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No, Ja Morant is not throwing away his NBA career ... at least, that's according to Richard Jefferson, who tells TMZ Sports the star's latest lapse in judgment is simply a young man "making mistakes in front of the public eye."

The former NBA champ made the comments to us out at LAX on Monday -- just two days after Morant filmed himself brandishing a gun while out at what appeared to be a Colorado strip club.

Many believe the 23-year-old is tanking his own career -- as he's now not only under police investigation over the footage, but he's also been booted from his Grizzlies team for the time being.

Jefferson, though, said he doesn't have any concerns this could derail the superstar's track in the Association ... telling us he's confident Morant will learn and grow from the fallout with relative ease.

"Him and his family are good people," Jefferson said, before adding, "I believe in him. I believe that he'll kind of turn things on. And, look, we've seen men come through worse and come out on the other side."

Morant -- who was also accused of flashing a gun at a high school basketball player during an altercation with the teenager at his home last summer -- vowed on Saturday to seek out help.

Before this cutie with her tongue stickin' out turned into a singer and big Disney star, she was just putting her hair up in a scrunchie, cheering with her mini pom-poms and playing chess in her school's club in Texas.

Following fellow Disney star and friend Demi Lovato's footsteps, this cute kid made her "Barney" debut in the early 2000s. She then went on to play Cole Sprouse's love interest on the show "Suite Life On Deck."

Need one more clue? This rebel turned into a meme for one of her 2012 movies.

Ari Emanuel will likely be on the hunt for some new security, at least temporarily, as a member of his security team shot himself in the leg while patrolling Ari's home.

Law enforcement sources tell us they got a call to Emanuel's Beverly Hills pad around 11 PM Sunday night for the shooting. We're told the security guard was either getting dressed in his vehicle for a shift, or adjusting his weapon holster when the gun went off ... striking him somewhere in the leg.

We're told the shooting itself did not happen on Ari's property.

Our sources say the security guard was transported to the hospital, though we don't know his condition. Cops believe the whole thing was totally accidental.

Worth hundreds of millions of dollars, Emanuel is the CEO of Endeavor, the entertainment and media agency that owns UFC.

Emanuel is one of the biggest names in entertainment business, earning him several tributes through the industry -- including Jeremy Piven's character, Ari Gold, on "Entourage."

There's no hiding it anymore, Avril Lavigne and Tyga certainly look like they're dating ... kissing in front of cameras in the city of love.

Avril and Tyga locked lips Monday at the Mugler X Hunter Schafer Party during Paris Fashion Week ... and the smooching all but confirms a romantic relationship.

They certainly looked like a couple at the party, holding hands as they walked into the swanky bash.

Remember, Avril and Tyga sparked dating rumors earlier this year, and have been hanging out a lot both in Los Angeles and Paris, the same city where her ex, Mod Son, proposed.

TMZ broke the story ... Avril called off the engagement to Mod in February, about a year after he popped the question. Sources told us the former couple had been on and off for several months before she pulled the plug.

We've also seen Avril and Tyga grabbing dinner together at NOBU and hugging in the parking lot.

"Vanderpump Rules" star Tom Sandoval certainly isn't shying away from spending time with Raquel Leviss despite the fact the two are enshrined in controversy ... making a late-night visit to her home.

Tom was spotted arriving at Raquel's L.A. apartment Saturday night, keeping a low profile in all black as he entered.

A source close to production tells TMZ Tom and Raquel were filming scenes together for the Bravo series earlier in the day, so they'd been together -- but the visit at Raquel's wasn't for cameras.

Of course, the visit comes just one day after his split from Ariana, who called it off after learning he cheated on her with Raquel. Our sources said Ariana discovered inappropriate texts on Tom's phone, as well as at least one video.

We're told Tom and Ariana filmed the day news broke about the cheating scandal in an emotionally-charged scene at their home.

You'll recall, Tom posted an apology over the weekend but didn't mention Ariana directly -- just saying sorry to coworkers, friends, and family.

