Rob Gronkowski I'm Not Retiring After SB Win ... 'I'm Coming Back!!!'

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LET'S RUN IT BACK

Rob Gronkowski will not be riding off into the sunset after his latest Super Bowl win ... the future Hall of Famer tells TMZ Sports he's FOR SURE coming back to Tampa next season.

"I'm back, man!" Gronk says ... "I will be back playing football, man. I love the game of football. I loved playing last year. I had a great time."

In fact, Rob tells us training for 2021 has already begun ... the tight end says he took three weeks off after the Super Bowl, but he just got in 4 straight workouts to begin season prep this week.

"Let me tell you, I was a little bit sore first day of training but it bounced back like that," Gronk says. "I'm feeling good."

The words are music to the Buccaneers' ears ... there had to be at least SOME worry Gronk might hang up his spikes this offseason.

You'll recall, he retired abruptly in March 2019 ... saying his passion for the game just wasn't there.

But, Gronk -- who unretired to play for Tampa this past offseason -- is clearly loving his new time with Tom Brady ... and he tells us they're all hellbent on getting yet another ring next season!!

Tekashi Sued Over "GOOBA" ... Song Highly Ir-'Regular'

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10:15 AM PT -- Tekashi's attorney, Lance Lazzaro, tells TMZ ... "The lawsuit is without merit and is another attempt to profit off of Tekashi’s success. We are confident that it will be dismissed."

Tekashi 6ix9ine says he banked $20 million since his release from prison last April, and his massive hit "GOOBA," his first cash cow, was a highly irregular ripoff ... this according to a new lawsuit.

BEATDEMONS, a TX-based producer group, is suing Tekashi, claiming "GOOBA" is a mirror image of its song, "Regular."

According to the suit, the similarities are eerie -- from the melody, to form, to structure and function. In other words, they say "GOOBA" is a "Regular" steal.

BEATDEMONS claims "Regular" was released in 2018 and a video of the song scored 152,000 views. So they're saying Tekashi or his people must have heard the song and got so inspired they crossed the line and ripped BEATDEMONS off.

The stakes are high, because "GOOBA" was a massive hit ... it has 700M views on YouTube and charted #1 on Billboard's Streaming Charts. The song also went platinum.

BEATDEMONS wants the profits from "GOOBA," which amount to a king's ransom.

Originally Published -- 6:28 AM PT

Soccer Journalist Carlos Orduz Crushed By Falling Wall On TV Set ... Insane Video

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A soccer journalist was smashed by a falling wall on the set of a live TV show Tuesday ... but somehow, the guy miraculously escaped without injury.

The analyst's name is Carlos Orduz ... and just seconds into his appearance on ESPN FC Radio -- he was blindsided by a piece of the set that clearly hadn't been secured properly.

In video of the incident, you can see the wall fell on Orduz with so much pace ... his face lurched straight into his desk.

His colleagues, who were trying to move on with the show professionally, expressed immediate concern -- and the network cut straight to commercial to check in on Orduz.

Fortunately, the sports reporter says nothing major happened to him as a result of the accident ... in a video update, he explained, "I want to tell you that I'm fine."

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THANKS FOR THE CONCERN

"They've already checked me, absolutely nothing happened apart from the scare."

Orduz added after further medical checkups Tuesday night, he suffered no fractures and nothing more than bumps and bruises.

"I must tell you that I am fine," Orduz wrote on Twitter. "Thank God."

Amen!

Cesar Millan Biden's Staff Must Help His Dogs ... I'll Teach 'em How!!!

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PEOPLE NEED TRAINING TOO

Cesar Millan says President Biden's dogs getting a time-out from The White House is unacceptable, because he thinks it's time for some group learning -- humans included -- and he can be the teacher.

The famed dog trainer is concerned about the canine situation at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, where the First Pups were recently sent away after some aggressive behavior and a biting incident involving the 3-year-old German Shepherd rescue, Major. The older dog, Champ, also got the boot.

Cesar suggests this is a textbook example of dogs not being accommodated to feel safe and comfortable in a new environment, and says more training or disciplining for the Biden's pets isn't the answer ... the solution falls on the 2-legged folks at the WH.

"The Dog Whisperer" tells us in order to remedy this problem, EVERYONE working around Major and Champ needs to be trained on how to properly interact with the pooches. He says there's a formula to everything ... but we'll let him explain that.

