Whitney Houston Golden Globes Death Joke Was 'In Poor Taste' ... Says Singer's Estate

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This year's Golden Globes host, Jerrod Carmichael, garnered gasps when he mentioned Whitney Houston's death during the show -- something the estate was equally shocked by.

Pat Houston -- Whitney's longtime manager and sister-in-law -- tells TMZ through a rep ... "The Whitney Houston Estate is disappointed in the joke, and felt it was in poor taste." Pat is the sole executor of the estate, BTW ... so she controls all things Whitney-related.

As for whether Carmichael's joke was alerted to anyone connected to Whitney prior to Tuesday's broadcast -- sources with direct knowledge tell us nobody was given a heads-up.

It's unclear if anyone at NBC knew JC was going to mention Whitney during his hosting gig -- in the moment, his remark seemed off the cuff ... and it very well may have been.

In case you missed it ... after the Globes came back from commercial break at one point, Carmichael said he had been asked to shout out the venue, after which he quipped ... "So, we are here, live, from the hotel that killed Whitney Houston, the Beverly Hilton."

Of course, he's referring to the fact Whitney overdosed in one of the hotel rooms back in 2012. Some folks laughed, but a lot more seemed taken aback and others even groaned.

It was just one of the controversial moments from Jerrod -- another came when he mentioned Shelly Miscavige ... a high-ranking Scientologist who's been out of public view for years.

50 Cent Apologizes to Megan for Siding with Tory ... Soulja Wants Others to Follow Suit

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50 Cent is taking the high road ... despite all his social media posts to the contrary, he's apologizing to Megan Thee Stallion for not believing her testimony about Tory Lanez shooting her.

The G-Unit legend switched from promoting season 2 of "BMF" to reflecting on his wild Instagram posts where he compared the embattled hottie to Jussie Smollett's lying ways via a meme that went viral.

50 explains he was taken aback by Megan's infamous interview with CBS' Gayle King where she denied having a sexual relationship with Tory -- which we now know was a lie -- but 50 says that fib prompted him to disbelieve everything else she said for nearly a year!!!

Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.

Like many people following the case details, 50 says once the mountain of evidence came out, it began to sway his opinion ... with Tory's jailhouse phone call with Kelsey Harris sealing the deal for him.

50's probably one of the least likely rappers to swallow his pride and offer Megan a mea culpa -- trolling is his thing, after all -- but Soulja Boy is calling for the entire hip hop community to do just that ... apologize!!!

SB recently went on the warpath during an Instagram Live session where he threatened to beat up Tory (if) he's ever released from prison, and wished gang rape on him throughout his stint behind bars.

Tory's sentencing is now scheduled for February 28. We're sure Soulja will be keeping an apology scorecard until then!!!

'Rust' Investigation Baldwin and Crew Still in D.A.'s Sights ... Decision Coming This Month

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Alec Baldwin might've settled things on the civil side of the 'Rust' tragedy, but he's not out of the woods criminally ... as there's still a decision that has to be made, and we've learned it will come down by month's end.

Santa Fe's First Judicial District Attorney's Office tells TMZ ... the D.A. is set to make an announcement about whether she'll pursue criminal charges against anyone that was directly or indirectly involved in the death of DP Halyna Hutchins.

We're told everyone involved -- including Baldwin -- is under the D.A.'s microscope, and any filing decisions will be made by the end of January.

Baldwin could face charges for his role in Hutchins' death -- although the actor has repeatedly denied any responsibility ... insisting he didn't pull the trigger, and other parties were to blame.

It's been more than a year since Hutchins died ... and in light of her widowed husband settling his wrongful death suit entirely late last year in dramatic fashion -- which entailed him stepping in as an EP of the revived film -- everyone assumed the saga was over.

We'd already reported the civil settlement does not affect the criminal investigation -- which has already wrapped, with the findings sent over to the D.A.'s office a while ago at this point. So, the question ... what's the holdup?

The answer is unclear, but the end of the tunnel is in sight. The D.A. hasn't said what charges are being considered, but until she says otherwise -- it's all fair game.

