Brendan Fraser Emotional Acceptance Speech At Critics Choice Awards

Published

Brendan Fraser delivered a rousing speech at the Critics Choice Awards after taking home a big win -- and by the end of it, he pretty much had the whole room in tears.

The actor was presented with one of the top honors of the night -- Best Actor for his role in "The Whale" -- and when he got onstage, he immediately got emotional as he thanked his costars, as well as the writer and director of the Oscar-buzzy film.

Eventually, BF dropped the most poignant line ... saying he was recently "in the wilderness," and is grateful to have been rediscovered. What followed those remarks was just as powerful.

Brendan broke down with his closing words, evoking a standing O and a lot of waterworks out in the audience. He's been a clear favorite throughout this entire awards season ... and you can tell folks are happy for him.

As you might know ... he's been absent from mainstream Hollywood for years, and until somewhat recently, had faded into obscurity -- only to bounce back now with "The Whale."

In the flick, Brendan plays a morbidly obese man who's trying to rekindle a relationship with his teen daughter -- while also struggling with his health and mental health problems. His performance had been getting rave reviews since 'Whale' first debuted last year.

Of course, he didn't win at the Golden Globes -- Austin Butler did for "Elvis" -- but some have speculated politics might have been at play there. Brendan didn't even attend the Globes ... the reason being, he publicly accused the HFPA's former Prez of sexual assault in 2018.

While he missed out on a Globe, he's got another award that's just as coveted ... and it seems to be a two-way race for the Academy Awards, which will be handed out in March.

Gina Lollobrigida Italian Star Dead at 95

Published

Gina Lollobrigida -- one the last mega celebs of old Hollywood and one of the most beautiful -- has died.

Her attorney says she passed away Monday in a Rome hospital. It's been reported she'd been receiving treatment for some time, but it's unclear for what.

Lollobrigida was a beloved and coveted movie star in the 1950s and '60s -- having costarred in films alongside Hollywood heavyweights like Humphrey Bogart, Rock Hudson, Anthony Quinn, Errol Flynn, Frank Sinatra, Yul Brynner and other leading men of the time.

While her acting career somewhat petered out post-'60s, she had a run for about a decade or so where she was one of the most in-demand A-listers, both here and abroad ... rivaling other starlets such as Marilyn Monroe, Sophia Loren, Elizabeth Taylor and more.

Some of her most famous flicks include "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," "Solomon and Sheba," "Come September," "Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell," "Beat the Devil," "Beautiful But Dangerous," "Crossed Swords" ... and countless others.

Another element she'll be remembered for ... just how much business mogul Howard Hughes was infatuated with her. He'd signed her to a movie deal early on, but while she was under his employ ... he's said to have proposed to her several times, only to be rebuffed.

Post-acting, Lollobrigida had a successful career in photojournalism, and even tried her hand at Italian politics -- which didn't turn out to be as fruitful. Still, quite the life indeed.

She was 95.

RIP

Alabama Basketball's Darius Miles Charged With Capital Murder ... After Shooting Near Campus

Published | Updated
UPDATE

8:25 AM PT -- Darius Miles' attorneys have released a statement on his arrest ... saying the basketball player is maintaining his innocence in the case.

UPDATE

"[He] looks forward to his day in court," the attorneys said.

UPDATE

They added in the statement that Miles "and his family are heartbroken tonight over the death of Jamea Jonae Harris."

Univ. of Alabama basketball player Darius Miles has been charged with capital murder ... after authorities say he and another man were involved in the shooting death of a woman near campus on Sunday morning.

According to Tuscaloosa Police Capt. Jack Kennedy, the fatal shooting happened on The Strip ... a popular stretch of road near the school that's lined by bars and restaurants.

Kennedy said authorities were alerted to the shooting at around 1:45 AM ... after officers had responded to a vehicle at the Walk of Champions at Bryant Denny Stadium.

Kennedy, in a news conference Sunday night, told media members a 23-year-old woman, Jamea Harris, was dead in the car. The driver of the vehicle, Kennedy said, told officers their car had been hit by gunfire earlier in the night ... adding that they shot back in self-defense.