Millan says his team has reached out to the Prez to offer his services ... but he already has some competition for the job.

As we told you, Biden's past dog trainer Mark Tobin is also putting in a call to help out ... though he shares many of the same sentiments as Cesar regarding why the pups are having a difficult time adjusting.

Taylor Swift Solo Mural in the Works ... After Nashville Diss

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When the mural gods close one door, they open another ... at least for Taylor Swift, who's about to get an upgrade in Nashville after being removed from an iconic piece of art.

You may recall ... Taylor was replaced in the "Legends Corner" mural back around Christmas time by the Nashville honky-tonk bar of the same name, but the artist who did it is now working on another mural -- just for Swift.

Tim Davis tells TMZ ... he began designing Taylor's solo mural right after he replaced her with Brad Paisley at Legends Corner, and says it will have a stained-glass look reflecting her country music roots and her crossover into pop.

If ya don't know, Swift's venture away from country was the reason cited for her removal from the iconic Music City mural ... but that didn't sit well with her fans.

So, Davis has launched his own campaign to get her a mural of her own, and he says he already has the new spot locked down ... on a wall within a block of the Legends mural.

Tim says the owner of the wall wants to remain anonymous until the mural goes up, but the artist says it's going to happen -- just as soon as he raises the funds to start painting.

He's created a GoFundMe page for the project and is already well on his way to reaching his goal.

Guess Who This Cool Kid Turned Into!

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Before this cool kid was taking a ride to the top of the music charts, he was just another pipsqueak posing for the camera in Austin, Texas.

This model man became well-known when he released one of the most popular R&B songs to date ... this hot track still remains on the US Billboard Top 100 All-Time chart. This multi-faceted star has also made debuts in acting -- such as on the big screen alongside Adam Sandler and on a comedic parody series.

You might know him by his single stage name, but he was born Cornell Iral Haynes Jr.

Can you guess who he is?

NBA's Meyers Leonard Sorry For Using Anti-Semitic Slur ... On Indefinite Leave From Miami Heat

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7:03 PM PT -- The Miami Heat say the organization "vehemently condemns" the anti-Semitic comment made by Leonard, and have announced he will NOT be with the team while the NBA investigates the situation.

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“The Miami HEAT vehemently condemns the use of any form of hate speech. The words used by Meyers Leonard were wrong and we will not tolerate hateful language from anyone associated with our franchise," the Heat tell TMZ Sports.

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"To hear it from a Miami HEAT player is especially disappointing and hurtful to all those who work here, as well as the larger South Florida, Miami HEAT and NBA communities.

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The team continued ... "Meyers Leonard will be away from the team indefinitely. The Miami HEAT will cooperate with the NBA while it conducts its investigation.”

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4:57 PM PT -- Meyers Leonard is now apologizing for the incident ... claiming he didn't know what the word meant at the time, but says his "ignorance about its history" is not an excuse.

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"I am now more aware of its meaning and I am committed to properly seeking out people who can help educate me about this type of hate and how we can fight it," Leonard said on Instagram.

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"I acknowledge and own my mistake and there's no running from something like this that is so hurtful to someone else."

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Leonard goes on to apologize to Miami Heat owner Micky Arison (who is Jewish), his teammates, coaches, fans and the Jewish community.

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"I promise to do better and know that my future actions will be more powerful than my use of this word."

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4:19 PM PT -- The world-famous FaZe Clan organization is distancing itself from Leonard ... releasing a statement denouncing his actions.

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"We were incredibly disappointed to hear Meyers' stream today," the organization said.

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"FaZe does not tolerate hate speech or discriminatory language of any kind."

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Worth noting -- Leonard was NOT a member of FaZe, but an investor. Either way, the org. is washing its hands of the guy.

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1:45 PM PT -- The NBA has released a statement on the video ... saying the league is in the process of gathering more info on the incident.

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"The NBA unequivocally condemns all forms of hate speech."

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1:32 PM PT -- The Miami Heat are reviewing the footage, a team spokesperson told N.Y. Times reporter Marc Stein.

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Origin PC -- one of Leonard's gaming sponsors -- has severed ties with the NBAer as well.

Meyers Leonard is in some seriously hot water -- the Miami Heat center appeared to use an anti-Semitic slur during a recent video game stream this week ... and it was all captured on video.