Baldwin, for his part, has already turned the page ... or at least he's tried to, anyway.

Jorge Ballesteros World Shooting Champion Dead At 39 ... After Gunshot Wound

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World shooting champion Jorge Ballesteros has tragically passed away after reportedly suffering a gunshot wound to the head. He was only 39.

According to the Spanish news outlet ABC Deportes, Ballesteros was found inside his car at the La Vaguada shopping center in Madrid on Monday.

He was transferred to the local hospital ... but sadly, passed away on Tuesday.

The Spanish athlete's former sponsor, Double Alpha Academy, confirmed the terrible news ... saying he was dedicated to the sport of the International Practical Shooting Confederation.

"His achievements in IPSC were many, but his crowning achievement was his IPSC World Champion title, which he won at the peak of his career," the academy said in a statement.

"Jorge's friendly personality, kindness and helpfulness in the shooting community will be greatly missed."

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RUNNIN' THE COURSE

The Royal Spanish Olympic Shooting Federation also released a statement ... calling Ballesteros "the country's most representative and award-winning shooter" in IPSC history.

Ballesteros -- who was also a national police officer -- was a true winner ... he was a 17-time Spanish champ, 6-time Extreme Euro Open champ, and a 3-time IPSC European champ.

He also won the IPSC World Championship and the World Police Games title.

Ballesteros's last Instagram post was on Dec. 3rd after he was beaten by Christian Sailer in the World Championship ... saying he was passing the torch to the new winner.

"Sometimes things come this way and I must accept that life sometimes has different things prepared for us from what we expected or planned," Ballesteros said in the caption.

He leaves behind a wife and two children.

R.I.P.

Michael Flatley Fighting 'Aggressive' Cancer

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Michael Flatley's battling cancer again ... but this time he says it's an "aggressive form" and he's already gone under the knife.

The "Lord of the Dance" creator revealed his diagnosis Wednesday, saying he's "been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer."

Michael also says he's "undergone surgery and is in the care of an excellent team of doctors" ... and now he's asking for prayers and well-wishes.

The "Riverdance" legend has already beaten cancer once ... just last year Michael revealed how he fought skin cancer way back in 2003, crediting a fan for spotting the early signs of malignant melanoma on his body.

Michael's on the record saying his first bout with cancer changed his outlook on life ... he says it made him want to live every moment, gave him more focus on his career, and taught him to value friends and loved ones more than material possessions.

It's unclear what type of cancer Michael is battling this time around ... but here's hoping he beats the disease again.

Frankie Muniz I'm A Full-Time Driver Now!!! ... Set To Race In NASCAR's ARCA Series

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Frankie Muniz is going from "Malcolm in the Middle" to the middle of a racing pack ... revealing Wednesday he's set to drive full time in the NASCAR-owned ARCA Series this season!!!

The actor-turned-driver will be behind the wheel for Rette Jones Racing's #30 Ford Mustang ... starting next month, when the series hits Daytona International Speedway.

Muniz said this week he's pumped for the career change, revealing it's been a lifelong goal of his to eventually trade paint on the NASCAR Cup Series circuit.

"I look forward to not only demonstrating my ability on the track and just how serious how I am in progressing in my racing career," the 37-year-old said of the move to ARCA, "but also showing my son and family what it is to chase your dreams and re-invent yourself."

Muniz has been a lifelong fan of professional driving ... and has even posted pics and vids of him behind the wheel several times throughout the past few years.

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MUNIZ ON THE TRACK

Ford Performance Motorsports official Mark Rushbrook called Muniz "a skilled and enthusiastic racer" ... while Rette Jones Racing co-owner Terry Jones said he's thrilled to see Agent Cody Banks commanding one of his rides this year.

"Without a doubt, we believe in Frankie’s ability and commitment," Jones said, "and with Mark's leadership, we believe that he will quickly adapt on track and contend for a championship in his rookie season."

Muniz's first race is expected to go down on Feb. 18 -- getcha popcorn ready!

Damar Hamlin Released From Buffalo Hospital ... I'm Going Home!!!