Tom Brady has a shiny toy to enjoy in retirement -- the 7-time Super Bowl champion was spotted on his brand new yacht in Florida this week!!!

TB12 was spending time aboard the 77-foot "TW12VE ANGELS" with friends in a Hollywood, Florida marina on Sunday ... and the boat is a beaut.

The Wajer 77 superyacht is a bigger version of the Wajer 55S Brady bought in 2020 ... which he named "Viva a Vida" in honor of Gisele Bundchen's environmental conservation initiative.

In May 2021, Brady announced he was upgrading to the Wajer 77 for $6 million. According to records, the boat was manufactured in 2022 ... and was officially registered at the end of February.

At the time, Brady said he was also going to name the Wajer 77 "Viva a Vida" ... but we take it he decided to call an audible after the divorce.

As we previously reported, Brady's Wajer 77 is like a hotel on water -- it can sleep 9 people comfortably, and the former Patriots and Buccaneers legend said it would be used for trips to the Bahamas.

"With a little bit bigger boat, for us, the 77 allows us to sleep overnight really comfortably and those weekend trips would be really something," Brady said in 2021. "That would be great memories for our family for years to come."

Now that he's got a lot more time on his hands, we take it Brady will be putting the floater to good use!!!

Jeff Ross says Chris Rock is walking away with the 'W' in the Will Smith Oscars slap saga -- and he commends his friend doing so without using his hands, just a silver tongue.

We got the comedian Monday in L.A. after he'd flown back from Chris' live special in Baltimore ... and he said the whole event was just as epic as it looked and sounded on TV.

Jeff, the famed roast master, says Chris got the better of Will and Jada Pinkett Smith in the end ... and he's pretty high on how Chris handled it, even if it did take a year to address. However, he points out the special touched on a lot more than just the Smiths ... and he was impressed by its overall message.

He did have a fave bit, BTW ... the one about Beyonce and Jay-Z, which he says might be the joke of the year. We can't do it justice here -- you gotta see the special -- but it's basically about Bey being so hot she could get Jay no matter what her job was. Not so much for him, though.

"Vanderpump Rules" star Ariana Madix is leaning on her friends in the wake of finding out Tom Sandoval cheated on her with one of their costars.

Ariana was spotted talking to and hugging it out with a friend Monday in LA. -- remember, she's been filming for the show in the middle of all of this -- so it's probably taking its toll.

TMZ broke the story ... Ariana called it quits with Tom last week, after she found out he was cheating on her with Raquel Leviss. Our sources said Ariana discovered inappropriate texts and at least one video of Leviss on Tom's phone.

After finding out about the split, we're told producers sprung into action, getting cameras together to document the fallout.

Tom issued an apology over the weekend, where he apologized to his friends, family and coworkers but never once mentioned Ariana ... bringing himself even more criticism.

Cardi B is nowhere near ready to release a new line of beauty products ... despite multiple reports claiming she is about to drop a new line with a name to honor her kids.

Sources close to the "WAP" rapper tell TMZ ... the recent flurry of news stories claiming Cardi is set to release a beauty product line called Kulture Wave are totally false, without a single shred of evidence to back up the claims.

We're told Cardi does not yet have a beauty product line ready for release ... though our sources say it's almost a guarantee CB will put something out in the future.

TMZ broke the story ... Cardi B locked up the rights to the phrase "Bardi Beauty" back in 2021, with trademarks covering all sorts of beauty products, including cosmetics, fragrances, haircare, skincare and nails.

As far as we know, Kulture Wave is just a made-up name ... and nothing more than a clever reference to her kids' names.

Colin Farrell is back in chameleon mode ... looking like his typical debonair self one day, then a villainous Batman foe the next -- BTW, at the moment, he's focused on the latter.

The Irish actor was on set Monday in Manhattan, where production was getting underway for his new HBO spinoff show, "The Penguin" ... which is all about his titular role from 2022's "The Batman" ... the first time Colin rocked this truly unrecognizable look.