The 29-year-old was playing "Call Of Duty: Warzone" on his Twitch channel -- which has nearly 70,000 followers -- when he seemingly says the following: "F***ing cowards, don't f***ing snipe me, you f***ing k*** bitch."

Yeah ... it's bad.

The comment was met with awkward laughter by other gamers on the stream ... but Leonard seemed to brush off the situation and kept playing.

Leonard has yet to address the incident -- he was actually still streaming on his channel early Tuesday afternoon -- but it's only a matter of time.

ML could now face punishment from Twitch -- the streaming service has a strict policy against hateful conduct and harassment based on race, ethnicity, color, caste, national origin, religion, sexual orientation and more.

Leonard's alleged comments come just months after NASCAR driver Kyle Larson was suspended after using the n-word during an iRacing event in April.

Fellow NASCAR driver Hailie Deegan also faced criticism after using the r-word during a virtual race in January.

FYI -- Leonard was one of the few NBA players who chose not to kneel for the national anthem during the season restart in Orlando.

He explained his decision to stand in a tweet earlier this year, saying, "I STAND AGAINST bigotry, racism, and hate."

We've reached out to Leonard's reps, the Heat, the NBA and Twitch for comment ... so far, no word back.

Originally Published -- 12:52 PM PT

Johnny Damon Arrest Video Ex-MLB Star Brought Up Trump Support During Wild Stop

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THE WILD ARREST

Johnny Damon got in a scuffle with cops, appeared to bomb field sobriety tests, and even brought up his Trump support during his arrest last month ... and the wild scene was all captured on police video obtained by TMZ Sports.

Damon and his wife were pulled over at around 1:23 a.m. on Feb. 19 in Windermere, Fla. after cops say he was swerving on the road and driving erratically.

Once a cop stopped Damon ... body cam footage captured the 47-year-old ex-Yankee and Red Sox outfielder admitting to drinking before getting behind the wheel.

Then, an intense standoff between the officer, the ex-MLB star and the baseball player's wife ensued.

In the video, you can see the officer ordered Damon and his wife, Michelle Mangan-Damon, to stay in the car, but neither complied ... and a pushing and shoving squabble broke out.

At one point, the officer grabbed Mangan-Damon's wrist ... before Johnny got involved to separate the two.

The bumping and pushing got so heated, the officer's body camera was actually knocked to the ground.

Fortunately for all parties, backup arrived, and officers were able to settle down the scene.

Damon and his wife repeatedly talked about their support for cops, mentioning over and over, "Blue lives matter."

And, at one point, Damon brought up his affinity for Trump to a cop, saying "Hey, bro, I'm a good f***ing guy. I know people are trying to target me because I'm a Trump supporter."

Damon was then asked to complete some field sobriety tests ... but you can see on the video, it doesn’t look like he exactly passed any of them with flying colors.

Damon was ultimately arrested and booked on multiple charges, including driving under the influence and resisting arrest without violence.

A police report later showed cops said Damon's blood-alcohol level was .30, nearly FOUR TIMES the legal limit.

Damon's wife was also arrested after the stop, and booked on charges of battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest with violence.

Court records show Damon pled not guilty to his DUI charge last month. He's due back in court in May.

Mangan-Damon, meanwhile, also pleaded not guilty to the charges against her, court records show.

Justin Bieber I Got the Yeezy 450 in Cloud Whites ... Before They Sold Out!!!

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Justin Bieber's on cloud 9 right now, and letting everyone know he was able to snag a pair of Kanye West's sold-out new shoes.

The Biebs showed off his Yeezy 450 in Cloud Whites while running errands Tuesday in Beverly Hills. The kicks are pretty easy to spot, what with the unique profile and all.

Of course, the shoes were pretty much impossible to get your hands on ... as we reported, Kanye's latest offering sold out Saturday in a matter of seconds during a mad scramble on the Adidas app and YeezySupply.com, with most folks walking away empty-handed.

Justin has the best sneaker hookup -- likely getting 'em straight from the source.

Remember, JB and Kanye are super tight these days. Ye even hosted Justin and Hailey at his Wyoming ranch when the couple was tooling around in an RV.

The Yeezy 450 in Cloud Whites retail for $200 and folks are reselling them for around $500.

Friendship has its privileges ... just ask Justin!!!