According to Kennedy, police reviewed surveillance video and interviewed multiple witnesses -- and identified Miles and 20-year-old Michael Lynn Davis, who's not affiliated with the Univ. of Alabama, as the suspects.

Both Miles and Davis were charged with capital murder ... and arrested Sunday evening.

Miles was seen sobbing outside of the Tuscaloosa County Jail following the arrest, telling someone at the scene, "I swear, I love you more than you imagine."

Kennedy said Miles and the alleged victims did not previously know each other ... explaining, "At this time, it appears that the only motive was a minor altercation that these individuals had with the victim as they were out on The Strip."

Miles played in six games for the Crimson Tide this season, logging nine points and nine rebounds. On Saturday, just hours before the shooting, the school had ruled him out for the season due to an ankle injury.

By Sunday evening, his player profile page had been removed from the university's website.

"First and foremost, we extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the victim from last night’s incident," UA athletics said in a statement Sunday night. "We were made aware of the recent charge against student-athlete Darius Miles, and he is no longer a member of the Alabama men's basketball team. Athletics, in conjunction with the University, is fully cooperating with this investigation."

The school added in a statement of its own, "We are grieved by the incident that occurred near campus last night and extend our deepest condolences to the victim’s family and friends."

Origianlly Published -- 6:24 AM PT

King Combs Scoffs at 'Nepo Baby' Tag ... I Put in Bad Boy Work!!!

Published | Updated
010523-christian-combs-kal JANUARY 2023
NEPO-NOTHING!!!

Diddy's son Christian "King" Combs isn't accepting the "nepo baby" label critics keep tacking onto his name, but he's fully up to the challenge of upholding his dad's legacy!!!

We got King Wednesday at LAX and got his honest feedback on people automatically thinking he has a silver spoon in his mouth -- due to his father's bank account -- and he says that's one criticism he shrugs off.

KC tells us he understands the notoriety that comes along with being a rich kid, but calls his birthright as the Bad Boy heir apparent nothing short of a blessing.

Successful offspring of rich and famous parents have been under the microscope as of late, but as it turns out ... King's been earning his keep in the rap game lately.

112222-diddy-kal 11/21/22
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON

He and Diddy made father-son history in November when their songs both hit No. 1 on different Billboard charts and the title of Christian's song, "Can't Stop Won't Stop," is now his life mantra.

Except when it comes to the haters, who KC says need to cease and desist their activity!!!

Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.

He recently posted another so-called "nepo baby" -- his new baby sister, Love Sean Combs. Could there be a #1 hit in her future???

She's barely 3 months old, so no pressure yet ... but King seems confident here the family biz will still be going strong if she wants to join the fun!!!

Rich Paul Hey, Pro Tennis Players .... Switch To Pro Pickleball!!!

Published | Updated

Listen up, pro tennis players ... Rich Paul is offering some free business advice -- explaining to TMZ Sports he believes a career switch to pickleball could yield huge benefits for athletes if they officially traded in rackets for paddles.

Paul broke it all down for us at LAX this week ... about a month after he, Patrick Mahomes, Naomi Osaka, Nick Kyrgios and others joined forces to own a Major League Pickleball team.

The founder of Klutch Sports Group said he believes the sport is awesome and about to take off -- and noted that if a pro tennis player made the switch over now, it might lead to a big windfall of cash and fame later on.

"Those that play tennis that may be, you know, average or a little bit above average could be really great at this," Paul said. "It may be a little more lucrative."

He continued, "If I was someone who played a different sport that was kind of, what I would say would be an evolution or somewhat similar to another sport, and it was new, and it was hot and lucrative, I would take a look at it myself."

MLP began in 2021 with just eight teams -- but as the sport, played on a smaller version of a tennis court with paddles and a plastic ball with holes in it, has grown ... the org. expects to have 24 teams this year.

Paul's new squad will be one of the '23 additions to the league ... and he told us he's stoked for the potential it has, and the influx of talent that could be headed its way when people realize it.

