour ..."

The day before his suicide, Avici wrote, "The shedding of the soul is the last attachment before it restarts!"

The book will be released next month.

Joe Rogan Sold-Out Show Canceled ... Over COVID Mandate

Joe Rogan is sticking to his guns, canceling an upcoming show in Canada ... and it's all over the country's vaccine mandates.

Joe was scheduled to perform in Vancouver on April 20th -- yes, April 20th -- but British Columbia requires proof of vaccination in various situations and venues. The show, which is sold out, was supposed to go down at the Rogers Arena, and that's one of the venues requiring proof of vaccination.

Joe said on his podcast, "I should probably say this because I haven't yet. My 4/20 show that's sold out in Vancouver, I don't think that's happening." He went on ... "I don't think I can even get into the country. I'm not vaccinated. I'm not gonna get vaccinated. I have antibodies. It doesn't make any sense."

Joe plans on rescheduling the show, though it's unclear when.  It's unlikely the show will go on as long as the mandates are in place.

As you know, Joe has been promoting treatments not embraced by the CDC or FDA -- specifically ivermectin and Z-Paks. The CDA and FDA do not recommend either drug for the treatment of COVID. Joe himself contracted COVID back in September and claims the various meds he took cured him.

Burlington Coat Factory Tragedy Celebs Reach Out to Cover 14-Year-Old's Funeral ... LAPD Has Not Offered to Foot Bill

A number of celebrities have reached out to the family of Valentina Orellana-Peralta, the 14-year-old who was shot and killed during the standoff at an L.A. Burlington Coat Factory, offering to pay their funeral expenses.

The family's lawyer, Ben Crump, tells TMZ celebs in the Hispanic community and beyond have offered to foot the bill for Valentina's funeral, and to a person they wanted their names to remain confidential. But he says the support the family has been receiving is overwhelming.

Crump says so far, neither the LAPD nor the City of Los Angeles has made a similar offer.

TERRIFYING ATTACK

As we reported, LAPD cops rushed to the Burlington Coat Factory last week after getting a 911 call of a possible shooting inside the store. When police arrived they found a man swinging a bicycle chair with a lock attached as he swung at shoppers, striking 3 women and brutally bloodying one of them.

One of the cops fired 3 shots with AR-15, killing the suspect, but one of the bullets ricocheted off the floor and into the dressing room where Valentina and her mom were hiding.  The bullet struck Valentina in the chest, and she died in her mother's arms.

We reached out to the LAPD to find out if the Dept. or the City had plans to cover the funeral.  So far, no word back.

Ice Cube B.S. I Shortchanged Actors on 'Friday' ... They Coulda Just Said No

Ice Cube is angry at critics who are grousing he shortchanged actors who appeared in his iconic movie, "Friday."

Cube lashed out on Twitter, responding to an interview Faizon Love did, claiming he was only paid $2,500 to play Big Worm in "Friday." That led others to accuse Cube of "robbing his own people."

Well, Ice Cube blasted back, saying, "I didn't rob no space f***in body." He pointed out it was a super, low-budget flick -- it cost $2.3 mil to make -- and pointed out Faizon only worked 1 to 2 days on the movie during the 20-day shoot.

He went on to say, all of the actors were paid scale and they could have simply declined the offer to appear if they didn't like the salary.

Truth be told ... it's not unusual at all for actors to be paid scale for movies ... even movies with much fatter budgets than "Friday."

One more thing ... one of the Twitter critics brought up a rumor that Chris Tucker quit over money. Cube shot back ... he was ready to pay Tucker $10 mil to $12 mil for the sequel, but Chris turned him down for religious reasons -- he didn't want to cuss or smoke weed on camera anymore.

Dave Chappelle Packs House at L.A.'s Peppermint Club ... Lots of Celebs on Hand

Dave Chappelle did what he does best Tuesday night ... packed the house with fans, including a bunch of celebs, who showed up on a cold L.A. night to watch Dave's stand-up.

Chappelle was in great spirits as he arrived at the Peppermint Club in WeHo -- drink and cigarette in hand.

Among those who showed up ... Jeff Ross, Mario, Talib Kweli, Andrew Garfield, Casey Affleck, and Odell Beckham Jr. and GF Lauren Wood.

Dave's been doing a bunch of shows since his final Netflix installment dropped. He's been showing his documentary, "Dave Chappelle: Live in Real Life," at some of the venues. From what we can tell, however, his Peppermint Club gig was strictly stand-up.

The documentary chronicles the comedy shows Dave put on in Yellow Springs, Ohio during COVID. It shows how Dave was supporting his hometown during the pandemic.

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