President Biden's Dog Major Nipped at Secret Service Agent's Hand

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4:28 PM PT -- Major was sent home from the White House after "nipping" at a Secret Service agent's hand. A Secret Service official told NBC News no skin was broken in the incident, which is being described as "an extremely minor injury."

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UPDATE

The agent involved in the incident is still working and hasn't missed any time.

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9:36 AM PT -- The Delaware Humane Association -- where Major was adopted from -- tells TMZ ... Champ and Major's recent behavior could stem from a change in environment, which can be unsettling for dogs. They added, "it can take any dog some time to adjust to a new home or new surroundings."

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DHA continued, "This is particularly challenging in a home like the White House, with dozens of staff and new people in the environment and around the dogs every day." They added, "this does not mean that Major -- or any shelter dog for that matter -- is an aggressive dog."

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6:27 AM PT -- 3/9 -- Major and Champ won't be kept away from the White House for too long. The dogs will reportedly be back. A White House official told NBC News, "With the First Lady traveling for three days, Champ and Major went to Delaware to stay with family friends."

President Biden's dogs just got the old heave-ho from the White House ... sounds like they were too aggressive for 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

The Bidens' 2 German Shepherds, Major and Champ, were shipped back to the family home in Delaware last week following some un-doglike (or maybe doglike) behavior at the White House, including a biting incident.

Major, the 3-year-old pooch Biden adopted from a Delaware animal shelter in 2019, reportedly got his chompers on a member of White House security.

Major's also said to have been pretty agitated around the residence ... allegedly charging, jumping and barking at staff and security.

Champ, meanwhile, seems to be getting the short end of the stick ... he's been sent back to Wilmington too ... even though he's about 13 years old and has slowed down considerably due to his age.

With the German Shepherds out of the White House, the place is going back to how it was under Donald Trump ... a no-pet zone.

Unclear if Major and Champ are banished to Delaware for good, or if they're just in timeout.

Originally Published -- 3/8 6:47 PM PT

President Biden's Dog Trainer White House Too Stressful For Pups ... But I'll Get Major Up To Speed

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RUFF IN THE WHITE HOUSE

President Biden's dog trainer says the White House was just too crazy of an environment for German Shepherds used to chilling in Delaware, and they need more training before going back to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. ... and he's the man to do the job.

Mark Tobin -- who trained Biden's dogs, Major and Champ, before -- appeared on "TMZ Live" Tuesday and told a pretty simple story. Joe's pups suffered from culture shock at the White House. They went from a typical, single-family home, to a residence jammed packed with hundreds of strange people and an insane amount of activity.

As you know ... Biden's dogs have been sent back to the family home in Delaware following some aggressive behavior at the White House by Major, including a biting incident. A White House official said the First Lady had been traveling so until she returns the dogs will stay with a family friend in Delaware.

Mark, who runs K-9 Camp Training in Delaware, says he's putting in a call to the Bidens shortly so he can re-train the 2 dogs even before they make their way back to D.C.

Mark has clear ideas on how the dogs -- especially Major -- can feel calm, and that training will take place both in Delaware and D.C.

'Real World' Star Kevin Powell Race Issues We Tackled in Season 1 ... Came Full Circle for Reunion

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Kevin Powell says his very first season of 'The Real World' 28 years ago foreshadowed many of the racial problems that have been brought to the forefront in America ... bookended by the Capitol riots.

One of the OG stars of "The Real World: New York" appeared on "TMZ Live" Tuesday to explain how the controversial discussions he sparked with his housemates about racism are more pertinent than ever today ... despite the fact no one seemed to take it seriously back then.

He says the cast -- especially his friend, Norman Korpi -- now fully acknowledges he was onto something ... and their discussions are ongoing.

If ya don't know, Kevin and the rest of the original cast reunited to film a 'Homecoming' docuseries ... and cameras were rolling as they witnessed the January 6 insurrection together from their famous NYC loft.

Kevin likens what went down at the Capitol -- along with the recent cases of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd -- to the 1992 Los Angeles riots ... which also occurred when the OG cast was together under one roof.

He tells us the recent events show no matter how much society has progressed, there's still a lot of work to be done ... and he hopes people see how his experience with his 'Real World' co-stars can make a positive impact.

BTW -- "The Real World Homecoming: New York" is available now on Paramount+.

Piers Morgan Breaks Silence Since Quitting 'GMB' My Late Manager Would Approve!!!