Welp, he's back in character and in costume ... and once again, you would never know this was CF at first glance. The hair, makeup and prosthetics are still on point.

His appearance is essentially the same as it was in the flick, only now ... he's getting an 8-episode series that's solely focused on him and his mob boss journey in Gotham (sans Robert Pattinson's Batman, per reports). It remains to be seen if other Bat baddies will make cameos in the show ... including Barry Keoghan's Joker, who also popped up in 'TB.'

Speaking of Barry, he's in another movie with Colin that's up for a lot of Oscars right now -- "The Banshees of Inisherin" -- and the 2 of them have been hitting the town as they gear up for Sunday's big ceremony, which they're both expected to attend.

Take a look at what Colin looked like just over a week ago ... completely different from his current state on set.

No, he didn't gain a ton of weight in a matter of days -- dude's wearing a fat suit, just as he did in 'Batman.'

Red Sox star Justin Turner just got drilled in the face by a pitch during a spring training game ... and the blow was so violent, it left him oozing blood at home plate.

The scary incident happened during Boston's exhibition tilt with the Tigers ... when Turner came up to bat with two runners on base in the bottom of the second inning.

Detroit right-hander Matt Manning threw a ball up and in ... and Turner couldn't get out of the way -- and it caught him flush in his face.

The former L.A. Dodgers third baseman immediately dropped to the ground in pain ... and video from the game's broadcast showed he was bleeding profusely from his face.

Red Sox trainers raced out to tend to him, covering his mouth with a towel before ushering him into the locker room.

The Sox -- who acquired Turner last December in free agency -- have yet to announce an update on the 38-year-old's status.

The band's manager and drummer, Jason Bader, tells us while the group hasn't yet seen the offer, they'd never accept it.

"Vanderpump Rules" star Tom Sandoval's cheating scandal is worth six figures to a site pushing adult content ... he's got a live streaming offer on the table, and a possible way to avoid some potential nastiness on his band's upcoming tour.

CamSoda is making an offer they hope Tom and his band can't refuse ... $540,000 to stream 12 concerts live on their site, instead of taking his show on the road and playing in front of an audience.

Tom's Enemy No. 1 in the Bravo realm now that he's destroyed a nearly 10-year relationship with longtime girlfriend and castmate Ariana Madix by cheating on her with fellow 'VR' cast member Raquel Leviss ... and CamSoda thinks Tom's going to catch tons of flak if his band plays before a live crowd, so they're offering him a way out.

Tom's band, the aptly named Tom Sandoval & The Most Extras, is scheduled to play 12 shows across the country from April through June, and CamSoda is trying to convince him to scrap the shows and live steam instead, warning him it may not be safe to play in front of a live audience.

CamSoda's vice president, Daryn Parker, fired off an offer letter to Tom, pitching the $540k live stream deal as a way to save the band from potential "Justice for Ariana" chants and tomato throwing.

In the letter, obtained by TMZ, CamSoda tells Tom, "livestreaming your tour from a safe place would make the most sense" ... and they're offering the band $45k per show to pull the plug on the tour and go virtual.

Of course, CamSoda is still CamSoda, and the adult live streaming porn site adds ... "You can dress in your outfits, show some skin, and even tell your side of the story if you'd like."

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez pulled the plug on a mansion they were trying to buy -- but for good reason -- 'cause the new one they want is way nicer ... and twice as expensive.

Real estate sources tell TMZ ... the married couple is currently in escrow for a massive property in the Pacific Palisades, the same neighborhood where they were just in escrow for another house ... only to reverse course at the last minute, as we first reported Sunday.

This new crib is quite the palace ... whereas the mansion they just bailed on was worth about $34 million, this one they now have their sights on is valued at a whopping $64M!

The price tag is certainly high, but it might be worth it when you consider everything it comes with -- including 8 bedrooms, 11 baths and 16,000 sq. feet of a fortress on a 1.13-acre compound. Yeah ... it's humongous -- and that's not including everything else inside.

