The Weeknd Boycotting Grammys Forever ... Grammys Honcho Responds
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8:42 AM PT -- 3/12 -- Grammys chief honcho Harvey Mason Jr. is responding to The Weeknd's boycott saying the Grammys is disappointed when anyone is upset. He also said, in a statement to The New York Times, the Grammys is constantly evolving and it's "going to take a hard look at how to improve our awards process, including the nomination review committees."
The Weeknd's only getting more heated with the Grammys -- he's boycotting the awards show, and not just this year, but for good!
The singer drew a line in the sand Thursday saying he'll boycott the awards show from now on "because of the secret committees" he believes are responsible for selecting nominees.
He told The New York Times he'll "no longer allow my label to submit my music to the Grammys." Boom.
It's the latest chapter in Abel's beef with the Grammys after accusing them of snubbing his critically acclaimed album "After Hours" following a bitter back-and-forth over what his camp claimed was an ultimatum from Grammys brass -- us or Super Bowl LV.
Our sources had said there was a growing suspicion The Weeknd's decision to play the Super Bowl Halftime Show cost him Grammy noms. Grammys chief honcho Harvey Mason Jr. begged to differ ... saying there was nothing corrupt about Abel not being nominated.
Still, The Weeknd -- who's previously won 3 Grammys -- claimed the award show severely lacks transparency. He's said they mean nothing to him now.
Originally Published -- 3/11 1:32 PM PT
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'Bachelorette' Cast & Crew Quarantine Mode in New Mexico ... But Chris Harrison M.I.A.
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If you're looking for a clear answer about Chris Harrison's future as 'Bachelor' host, it's not in New Mexico, where the upcoming 'Bachelorette' cast is quarantining ... with no Chris in sight.
Sources close to production tell TMZ ... the entire cast and crew arrived at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa -- outside Albuquerque -- for quarantine bubble time, but so far, Harrison's not among them.
We're told pre-production has already begun via virtual meetings and calls, and the plan is to begin shooting in late March ... but nobody knows for sure who will be hosting the show.
Our sources say the internal speculation is 'Bachelor' honchos want to wait and see how the 'After the Final Rose' show plays out with the fill-in host, Emmanuel Acho, before any decisions are made.
Harrison, meanwhile, spent some time this past week at a golf course in L.A., and sources connected to him tell us while he's not in New Mexico right now ... that doesn't mean he's been axed from the gig.
We're told there are still a lot of moving parts, and the network's not rushing its decision. Perhaps, as Acho recently said, it's trying to determine what's in the best interest of everyone involved.
While he waits, our sources say Chris remains remorseful for fueling the racism controversy surrounding this season of "The Bachelor" ... which comes to a conclusion Monday night.
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Piers Morgan Sharon Was Bullied into Apology ... Simply for Defending Me!!!
Piers Morgan's fuming after claiming his friend, Sharon Osbourne, was shamed into making an apology for defending him ... and now he wants her 'Talk' cohorts to say sorry to him!
The ex-"Good Morning Britain" host said early Friday morning he can't believe "this is where we've reached" after Sharon posted a lengthy apology Thursday night for the on-air spat she had with her cohosts.
If ya missed it, Sharon went to bat for Piers against claims his criticism of Meghan Markle was rooted in racism.
In her mea culpa, Sharon said, "To anyone of color that I offended and/or to anyone that feels confused or let down by what I said, I am truly sorry. I panicked, felt blindsided, got defensive & allowed my fear & horror of being accused of being racist take over."
She added she doesn't condone racism, misogyny or bullying, and ... "There are very few things that hurt my heart more than racism so to feel associated with that spun me fast!!"
Piers, however, is adamant Sharon herself got bullied into posting that apology, and stood up for himself ... insisting that just because he "doesn't believe Meghan Markle's bulls**t" ... that doesn't make him a racist.
He added, "I demand an apology from those @TheTalkCBS bullies for their disgraceful slurs against ME."
Round and round we go.
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Claudia Jordan Royals Can Make Good with Meghan & Harry ... Just Protect Baby Archie!!!
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Claudia Jordan says the Royal Family will continue to be labeled exactly what it claims it isn't -- racist -- until Archie gets the same respect as other royal babies.
Claudia -- who co-starred with Meghan Markle on "Deal or No Deal" -- tells TMZ ... if Queen Elizabeth wants to patch things up with Prince Harry and Meghan, the Royals need to prove the monarchy is inclusive.
She believes the best way to do that ... is to give Archie the title of prince and the private security that comes with that.
Claudia says Archie not only deserves security but NEEDS it ... citing rabid British media and fans that can be "stalker-ish."
While current British monarchy rules dictate only Prince William's firstborn -- George -- gets the title of Prince, that rule can be broken by the Queen. In fact, she did just that for Wills and Kate's other kids ... Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
Claudia does acknowledge the Royals made sure there was a strong Black presence at Meghan and Harry's wedding, which at least made it seem the monarchy was down to become more modern and inclusive.
She now questions how genuine that was ... on the heels of Harry and Meghan's claim one or more family members were concerned Archie's skin might be too dark when he was born.
