Mark Wahlberg Shoulda Recused Himself from SAG Due to Past Crime Against Asian Man

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Mark Wahlberg could've foreseen the awkward moment that unfolded live at the SAG Awards -- courtesy of his ugly criminal history with 2 Asian men -- so says one writer, who cringed upon seeing it.

We talked to Jeff Yang, an Asian-American WSJ columnist, who was one of many who commented on the Wahlberg moment Sunday -- and he told us MW was simply the wrong guy to present the cast of "Everything Everywhere All at Once" the final statuette of the night.

The reason ... back when Mark was a teenager in Boston, he pled guilty to assaulting 2 Vietnamese immigrants as he and others shouted racial epithets. He was convicted and served 45 days behind bars.

In light of that terrible stain, JY says Mark should've had better intuition and turned down the gig ... especially considering 'EEAAO' was considered a lock to win, and because it obviously wouldn't look good onstage -- which, according to the vast majority, it didn't.

Jeff does say it's possible Mark simply didn't know 'Everywhere' would win ... and if he did, perhaps he took the presenter job as an unspoken olive branch to the AAPI community.

While it's certainly plausible, Jeff tells us he truly doesn't think it's likely -- and that this was probably a tone-deaf decision on everyone's part ... especially because, in Jeff's mind, Mark hasn't really gone out of his way to correct the brutal wrong from his teen years.

Worth noting ... he has issued apologies, including back in 2014, when he unsuccessfully tried to get pardon.

Bottom line for Jeff ... the optics were terrible, and they could've (and probably should've) been anticipated. With that said, 'EEAAO' continues to fly high -- next stop, the Oscars!

Florida Alligator Attack 2 More Gators Removed ... Likely to Be Killed, Processed

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More alligators have been removed from the Florida retirement community where an elderly was attacked and killed ... with additional searches underway.

A Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission rep tells TMZ ... two additional gators have been yanked from water at Spanish Lakes Fairways in Fort Pierce since last week's deadly incident ... and not just that, but we're told they'll probably be killed.

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TERRIFYING ATTACK

The FFWCC rep notes there've been a total of 5 gator complaints that a licensed nuisance alligator trapper (NAT) is currently working at the community.

The way they gauge which ones they'll go after and which ones they'll leave be is based on the public safety risk these animals might pose ... and, for now, only three of them have been taken out.

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WE GOT 'EM

Remember, we'd been told by a neighbor at Spanish Lakes that ALL of the gators were being fished out of the surrounding lakes and ponds there ... and it certainly sounds like they're on the hunt for more.

As for what exactly is done with the removed gators, FFWC says they become the property of the NAT in question -- and are often processed for their hide/meat. So, RIP. 💀🐊

College Admissions Scandal Ringleader Rick Singer Starts Prison Sentence

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Rick Singer, the mastermind behind the infamous college admissions scandal, just checked himself into prison ... where he was sentenced to spend the next 3 and a half years behind bars.

A rep for the Federal Bureau of Prisons tells TMZ ... Singer arrived at the Federal Prison Camp Pensacola in FL Monday to begin serving his 42-month sentence.

As we reported, Singer was the man behind countless parents spending big bucks to grease the wheels for their kids to get into high-end colleges ... including big names like Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman.

He was given his 3.5-year sentence at the beginning of the year, although prosecutors had been gunning for 6 years in prison -- saying he profited off the scheme more than anyone else involved and should get hit with a heavier sentence.

Regardless, his sentence was nothing like what it could've been ... because he initially was looking at a max sentence of 65 years, although it's clear his cooperation with the feds helped shave some time off.

FYI -- Lori was given 2 months for her involvement in the scandal, while Felicity only did 2 weeks in the slammer. While Singer seems to get the hardest sentence, it's still nowhere near what some think he deserved.

Michael B. Jordan Teams with Calvin Klein (Finally) ... For Underwear Campaign

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Michael B. Jordan has done the inevitable -- linking up with Calvin Klein for a good old-fashioned underwear campaign, and all we can say ... yeah, it's about time.

The actor is the new face of the famed clothing brand's Spring 2023 collection, posing for a series of photos where he's stripped down to nothing but a pair of boxer-briefs (in a variety of colors, it seems) ... and looking chiseled in all black and white, a classic CK aesthetic.

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As you can see, MBJ is in great shape (per usual) ... and the timing of this is actually perfect -- right ahead of his third "Creed" movie, where he's also bulked up and shirtless a lot.

Like we said, this was probably a long time coming ... and, frankly, we're surprised the collab didn't happen sooner. Mike's been a Hollywood hunk for years now -- and Calvin's always flocking to the latest hot body in town for a photo shoot.

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Here's the thing, though ... as good-looking as Michael certainly is, he might not actually be the best new thing (eye candy-wise) around anymore. His boxing costar, Jonathan Majors, is taking the town by storm lately in equally steamy shots -- and the dude is blowing up.