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Damar Hamlin has been released from the hospital and is going home ... 10 days after going into cardiac arrest during Monday Night Football, the Bills announced Wednesday morning!

24-year-old Hamlin made incredible strides during his recovery ... and was transported by air from UC Medical Center in Cincinnati on Monday to Buffalo General Medical Center.

But, Hamlin was still in the hospital ... eating hospital food, and sleeping in a hospital bed.

That is until Wednesday morning, when doctors say they made the determination Hamlin was healthy enough to continue treatment at home.

Damar's critical care physician, Jamie Nadler, MD, provided an update on Hamlin's condition, saying, "We have completed a series of tests and evaluations, and in consultation with the team physicians, we are confident that Damar can be safely discharged to continue his rehabilitation at home and with the Bills."

Of course, Hamlin collapsed after tackling Bengals receiver Tee Higgins during last week's MNF matchup ... and required CPR and defibrillation in the stadium.

Hamlin was resuscitated and taken to a local Intensive Care Unit for treatment. The outlook appeared bleak in the beginning ... however, Damar recovered at an astounding pace.

The country rallied around Damar ... hundreds of thousands of people donated millions of dollars to the young player's charity fundraiser.

Welcome home, Damar!!

Golden Globes 2023 Hollywood's Young & Restless ... Hit the Town Post-Show!!!

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Hollywood partying seems to be a young man's (and woman's) game in 2023 -- which is exactly why you mostly saw a bunch of 20-somethings out on the town post-Golden Globes.

There were a few after-parties Tuesday following the ceremony at the Beverly Hilton ... but it doesn't look like too many of the old-timers were in tow for those -- on the contrary, it was a bunch of whippersnappers who ended up attending, including some winners for the night.

First, we had the shindig at the Chateau Marmont ... where Austin Butler, Addison Rae, Dixie D'Amelio, Dakota Fanning, Darren Criss, Lil Nas X, Milly Alcock, Kara Del Toro, Tyler, the Creator, Kaia Gerber and others came flocking to continue the Globes celebration.

Elsewhere in Bev Hills, we had a somewhat rare Salma Hayek sighting at Tommy's -- and it looks like Steven Spielberg was out and about as well. But, that's just really all there was in the over-40 group ... seems like everyone else turned in early for the evening.

New parents A$AP Rocky and Rihanna were spotted painting the town red ... but they kept things relatively low-key, going to Giorgio Baldi -- without a lot of the Globes crowd in tow.

It could be the crappy weather that's to blame for keeping folks off the streets ... frankly, it was cold and damp, so not exactly the greatest conditions to rage. Not to mention the fact that a lot of last night's winners were seasoned OGs, who've been there and done that. 😄

Naomi Osaka I'm Pregnant!!! First Child with Cordae

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Tennis superstar Naomi Osaka just shared a major life update -- she's expecting her first child ... and TMZ Sports has confirmed it's with rapper Cordae!!

The 25-year-old made the announcement just minutes ago ... saying, "The past few years have been interesting to say the least, but I find that its the most challenging times in life that may be the most fun. These few months away from the sport has really given me a new love and appreciation for the game I've dedicated my life to."

Osaka shared a picture of a sonogram on Twitter ... adding, "I realize that life is so short and I don't take any moments for granted, everyday is a new blessing and adventure. I know that I have so much to look forward to in the future, one thing I'm looking forward to is for my kid to watch one of my matches and tell someone, 'that's my mom,' haha."

Osaka -- who went public with Cordae in 2019 -- says she will not be competing in the meantime ... but plans to return for the Australian Open in 2024.

"I don't think there's a perfectly correct path to take in life but I always felt that if you move forward with good intentions you'll find your way eventually," she added.

Congrats!!!

Kim, Khloe & Kris Will Be By Tristan Thompson's Side For Mother's Funeral

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Kim Kardashian, Khloe and Kris Jenner want one thing to be very clear to Tristan Thompson -- they're gonna support him in one of the hardest times of his life, as they all plan to be with him when his mom is laid to rest.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... the trio is planning to fly to Toronto later this week to be in attendance for Andrea's funeral. We're told Tristan paid for and planned the whole service, which will be an intimate and beautiful celebration of her life.