As for his best friend LeBron James -- the King has also invested in MLP ... and is scheduled to actually compete against Paul's team this year.

Game on!!

Zedd Finally Finds Buyer For Hills Mansion With $18.5M Price Tag

Published

Zedd probably doesn't need it, but he's about to get a little extra change in his pocket -- he finally found someone to take his snazzy Beverly Hills mansion off his hands.

Our real estate sources say the famed DJ has a buyer for his $18.5 million palace in Benedict Canyon, which is just above Bev Hills. The home spent quite a bit of time on the market before he relisted it last year.

And, while it has a hefty price tag ... it's actually a discount from its original listing of $26.5M back in 2021. You'll recall, he scored the baller mansion back in 2018.

Now the new homeowner is gonna enjoy some pretty cool features including ... a master suite with wrap-around glass walls, a soundproof theater, indoor/outdoor gym and a gorgeous infinity pool.

And, ya can't forget the incredible views overlooking the hills!

The kitchen has 2 built-in smokeless hibachi grills and high-end appliances -- and there's a ton of outdoor space, including a private outdoor terrace.

No word if he got his asking price, but we're told Zedd's accepted the buyer's offer, and the home went under contract earlier this month. Both sides are just waiting to finalize the sale.

David Kramer and Andrew Buss of Hilton & Hyland hold the listing.

Young Jenna Rink In '13 Going On 30' 'Memba Her?!

Published

American actress Christa B. Allen was only 13 years old when she was cast as the young Jenna Rink -- a middle school girl who is looking to fit in with the popular crowd -- in the 2004 romance film "13 Going On 30."

Allen shared the big screen with Jennifer Garner as the 30 year old who appears to be lost in life, questioning her adolescence, Jenna Rink, Mark Ruffalo as the laid back guy and Jenna's love interest, Matt Flamhaff (aka Matty), and Judy Greer as Jenna's funny and sarcastic bestie, Lucy Wyman.

Guess what she looks like now!

Janelle Monae Wowwza at Critics Choice Awards ... Rocks Very Sheer Dress 👀

Published | Updated

Janelle Monae won the SeeHer Award at the Critics Choice show this weekend -- and it seems she wore something that was pretty on theme ... 'cause everyone got an eyeful.

The actress/singer hit the red carpet Sunday at the Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel in L.A., where she was one of the clear standouts of the night in terms of fashion ... wearing an elegant black dress that appears to be from Vera Wang's Spring 2023 collection.

Of course, while she looked great ... what really turned heads was the fact that her gown was see-through, especially upstairs -- where she didn't seem to be wearing a bra.

There were other somewhat revealing cutouts in the dress -- around the pelvis area -- that made it a total stunner ... and Janelle pulled it off with style. She's naturally a knockout, but a lot of people were kinda shocked she went out there like this ... showing off the bod!

Eventually, she accepted her award for the night -- which was meant to honor artists who offer up representation and authenticity in their roles and performances and work ... and Janelle does both in film and in her music. She acknowledged as much in her speech.

JM identified her pronouns (she/her, they/them) ... and made a point to shout out any LGBT kids at home who might live with families who don't accept them. She said, "I see you."

Great message and all ... but still, folks might've been a little distracted. In a good way. 😅

'All Gas No Brakes' Star Andrew Callaghan Apologizes ... Talks Consent, Therapy

Published | Updated

Andrew Callaghan is speaking for himself regarding sexual misconduct allegations that have been hurled his way -- saying sorry to those affected, while also stepping back.

The host of "All Gas No Breaks" -- as well as HBO's new mockumentary, 'This Place Rules' -- posted a public video Sunday on a YouTube channel that he seems to have just created. It's a 4-minute plus clip, where he outright apologizes to people he's hurt in this saga.

Callaghan says he's been in a state of shock/denial these past several days after allegations made against him -- namely, a handful of women who've come forward to claim he had sex with them only after wearing them down, among other alleged sexual impropriety.

Now that he's had time to reflect, however, Callaghan says he realizes he's been engaging in toxic pursuits of women for years ... noting there's a difference between someone saying "no" and an enthusiastic partner who's clearly consenting to sexual relations.