JM is the face of a lot of campaigns these days ... often in as little clothes as possible. Makes sense -- his physique is top-notch (body-builder status, actually) -- and it seems movie studio execs can't get enough of him. Jon's been cast in a lot these past few years.

The good news for everyone else is that you can catch these two lookers on the big screen soon -- their film is hitting theaters this weekend .... so it's all Jordan and Majors, all day.

Travis Kelce Douses Clubgoers With 6-Liter Bottle Of Champagne ... Wild Vegas Party!!!

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The Chiefs' Super Bowl party is STILL raging on ... this time Travis Kelce and his K.C. teammates hit up a Vegas hot spot to commemorate their big victory -- and at one point during the festivities, the star tight end hosed down clubgoers with six liters of bubbly!!

Kelce, Patrick Mahomes, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Skyy Moore, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and others traveled to Sin City on Friday to keep celebrating their win over the Eagles -- and as you can see in pics and vids, they got after it.

At XS Nightclub at Wynn Las Vegas, the football players were welcomed by a VIP experience -- which included an LED drumline, a six-tiered football-themed cake, and Chiefs-colored confetti.

They eventually took the stage and partied yet again with The Chainsmokers ... before Kelce was handed a massive bottle of Armand de Brignac Ace of Spades Gold Brut -- that he proceeded to spray all over everyone on the dance floor.

Mahomes, meanwhile, was spotted with his own expensive booze too -- walking around the club with a bottle of Don Julio 1942.

TMZ Sports has learned the party went on for hours -- before it ultimately came to an end at around 3:30 AM.

Of course, the Chiefs are no doubt used to late-night boozy celebrations at this point -- they've been going hard ever since beating Philadelphia in SB LVII on Feb. 12.

In fact, Mahomes has clearly mastered the art of shaking an SB party hangover ... he was spotted out at the Mavericks vs. Lakers game in Dallas on Sunday afternoon looking no worse for wear at all!

Maino Choke Slams YouTuber Buba100x ...Rapper Says It Was Part Of The Prank!!!

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Maino was caught in 4K disciplining popular YouTuber, Buba100x after one too many questions about his chain ... but the Brooklyn rapper is claiming it was all for clicks and views!!!

The melee went down at the Daniel's Leather fashion show earlier this month ... as Buba100x and Maino were conducting his typical TikTok style of interviews.

Buba100x made a crack about "beating Maino's ass" ... which immediately aged terribly when the Brooklyn rapper grabbed the jokester by his throat after his fuse was lit!!!

Further footage shows Maino pinning Buba100x down by his neck while reminding him of the consequences of ruffling his feathers!!!

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Maino's co-hosting on Angela Yee's new show 'Way Up' this week ... and there's no way they were ignoring this topic, which was addressed head-on.

Maino claims he was 100% acting in the clip and wanted to sell the prank by making it look real with his angry emotions.

Neither Angela nor Jasmine Brand were totally convinced ... and we can't say we are either. 😳 We reached out Buba to get his side of the story. Stay tuned!!!

Virginia Girls H.S. Basketball Coach Grabs, Shoves Spectator ... Wild Outburst At Game

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A Virginia girls high school basketball coach snapped on a spectator during a game last week -- climbing into the stands to grab and shove the man ... and the wild outburst was all captured on video.

The incident happened at the end of the Richlands contest against Wise Central on Feb. 23 ... when Richlands coach Tom Rife went after a man behind his team's bench.

You can see in broadcast footage of the game, the person in the white T-shirt appeared to say things to Rife ... which set the coach off.

Rife jumped over some chairs and put his hands around the man's shirt. He later seemed to shove him repeatedly -- while calling for others to intervene.

He was ultimately pulled away by others -- and Richlands went on to lose the game, 54-51.

Tazewell County Public Schools Dr. Christopher Stacy said in a statement a day after the incident they've launched an investigation into it all.

"While we do not condone any misconduct from our coaches or spectators at this time we are still investigating the actions of all parties involved," Stacy said.

Hayden Panettiere Breaks Silence on Brother's Death ... Says He Died from Enlarged Heart

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Hayden Panettiere has broken her silence on the death of her younger brother, Jansen, thanking everyone for their love and also revealing how they're told he died.

In a statement to ABC News Monday, the Panettiere family says, "Though it offers little solace, the Medical Examiner reported Jansen’s sudden passing was due to cardiomegaly (enlarged heart), coupled with aortic valve complications."

They continue, "We sincerely appreciate the outpouring of love and support towards our family as we navigate this unthinkable loss, and ask that we be gifted our privacy during this time of mourning," the family said. "We love you so much Jansen and you will be in our hearts forever."