The Queen says Meghan and Harry's claims of racism are "concerning" and will be addressed privately. Prince William, though, publicly defended the Windsors, saying, "We are very much not a racist family."
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Dez Bryant I Want To Play For Cardinals In '21 ... I'm Open To Cowboys Reunion Too!!!
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First, J.J. Watt ... next, Dez Bryant?!
If Dez had it his way, that's exactly the way things would go down in Arizona this offseason ... 'cause the former Cowboys superstar tells TMZ Sports he wants to follow in Watt's free agent footsteps and be a Cardinal in 2021!
"I think that would be dope being next to my boy D Hop [Deandre Hopkins], Christian Kirk, Kyler Murray," Bryant told us out in Beverly Hills on Thursday.
"I think they have a dope offense. I feel like they got a dope defense. I think they got a dope coach ... If I had to choose, yeah, if that opportunity presented itself, I think I would take it."
It's unclear if Arizona has any interest in signing Bryant ... the receiver will turn 33 years old in November -- and the Cards are already loaded at wideout, especially if Larry Fitzgerald returns.
But, Dez -- who came back from a two-year hiatus to play well and score two TDs for the Baltimore Ravens last season -- says he thinks he could thrive for the Cards in a #2 or #3 role.
FIRST DEZ BRYANT TOUCHDOWN IN THREE YEARS ❌
— ESPN (@espn) December 20, 2020 @espn
(via @Ravens)pic.twitter.com/Et39TsDEP4
"I feel like if you gonna play me one-on-one," Dez said, "I'ma win."
If Arizona doesn't work out ... Dez said he'd be more than open to re-signing with his former Cowboys squad, telling us he LOVES what Dallas did with Dak Prescott's new contract.
"I'll tell you this," Dez said, "if it was possible, of course I'd be open to it if it was possible."
Dez -- who still holds receiving records for the Cowboys -- has piled up 7,506 receiving yards and 75 receiving touchdowns in his 9-year NFL career.
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Coughing Uber Riders One Arrested for Assault ... Another Turning Herself In
The maskless Uber riders who cops say coughed on and attacked their Bay Area driver are paying a hefty price -- one's been arrested and another is surrendering to police.
The San Francisco Police Department says Malaysia King is in custody ... she's reportedly the woman wearing red in the viral video showing the riders coughing, and snatching the driver's phone and mask.
3/7/21
Law enforcement says another suspect, Arna Kimiai, told SFPD through her lawyer that she plans to turn herself in soon. Kimiai is reportedly the one who grabbed the phone and declared, "I got corona."
The incident went down Sunday in San Francisco, but cops say King was actually arrested by the Las Vegas Police Department. SFPD says she was arrested for assault with a caustic chemical, assault and battery, conspiracy and for violating health and safety code.
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Guess Who This Bucket Of Fun Turned Into!
Before this garbage pail kid was rising to the top of television's favorite actors, she was just another super soaker sitting in a tub in Miami, Florida.
This little lifesaver got her start in acting in the movie industry by starring in the sequels to a psychological thriller trilogy that first premiered in 2000. Now, she has made headlines with her lead role in one of the most binged Netflix series to date.
Last month, she just took home the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Miniseries for her strategic play in front of the camera.
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Prince Charles Black Choir from Royal Wedding Defends Him ... He Invited Us!!!
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The Black choir that sang at Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's wedding has a hard time believing Prince Charles is racist, because he personally invited them to perform.
Ms. Karen Gibson, founder and conductor of the Kingdom's Choir, tells TMZ ... Charles came off as very sincere in his invitation, and he's gone out of his way to personally congratulate them on their success since the wedding.
As you know, there's widespread speculation Charles or Prince William is the Royal Family member Harry and Meghan claim was worried Archie's skin might be too dark. Harry told Oprah it wasn't Queen Elizabeth or Prince Philip.
But, Karen tells us every interaction between her Black choir and Prince Charles has been gracious. So, she's finding it hard to believe he would have said such a thing about Meghan and Harry's firstborn.
Plus, the fact Charles invited the choir certainly makes it seem like he made an effort to make Meghan feel included.
For his part, Prince William told a reporter Thursday the Windsors are "very much not a racist family."
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Donald Trump From Air Force One to This Tiny Jet?!? Flying Like Average CEO
Donald Trump's taking to the friendly skies in a not-so-friendly plane for someone who was the most powerful man on Earth a couple months ago ... a jet so compact he can't stand up in it!!!
Trump was spotted by the DailyMail in NYC taking a few short steps into what appears to be a Cessna Citation X ... a super-midsize jet that's the envy of all social media influencers but a basic bird for your average CEO. The jet's reportedly a 1997 model registered to the Trump Org.
It's one helluva downgrade for the ex-Commander-in-Chief ... who for 4 years enjoyed all the luxury Air Force One had to offer.
Of course, no one expected Trump to continue flying on his own private 747 after leaving the White House, but it's still surprising to see him flying around in the Cessna instead of his 757 with his name on it -- a 43-seater Trump used during his first campaign.