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3:24 PM PT -- Piers is speaking for the first time since walking off the set and bidding goodbye to "Good Morning Britain" ... saying his late manager John Ferriter would approve of his move.

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12:04 PM PT -- Ofcom -- the UK's media regulator -- says it has launched an investigation into Monday's episode of "Good Morning Britain" under its "harm and offence rules." The media regulator says it received more than 41k complaints following Monday's program.

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You'll recall Piers, among other things, said he didn't believe Meghan's claims of racism against the Royal Family.

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10:27 AM PT -- Piers Morgan's on-set dustup with a fellow co-host appears to have stung deeper than many realized, because the longtime broadcaster is packing his bags and leaving the show entirely.

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A statement was just released with the news, reading ... "Following discussions with ITV, Piers Morgan has decided now is the time to leave Good Morning Britain." It's unclear if he quit or got the boot -- but either way ... PM is OUT.

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That's pretty spectacular considering he's been a lead anchor since 2015. Helluva run ... which is now over.

Piers Morgan's throwing up his hands and saying 'good day' on the set of his own show, because a co-host called him out to his face about constantly bashing Meghan Markle.

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STORMING OFF

TV presenter and weatherman Alex Beresford was going in on Piers during a 'Good Morning Britain' segment ... calling his comments about Meghan in the aftermath of her Oprah interview "diabolical" and accusing him of having it out for her no matter what.

Beresford made the point that aside from their wedding day, Meg and Harry haven't much good press at all in the UK -- and he suggested Piers played a big part in that.

Then came the crucial blow that forced Piers' hand -- Beresford seemed to spill some insider info ... saying he knew Piers had been pals with Meghan once upon a time, but that at one point or another ... she cut him off. Beresford implies that's why Piers is always trashing her.

Morgan then got up and said he was done, walking off while Beresford continued going off to others on set.

Piers got into another spat over Meghan and Harry just a day earlier with Dr. Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, who also took him to task for his one-sided slant against the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

BTW, Piers insists Tuesday's walkout wasn't staged -- but did say the chat that followed in his absence was great TV ... so, worth it.

Originally Published -- 6:38 AM PT

Vanessa Bryant Wins Important Legal Battle ... In Kobe Crash Photos Case

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Vanessa Bryant has just won an important battle in her case against the L.A. County Sheriff's Department ... a judge ruled she can obtain the names of the deputies who allegedly took and distributed graphic photos from the Kobe crash site.

Vanessa alleges that shortly after Kobe, their daughter, Gianna, and seven others died in a helicopter crash in Jan. 2020 ... sheriff's deputies took pictures of the wreckage and the bodies in it and shared the images.

County prosecutors had argued the names of the deputies allegedly responsible for sharing the photos should be kept under seal ... saying it could put the deputies in harm's way.

Vanessa, though, opposed that ... and it looks like she convinced the judge.

U.S. District Judge John F. Walter ruled in favor of Bryant on Monday, according to the LA Times, writing in a ruling, "Although the Court recognizes that this case has been the subject of public scrutiny and media attention and that the Deputy Defendants are legitimately concerned that they will encounter vitriol and social media attacks, such concerns, by themselves, are not sufficient to outweigh the public’s strong interest in access."

The county will have the opportunity to appeal the ruling.

In her lawsuit, Vanessa is seeking unspecified damages, including punitive damages.

Queen Elizabeth Meghan & Harry's Racism Claims 'Concerning' ... But it's a Private Family Matter

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Queen Elizabeth's approach to dealing with the allegations made by Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in their Oprah interview is to keep it in the Royal Family ... and behind closed doors.

According to Buckingham Palace ... the issues raised by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex -- "particularly that of race" -- are "concerning." The Palace says ... "While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately."

The Royal Family also says it is "saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan."  It's an acknowledgment what Meghan went through with her mental health struggle was real in the Queen's eyes.

The Queen's people add that the ex-senior royals, along with their son Archie, remain "much loved family members."  Makes sense, because Harry mentioned he's in regular touch with his grandma and Meghan said she's always been treated warmly by her.

Of course, the mention of Archie in the Palace statement is notable because of Harry and Meghan's claim that a member or members of the Royal Family believed Archie's skin color could potentially be a problem if he was born "too dark."

So far, only 2 royals have been ruled out by Harry -- The Queen and Prince Philip -- and it seems Her Majesty wants to keep any further developments under wraps.