TMZ broke the story, Panettiere was found dead inside his apartment in Nyack last weekend. According to a police report, obtained by TMZ, the 28-year-old's friends became alarmed after he no-showed a business meeting.

Jansen's friends raced over to this apartment, found him unresponsive in a chair and started CPR, but it was too late.

The medical examiner has not publicly declared a cause of death for Jansen.

Jennifer Coolidge Wins Outstanding Actress ... My Love of Acting is Based on Big Lie!!!

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Jennifer Coolidge gave a tearful speech accepting SAG's Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor award for "White Lotus," confessing a lie her otherwise honest father once told was the inspiration for her career.

JC is collecting more hardware than ACE this year, and each time she wins she gives a memorable speech, and this was no exception.

The 61-year-old explained how her parents were honest to a fault ... she was sobbing so hard, it was hard to know where the story was going. But she explained her dad told a lie that proved to be life-changing for her.

It was simple ... telling the school principal she was ill when she was not. The purpose ... her dad wanted Jen to experience the Charlie Chaplin film festival, and, as she said, "I swear to God, seeing Charlie Chaplin for the first time, and having that experience - it's my love of film, it's my love of actors, all of that came from my first grade."

She knows how to work the crowd, for sure.

Drake Lil Wayne Rapped My Email Addy in Song ... Thought It Was My Name!!!

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Drake is looking back at his entry into Lil Wayne's Young Money Records camp with fondness -- considering their relationship hit the ground so fast, they didn't even get properly introduced!!!

During his Turks and Caicos convo with Lil Yachty, Drake admitted Wayne first thought his name was "Drizzy Drake Rogers" when he rapped it on one of their collaborations ... the 2008 track "Ransom."

Rogers is actually the name of one of Canada's top internet providers and Wayne thought that was Drake's last name, seeing they were sending tracks via email.

When "Ransom" dropped, Drake says he realized the error but didn't have the heart to correct his mentor.

They went on to record plenty of successful collabs following the flub -- both recently earning a spot in the Top 10 of Billboard's Top 50 rappers list, although Wayne largely disagrees with his ranking.

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I AM NUMBER 1

The YM stars were weirdly placed next to each other ... Drake at #8 and Wayne at #7 ... but Wayne recently told Apple Music not Jay-Z, Eminem or even the late greats Tupac and Biggie should be considered better than him!!!

He'll have plenty of time and opportunity to prove his case with the upcoming "Carter VI" release ... things might get spicy!!!

Tommy Fury Celebrates Win Over Jake Paul ... Singing With Tyson!!

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Tommy Fury went from using his hands to using his pipes after beating Jake Paul on Sunday ... singing his heart out with his brother, Tyson, in the locker room to celebrate the huge win.

TNT was the happiest guy in the world after going 8 rounds with the Problem Child in Saudi Arabia ... and the man of the hour received a hero's welcome after exiting the ring.

"There's only one Tommy Fury," the crowd chanted as Tommy entered the room. "Walking along, singing a song, walking in a Fury wonderland."

Tyson couldn't have been more proud of his brother ... smiling from ear to ear as Tommy walked in with his new belt draped over his shoulder.

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WINNER WINNER

Tommy has all the bragging rights, but Jake has made it clear he's not riding off into the sunset ... and a rematch seems inevitable.

Jake took his first loss with respect ... thanking his fans for their support and praising the event.

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I'll BE BACK

"S*** happens, I guess," Jake said after the fight. "This is still the best job in the world."

"I'll be back -- no worries, cuz!!"

Christina Applegate 'FU MS' Cane Front and Center At SAG Awards

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Christina Applegate was a standout at the SAG Awards Sunday ... not because of her nomination --- but because of her courage.

The awesome actress -- if you have any doubts, watch "Dead to Me" -- is dealing with her multiple sclerosis diagnosis, and showed up with a cane with a powerful message.

As she entered the Fairmont Century Plaza in Century City, CA with her 12-year-old daughter Sadie, she was clutching a cane with the initials, "FU MS."

Christina was up for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series ... she said earlier this month it likely would be "my last awards show as an actor probably, so it's kind of a big deal."

As we reported, Christina revealed her multiple sclerosis diagnosis back in 2021 ... calling it a "strange journey," but one she's on with the support of others that share her condition.

She also dragged the disease late last year when she got her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame -- flashing her painted nails with "FU MS" emblazoned on them.

Unfortunately, Christina didn't take home gold at the SAG Awards, but the outpouring of support she's been receiving has been heartwarming.

BTW ... if you haven't seen "Dead to Me," you're missing an incredible performance.

SAG Awards 2023 Celebs Behind the Scenes ... All Smiles in Hollywood!!!

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This year's SAG Awards ceremony was big -- not just for the winners and, of course, movie and TV fans ... but for all the nominees and presenters who had the most fun away from the broadcast's cameras!