Much like Khloe did last week, when Andrea died unexpectedly, we're told Kim, Kris and Khloe want to be there to comfort and support Tristan. Sources tell us it's important to the Kardashian clan to be there for loved ones, especially during tough times like this.

TMZ broke the story, Andrea suffered a heart attack at home last week -- she was rushed to a local hospital where doctors tried to resuscitate her, but she didn't make it.

Khloe initially flew to Toronto to be with Tristan, and Kim ended up going too … but the sisters came back to L.A. Monday. Sources say Khloe was close to Andrea, and losing her has been sad and shocking to everyone.

A$AP Rocky Clowns Rihanna's Manager No Sleeping on the Job!!!

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A$AP Rocky caught Rihanna’s manager trying to sneak in a couple of winks as they chowed down on a post-Golden Globes dinner … so he whipped out his phone to clown the dude!

Rocky and Rihanna were out in Santa Monica at their favorite eatery, when Rocky got the heads up Roc Nation exec Jay Brown was snoozing in the car ... a magic moment for professional and amateur photogs like Rocky.

Jay was out cold and at a point, Rocky decided enough was enough, so he waived off the cameras and knocked on the hood ... which served as a wake-up call.

Rihanna was nominated at the Globes for “Best Original Song in a Motion Picture” for the track “Lift Me Up” from the “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” soundtrack.

The song lost out to “Naatu Naatu” from the Indian film “RRR” ... but RiRi still turned heads inside the Bev Hilton … decked out in a gown by Daniel Roseberry.

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SLEEPING ON THE JOB

The stage is now set for Rihanna’s big Super Bowl Halftime performance next month, where she’s admitted to having a few pregame jitters.

Damar Hamlin Applies For Trademarks ... 'Did We Win' & 'Three Is Back'

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Damar Hamlin has applied for two trademarks following his scary medical emergency last week ... TMZ Sports has confirmed he's seeking to own the phrases, "Did We Win" and "Three Is Back."

According to the United States Patent and Trademark Office records, Hamlin filed for the trademarks on Jan. 6 -- just days after he went into cardiac arrest on the field during the Bills vs. Bengals "Monday Night Football" game.

As part of the application for the trademarks, the records show Hamlin is intending to use the phrases on shirts, clothing jerseys, sweatshirts, hats, pants, shorts, and jackets ... plus printed and downloadable posters, mugs, and ornamental novelty pins.

The applications also list educational and entertainment services for "motivational and educational speakers in the field of self- and personal improvement" and "health care services in the nature of athletic training."

Of course, the "Did We Win" phrase became iconic and associated with Hamlin after doctors said those were some of the first words he uttered after he woke up at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

The 24-year-old has already created and put out "Did We Win?" shirts ... tweeting earlier this month they were a way to give back to the UC Trauma Center.

"We all won," Hamlin said revealing the tees. "Proceeds of this shirt will go to first responders and the UC Trauma Center. Go get yours!"

Since the scary incident, Hamlin has shown amazing progress ... and was just transferred to a Buffalo hospital where he's undergoing further testing with the hopes that he'll be released soon.

'House of the Dragon' Milly Alcock Has Tipsy Giggle Fit Over Golden Globes Win & Twitter Loves It!!!

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"House of the Dragon" star Milly Alcock takes the trophy at this year's Golden Globes ... not just for her TV show, but also for being the celeb having the most drunken fun onstage!!!

HBO's "Game of Thrones" prequel series took home the award for Best Television Series - Drama Tuesday night ... but as executive producer Miguel Sapochnik delivered his speech, most people's eyes were locked on Milly barely holding it together in the background.

You can see her giggling nonstop, having to hold on to costar Emma D'Arcy ... and giving some pretty wild expressions throughout Miguel's speech.

Twitter had a field day with Milly, with many calling her apparently boozy night "so funny."

Another spot-on description -- "When you don’t expect to win so you get drunk but you actually win and have to get on stage."

For those unaware, Milly plays the young version of Rhaenyra Targaryen in the series, and Emma takes over as the older version of the character after a time jump.