Ben and Jen's would-be new home comes with an 800-square ft. gym, a professional media room, a game room, a spacious backyard and a resort-style pool/spa with a firepit area too. There's a whole separate guest house, which has its own Japanese-style soaking tub.

And, don't get us started on the views ... of course, they're canyon-side and to die for.

Mind you, this is the property that Bennifer recently visited in person ... and our sources tell us they've been swinging by frequently to eyeball changes they might wanna make once the sale goes through. They do this often, BTW -- even at the other PP house they nixed.

Oh, and if you're wondering how Ben/Jen can afford such a pricey pad -- beyond just being filthy rich -- we have answers on that as well. Our sources say Jen's famed Bel-Air estate, which has been on the market for a minute, is also now in escrow with a potential buyer for $39M.

Add on the fact Ben recently sold his own Pacific Palisades mansion for around $30 mil, and they've got plenty of money for the new crib.

Cops are now investigating Ja Morant after the NBA superstar was seen on video over the weekend brandishing a firearm ... TMZ Sports has learned.

A spokesperson for the Glendale Police Department in Colorado tells us they launched the probe into the matter shortly after Morant went on Instagram Live from what appeared to be a strip club with a gun in his hand.

According to the spokesperson, cops "have confirmed the incident took place at a bar in Glendale" -- adding, "We are investigating the matter."

No further details surrounding the probe were given.

As we reported, Morant filmed himself at the Colorado establishment late Friday night/early Saturday morning -- hours after the Grizzlies had lost to the Nuggets in Denver.

In the footage, the 23-year-old can be seen and heard rapping along to an NBA YoungBoy song ... all while flashing a gun.

Shortly after the video was posted, the Grizzlies announced Morant would be stepping away from the team for at least the next two games.

Morant, meanwhile, took responsibility for his actions and apologized to his team and his fans. In his statement, Ja also vowed to "take some time away to get help and work on learning better methods of dealing with stress and my overall well-being."

Pete Davidson and Chase Sui Wonders triggered massive waterworks after striking a fire hydrant in Bev Hills ... and new video shows the ferocity of what went down Saturday night.

Water is shooting to the skies from the ruptured hydrant ... as firefighters try feverously to get things under control.

As Pete stands on the sidelines (blue jacket), police inspect damage to a home caused by Pete crashing into it.

TMZ broke the story, Pete was behind the wheel Saturday night, driving fast according to law enforcement sources. We're told he lost control, hopping a curb and taking out a fire hydrant before careening into a home.

Miraculously ... no one was hurt.

Tom Sandoval and Raquel Leviss may have been sending clues all along about their secret romance -- and the proof may have been in the pudding ... or rather, the jewelry.

Social media sleuths were hard at work this weekend, and dug up an interesting coincidence ... the "Vanderpump Rules" stars were seen wearing undeniably similar-looking necklaces at various points last year ... with almost the exact same pendant, a lightning bolt cutout.

There's a handful of photos of TS and RL that surfaced online, which shows them wearing the unique pieces -- and now, in light of Tom's cheating scandal, folks are thinking something was going on well before anyone knew about it ... and it was right under our noses!

Now ... this isn't a smoking gun per se, but it is interesting. In light of how everything's unfolded between Tom and his longtime partner, Ariana Madix, some say this is a bad look.

Frankly, they may be right ... these lightning bolt necklace pics date back to October of 2022.

As we told you ... Ariana and Tom split after she discovered text messages that showed he'd been with their fellow ‘VR’ costar. Ariana told friends she found out Tom and Raquel had actually been seeing each other secretly for months -- as far back as the summer. If that's proven to be true ... it's certainly possible they were flashing their romance in plain sight.

Tom has since come out to apologize to his friends and family for his cheating scandal ... but somehow managed to leave off Ariana herself from the apology.

Tom and Ariana got together back in 2013 ... and while they never got married, they were certainly a principal pair on the reality show for years. Of course, fans are devastated.