He says this has forced him to reevaluate some things in his life, and vows to start therapy sessions immediately. Callaghan also urges other young men who've been jumping to his defense to stop and look in the mirror as well -- as this is part of a much larger convo.

Callaghan does note there's some context missing from some of the stories told about him -- and some depictions, he says, are false ... but doesn't go into detail about what those are.

We'd previously been told that one accuser, Caroline Elise, had allegedly demanded money from Callaghan before going public -- something our sources say he refused to cave to, which prompted her to post the now-viral video where she details an encounter with him.

Callaghan also apologized to his fellow collaborators -- this after a couple EPs on his HBO project denounced him and said they had no plans to work with him in the near future.

Damar Hamlin Cheers on Buffalo Bills from Home ... Team Secures Another W!!!

Published

Damar Hamlin continues to be with his team in spirit as their Cinderella journey toward a potential Super Bowl continues ... and it looks like he was even briefly with them in person.

The Buffalo Bills safety was tweeting out support for his guys Sunday as they took on the Miami Dolphins in a playoff game ... which they ended up winning by a few points to now advance to the AFC Divisional Round, making them one step closer to a SB appearance.

Right from the kickoff, Hamlin was tweeting ... one read, "My heart is with my guys as they compete today! Supporting from home as I focus on my recovery. Nothing I want more than to be out there with them! LFG." He attached an old video of him hyping up fans.

He sent other tweets throughout the game as well, including one that shouted out fellow safety Dean Marlowe and another congratulating running back James Cook. Both guys made great plays that helped the Bills secure the win in dramatic fashion -- with a 34 - 31 score.

Right after the game, Hamlin tweeted a "W" with some accompanying emojis that matched the team colors, and showed off a hand-gestured heart. Dude's clearly stoked.

Some thought DH was actually going to attend this matchup in person, as he showed up at the Bills' training facility at some point this weekend ... where he met face-to-face with his teammates and shared some smiles. A photo of this was posted to LB Matt Milano's IG Story.

It speaks to his remarkable recovery since his horrific on-field injury ... which nearly claimed his life. In the end, it seems like Hamlin is opting to take it easy, and that's probably for the best. While he seems good as new now, nobody expects him to hit the field anytime soon.

Considering the tremendous adversity the team has been put through these past two weeks ... it's kind of a miracle that they're continuing to play so well, clocking in victory after victory.

010223-damar-hamilin-kal-v2 1/2/23
RUSHED OFF THE FIELD

At this rate, they may well go all the way and show up gameday come Feb. 12 -- which would make for an awesome story ... especially for Hamlin. Feel-good stuff, no doubt.

Miss Universe New Owner Accused of Rigging ... Pageant for Miss USA

Published | Updated

No Steve Harvey, but still a lot of controversy -- the new owner of Miss Universe has been accused of rigging the pageant for Miss USA ... despite some other clear favorites.

Anne Jakrajutatip -- who's the chief of JKN Global Group, which owns both Miss Universe and Miss USA -- is being called out by dissatisfied fans online, who feel like the fact that she literally controls both competitions is a little suspect ... not to mention where this was held.

For starters, Miss Universe was hosted in New Orleans -- airing on Roku -- and some claim the fix was in from the get-go to make sure R'Bonney Gabriel was crowned by the show's ending ... which did, in fact, happen. The runner-up was Miss Venezuela, Amanda Dudamel.

Dudamel impressed throughout the broadcast, especially with her heartfelt answers on certain questions. Her outfits were also less ridiculed than the ones Gabriel wore, particularly in the costume category ... when she walked onstage with a WILD moon landing getup.

All this aside, many are pointing to what seems to be an obvious conflict of interest from Jakrajutatip and co. Her corporation bought Miss Universe this past fall for a reported $20 million, and with it came the rights to Miss USA ... which falls under the same umbrella.

Even before this pageant, there were already gripes about how Gabriel came to be Miss USA in the first place ... dating back to October, when JKN Global came onboard as the new shot-callers. Some have claimed there was favoritism afoot in that competition as well ... and there've even been suspensions in the top ranks as a result of investigations into it.