It was a who's who at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Century City, CA Sunday night ... with the likes of Brendan Fraser, Michelle Yeoh, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jennifer Coolidge and many more showing up for their nominations -- some of whom left with new hardware.

James Marsden was all smiles backstage at the prestigious event ... the "Dead to Me" actor presented the award with Jenny Slate for Drama Series Ensemble, going to "The White Lotus."

Cara Delevingne, Aubrey Plaza and Ariana DeBose were quite the gal pals during the commercial breaks -- and Aubrey joined her "White Lotus" cast later in the night, winning the Drama Series Ensemble award.

For celebs, the fun was just starting when the show ended -- a huge crowd stuck around for People's after-party Gala with big names like Tobey Maguire, Quinta Brunson, and Laura Linney hangin' out through the night.

As you know, "Everything Everywhere All at Once" swept the awards show taking home all four wins in its nominated categories -- breaking the record for single-film wins. Brendan won once again for his role in "The Whale" ... while the Life Achievement Award went to Sally Field.

'The Last of Us' Praised By Menstrual Cup Companies ... Episode's Spotlight Will Go Long Way!!!

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Not only is "The Last of Us" drawing big TV ratings and buzz, it's now getting praise from menstrual cup companies for promoting the product and boosting sales.

No big spoiler's here, but if you missed last week's episode ... you didn't see the main character, Ellie, getting gifted a menstrual cup. At first, Ellie, who was born in a post-apocalyptical world seems a bit confused, but then she gets excited once she realizes what it is ... saying "gross" with a smile on her face.

While the scene was quick, fans hopped online to celebrate the significance of bringing women's health to the forefront and showing off a reusable alternative to tampons and pads.

A rep for The Flex Co., which makes menstrual cups, tells TMZ they saw a 400% increase in sales in the 2 days after the episode aired on HBO, a testament to media's "unparalleled power to destigmatize periods."

Over at Cora Life, another menstrual cup producer, a rep says they're thrilled to see a sustainable menstrual care product make it on such a high-profile show ... and they've also seen a slight uptick in orders.

Worth noting, 'Last of Us' didn't depict a specific brand, but obviously, it's prompted consumers to research them.

Lena Cup is also getting more hits -- a rep says the market was "energized" by the HBO shoutout, and they're all hoping the scene normalizes gifting menstrual cups.

While folks at Cora Life say some viewers tuning in might not have known what the menstrual cup was ... they do now, and it makes the scene even more powerful.

FARRAH ABRAHAM SOPHIA'S PIERCINGS ARE NO BIG DEAL ... She's Not Doing Drugs, Drinking, or Having Sex!!!

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BIGGER ISSUES TO WORRY ABOUT

Farrah Abraham is defending her daughter's new face piercings ... she says there are trade-offs to raising a teenager and is glad her 14-year-old isn't experimenting with drugs, alcohol or sex.

The "Teen Mom" star tells TMZ ... she wants to support her daughter as best she can, and if that means signing off on lip and ear piercings she wanted for her birthday, so be it ... because Sophia could be doing a lot worse.

Sophia got lip and ear piercings for her 14th birthday ... but mom says she made sure professional piercers were involved ... and she says Sophia actually didn't end up getting all the piercings after a professional advised against it.

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While parents are blasting Farrah on social media ... she says some need to look in the mirror, because plenty of teens her daughter's age are already boozing, experimenting with drugs, dating and having sex ... things she considers way more dangerous than a piercing.

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Sophia got a septum piercing last year for her 13th birthday, which Farrah also defended ... but this time she's advanced to the lips and ears.

Still, Farrah says it's better than something permanent ... like tattoos, or you know, a baby ... and she thinks it's better if Sophia has some avenues to express herself, and she couldn't be more proud of her.

Ex-U.S. Swim Champ Jamie Cail Dies Suddenly In Virgin Islands ... Police Investigating

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Former U.S. swimming star Jamie Cail died suddenly at 42 years old in the Virgin Islands last week ... and now, authorities say they've launched an investigation into the mysterious circumstances surrounding her death.

According to the United States Virgin Islands Police Department -- Cail, who won a gold medal at the 1997 Pan Pacific Championships, was found unresponsive in St. John by her boyfriend on Feb. 21 just after midnight.

Police say the swimmer's significant other had been out at a local bar but left to check in on her at their home -- and discovered her on the floor.

Cops say the man and one of his friends were able to transport Cail to a local hospital -- where she was administered CPR.

Police, though, say the lifesaving efforts were unsuccessful, and she was pronounced dead at 2:39 AM.

The Criminal Investigation Bureau is now investigating the death -- and officials are urging anyone with information on the case to call authorities.

Cail competed on the national stage throughout the late 1990s ... eventually joining the USC swimming team.

RIP.