If Milly had been overserved last night ... good for her!!! The Globes have always been known as the Hollywood award show where celebs openly booze it up through the night -- and after a year in time-out (due to a lack of diversity at the Hollywood Foreign Press) -- it needed to come back with a bang.

Milly and Jennifer Coolidge -- who made a profanity-laced, hilarious acceptance speech -- definitely delivered some 🔥 moments!!!

'Eight is Enough' Star Adam Rich Investigators Eyeing Signs Actor Died of Overdose

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Former child TV star Adam Rich's death was likely the result of an overdose -- at least according to the investigators who've found evidence supporting that theory.

Law enforcement sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... the manager at Adam's L.A. area apartment building found his body while doing a welfare check Saturday after no one had heard from the actor since Jan. 5. We're told he was found in the bathroom.

We're told officers believe Adam had been deceased for a while at that point ... and our sources say there was a white powdery substance found on the scene, which cops believe to be drugs. Based on that, and Adam's past struggles with drugs, investigators are looking at this as a possible OD. As we previously reported, foul play isn't suspected.

Although this is what law enforcement's thinking at the moment, an official cause of death will not be known until they get back autopsy and toxicology results.

We broke the story ... Adam's family caught wind of his passing this weekend. He struggled with drugs for years -- and was even once arrested for allegedly trying to steal pills from a pharmacy. Adam was on the show "Eight is Enough" from '77 to '81. He was 54.

RIP

Eddie Murphy Uses Will Smith Slap ... For Killer Golden Globes Punchline!!!

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Eddie Murphy is a stand-up comedian, first and foremost, which is why he was able to deliver wisdom and a huge laugh to the Golden Globes audience ... while reliving Will Smith slapping Chris Rock.

Eddie graciously accepted the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement Tuesday night at the Golden Globes Awards -- he really did thank almost every huge producer and director he worked with over his 40+ years in showbiz, but like we said ... he's a comedian, so he spiced up the speech with humor.

He wrapped up with a piece of advice to folks looking to achieve success and make it in Hollywood -- "I want to let you know that there is a definitive blueprint that you can follow to achieve success, prosperity, longevity and peace of mind. It's very simple, it's three things."

The first 2 drew plenty of laughs -- pay your taxes and mind your business -- but you've gotta watch the clip for #3, which brought down the house.

Even Will and Jada Pinkett Smith would have to laugh at the line and Eddie's delivery. Hell, Chris Rock would love it too.

In case you were living under a rock this year ... Will shocked the world by slapping Chris Rock right in the face during the Academy Awards after he'd made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith's bald head.

Will's been banned from attending the Oscars for 10 years, but clearly, Eddie Murphy feels it wasn't too soon to get in a good laugh over the whole thing.

Jennifer Coolidge Hilarious, Profanity-Laced Acceptance Speech ... At 2023 Golden Globes

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Jennifer Coolidge was very thankful to win a Golden Globe Tuesday night -- so much so, in fact, that she drops a few F-bombs and some other fun words to get her point across.

The actress got onstage to accept her statuette for Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series for her role as Tanya in Season 2 of "The White Lotus" ... and it seems she was the crowd favorite to win, because it sounded like folks in the audience were really happy.

Ditto for JC, who immediately got some laughs after putting the Globe down on the ground ... and then going on a profanity-laced spiel that went left, right and everywhere in between.

At the core of her speech, Jennifer made it clear that she was very grateful to have been given a second lease on life when it comes to her career -- because, for a long time, she says she felt like her time in Hollywood had fizzled out ... only to see it get revived.

You could tell how much the win meant for her ... and it's well-deserved. Her portrayal as Tanya has been a hit on 'WL' for two seasons now, and she's very much been the talk of the town when it comes to awards season. That's how much people loved her character.

Jen ended with a heap of praise on 'White Lotus' creator Mike White ... and a few more expletives for good measure. The music started to play her off, and she got a big applause.

Good to see Jen back in the mix at an elite level -- and we're happy she's getting invited to parties again. She seems like she'd be a hoot at any get-together!