Of course, another curve ball here is the fact Jakrajutatip is transgender -- something that caught the attention of many when she delivered a powerful speech at one point in the broadcast ... where she said Miss Universe was now owned by women, for women.

Bottom line ... Miss Universe is still as dramatic as ever, with or without any faux pas.

Gunna Lil Baby Unfollows Him ... Lil Durk Takes a Swipe in New Song

Published | Updated

The hits keep coming for Gunna -- not only is he on the outs with YSL, but big-time rappers are now turning their backs on him too ... including Lil Baby and Lil Durk.

First, LB has officially unfollowed the embattled rapper -- as of Saturday, it appears Gunna no longer shows up as one of the 970 people Lil Baby is paying attention to on Instagram ... which might seem petty, but carries weight considering he *was* following until recently.

An unfollow in 2023 is the equivalent of telling someone ... I don't wanna be your friend anymore. That's where things seem to be between LB and Gunna, which is a big deal -- these two have been incredibly close for years. They put out a mixtape together once, and have rapped on each other's songs back and forth ... plus, they're both from Atlanta.

Now, on to the more transparent falling out ... Lil Durk clearly called out Gunna in a new track he previewed -- which features a line that alludes to a joint song they were on.

The video shows Durk and co. vibing out to the unnamed song, which features a quick line toward the beginning that goes ... "What happened to Virgil // he probably gonna tell." That's a reference to a song Durk did with Gunna of the same name ... so yeah, it's a shot.

As we reported ... Gunna's already under fire from a lot of people in hip-hop, including YSL members and associates -- who made it clear online that they're not messing with him.

Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.

This, of course, comes after Gunna was released from custody when he copped a plea deal with state prosecutors in the sweeping RICO case that saw not only him arrested ... but Young Thug as well. YT's on trial right now, and Gunna seems to be perceived as a snitch.

It's pretty wild to see this play out. While 6ix9ine went through something similar a few years ago, he was nowhere near as popular or beloved in mainstream hip-hop as Gunna was, which makes this cold-shoulder treatment all the more dramatic and eye-popping. 👀

'The Wire' Al Brown Dead at 83

Published | Updated

Al Brown -- famous from "The Wire" -- has died ... this according to his loved ones.

The actor's daughter, Jenny, tells TMZ ... Al passed away Friday in Las Vegas as a result of his Alzheimer's battle. She tells us that before he got into acting in the '90s, he was a 29-year-old Air Force vet who served two tours in Vietnam ... so he served honorably.

Jenny also says Al loved fans of his and was happy to stop and chat with anyone who might've recognized him from the show over the years -- noting, he loved his job.

Al will best be remembered for playing Col. Stan Valchek in the hit HBO show from the 2000s. In the series, he was a high-ranking Baltimore PD official, often portrayed as somewhat corrupt ... who'd give the main character cops a hard time in their investigations.

Valchek was a recurring character in all five seasons of "The Wire," but played a major part in Season 2 ... when he was dealing with dock workers who'd gotten mixed up with the Greek mob. His character was portrayed as a proud Polish-American -- a running gag throughout.

Great role, and Brown played it well for years. In addition to his work on HBO ... he also guest starred in other shows like "Rescue Me," "Forensic Files," "Law & Order: SVU," "Commander in Chief," "Maron," "The Hustler" and others.

Al even had a few notable movies in his repertoire ... playing small roles in "The Replacements," "12 Monkeys," "Lay the Favorite," "Red Dragon," "Liberty Heights," and more. He had a knack for playing hardboiled cops and law enforcement types ... and he did 'em justice every time.

He's survived by his children and extended family. Al was 83.

RIP

Nepal Plane Crash Kills At Least 68 ... Passenger Video of Final Moments

Published | Updated

A plane crash in Nepal has killed dozens ... but the most harrowing aspect, perhaps, is the fact the final moments from inside were captured by a truly unsuspecting passenger.

The tragedy occurred Sunday during a 27-minute Yeti Airlines flight from Kathmandu to the town of Pokhara -- carrying 72 onboard, including crew members. The plane was in touch with the airport it was headed to, but reportedly lost contact shortly before it went down.

When the plane smacked into the ground, it immediately erupted into flames ... and townspeople rushed out to the crash site. First responders descended onto the scene and attempted to transport as many victims as they could to the hospital. Thus far 68 people are reported as dead, and an additional 4 are still missing ... with search efforts underway.

At this point, it's unclear what caused the aircraft to nosedive -- the matter is under investigation. However, footage taken from the ground seems to show the the last few seconds the plane was in the air before it collided into a gorge ... and it's terrifying.

nepal plane spilt
DOOMED FLIGHT

Even more disturbing footage was taken from the cabin itself. An unidentified man who was in the plane right before it torpedoed was actually going live on Facebook, and as you can see in his clip -- which has since gone viral -- he has no clue they're about to crash.

Before long, he's filming some other passengers in front start to tilt to their right ... and suddenly, the plane hits the ground -- with flames taking up the entire view of the camera.

It sounds like the man recording might've survived the incident, but it's unclear what his status is now. YA has canceled all flights for Monday to mourn the deceased.

Marvin Gaye III Arrested for Domestic Violence, Assault with Deadly Weapon

Published | Updated

Marvin Gaye III, son of Motown Icon Marvin Gaye, was arrested late Friday afternoon a day after he allegedly pointed a gun at his wife and cousin.

TMZ broke the story ... cops surrounded the home and called for him to come out, but Gaye had already left in his Corvette.

011323-marvin-gaye-III-kal 1/12/23
HOUSE SURROUNDED

Sources connected to the matter tell TMZ, Gaye allegedly physically assaulted both women after an argument over a previous assault. Marvin and his wife have had ongoing issues for a while now.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ, Gaye came to the Sheriff's station the next day around 5:00 PM and turned himself in. Gaye was booked on misdemeanor domestic violence and felony assault with a deadly weapon charge. He posted $50,000 bond and was released.

An emergency protective order was issued to keep Gaye away from the home and family.

Deputies also went back to the home and recovered two firearms.

Gil Arbel, the lawyer for both alleged victims, tells TMZ his clients are still distraught and intend to cooperate fully with law enforcement in pressing charges ... and ask the public to respect their privacy at this time.

UGA OL Devin Willock, Staffer Killed In Car Crash ... Hours After Championship Parade

Published | Updated

Devin Willock, a redshirt sophomore and offensive lineman for the University of Georgia died in a car crash early Sunday morning, along with a UGA staffer ... just hours after the team's national championship parade.

Willock was just 20 years old.

The recruiting staffer, 24-year-old Chandler LeCroy, was driving a 2021 Ford Expedition with Willock and two other passengers south of campus when the vehicle somehow left the road around 2:45 AM Eastern and collided with two poles and several trees, according to police.

Devin was pronounced dead on the scene. LeCroy was transported to the hospital, where she later died as a result of her injuries.

The two other passengers were injured ... one seriously.

"The entire Georgia family is devastated by the tragic loss of football student-athlete Devin Willock and football staff member Chandler LeCroy," the University of Georgia said in a statement.

"Devin and Chandler were two special people who meant so much to the University of Georgia, our football program, and our athletic department. We ask that everyone keep their families in your prayers during this very difficult time."

Georgia football coach Kirby Smart also released a statement ... "We are all heartbroken and devastated with the loss of Devin Willock and Chandler LeCroy. Devin was an outstanding young man in every way. He was always smiling, was a great teammate, and was a joy to coach."

"Chandler was a valuable member of our football staff and brought an incredible attitude and energy every single day. We grieve with their families for this tragic loss and will support them in every way possible."

6'7", 335 lbs. Willock, from New Millford, NJ, played in all of Georgia's games this season, including two starts at right guard.

devin willock 01/15/23
BEFORE THE CRASH

UGA had been celebrating their second consecutive national championship, which they won Monday night after defeating TCU, 65-7, in the title game.

R.I.P.