It's unclear why he opted for the 8-seater ... which forces him to bend down his 6-foot-3 frame while inside a cabin with a 5-foot-7 height. There's no red carpet either.
Hey, it could be worse ... just ask ex-VP Mike Pence.
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Prince Harry's Friend Pressure on for Will and Harry ... Time to Patch Things Up
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Dean Stott, one of Prince Harry's close friends, says the royal bros are staring down a deadline to squash their beef over alleged racism and other issues in the monarchy.
Dean joined us on "TMZ Live" Thursday and told us how Harry and Meghan Markle are dealing with the fallout from their Oprah interview, and why it's important for Harry to open a dialogue with his brother.
Remember ... William revealed Thursday morning he has not spoken to Harry since the interview aired -- a sign of just how deep the rift is between the brothers.
Although there's been no movement yet, Dean believes there will be in the next few months because they'll be face-to-face soon. Harry and William are both scheduled to attend events this July to honor their late mother, Princess Diana.
As for the bombshell revelations in the Oprah interview ... Dean says he knew about some of the issues plaguing Harry and Meghan but was totally blindsided when they said someone in the royal family voiced concern about Archie's skin color.
And, while the world's playing the guessing game about who said it -- Dean told us why he's sure Harry will never reveal the person's identity ... publicly, or even to friends like himself.
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Dr. Dre's Estranged Wife Denied Restraining Order ... After He Calls Her 'Greedy Bitch' In Song
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Dr. Dre's wife just got shut down by the judge in her divorce case ... after claiming she fears for her safety because he refers to her in his new track as a "greedy bitch."
According to docs obtained by TMZ ... Nicole Young requested an emergency domestic violence restraining order ... citing the song released last month, in which Dre calls her a "bitch and a perjurer."
Nicole says this is nothing new, but claims with the new track "he has upped the ante and is now outright threatening me to keep my mouth shut or else."
According to the docs filed by attorney Samantha Spector ... Nicole feels this latest alleged threat -- along with her past allegations of spousal abuse -- justify an emergency restraining order, but the judge begged to differ and denied her request because of "insufficient evidence."
As for Dre's response to her allegations, filed by Laura Wasser, he says he's only seen or spoken to Nicole one time since she filed for divorce in June 2020 .... and that was when she visited him at the hospital in January, following his brain aneurysm.
Dre says he's had no contact with her otherwise, and categorically denies all of her abuse claims.
He adds since she made her allegations in August, he "realized he had no idea who the woman he was married to was and he wanted nothing to do with her."
This isn't the first time the judge has shut down Nicole ... the judge previously denied her emergency requests to advance her hearing on spousal support, consolidate her civil case with her divorce divorce, seal portions of the divorce file and obtain an advance for her attorney's fees.
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Aaron Rodgers Walking Fiancee's Doggy In Freezing Cold ... Puppy Love!!!
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Aaron Rodgers is a pretty solid teammate when it comes to doggy duty -- check out the NFL star braving the freezing cold to take his fiancee's German Shepherd for a walk!
The Green Bay Packers QB is out in Montreal, Canada where his actress GF Shailene Woodley has been shooting the cop thriller "Misanthrope."
The weather has dipped into the 20s this week in Montreal -- but Aaron doesn't care ... the guys plays in the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field!!!
So, strap on a jacket and a beanie ... easy work!!
The dog doesn't seem to mind the cold either -- check out the adorable canine on a walk with Shailene just a few weeks ago!
As we previously reported, 37-year-old Aaron announced his engagement to the 29-year-old actress back in February after winning the NFL's MVP award for the 2020 season.
He's been gushing about his relationship with Woodley ever since -- and said he's even looking forward to having a kid with her at some point.
But, until then ... spoil the hell out of that good doggy!!!
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Seth Rogen Weed Company Site's Blazin' Again ... After Crashing Due to HIGH Demand
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3:13 PM PT -- Good news, stoners -- Seth has fixed the site! Houseplant is back up and running, but he's warning customers there's still a waiting room to deal with the high traffic ... but they are free to peruse the goods while they wait.
Seth Rogen's weed company is having some big issues on launch day, but it's a good problem to have ... his products are so popular its website crashed.
The "Pineapple Express" star debuted his Houseplant website Thursday for purchases, but it only took a few hours before high demand proved too much for Seth's site to handle.
The website went down around 10 AM PT, with Seth joking he's trying to learn how to write code to get it up and running again. He says the "insane traffic" overwhelmed the servers.
Seems there were problems right out of the gate, because even around 9 AM Seth was troubleshooting with customers who couldn't even get into the website's waiting room.
Stoners in Los Angeles can still get Seth's cannabis strains delivered by a third-party service, but anyone going to the Houseplant website is SOL when it comes to buying home goods ... like the $85 ashtray or the $220 table lighter.
Seth's preaching patience ... so feel free to light one up and wait this thing out.
Originally Published -- 11:24 AM PT
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NBA's Meyers Leonard Punished for Anti-Semitic Comment ... Fined and Suspended
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The NBA has suspended Miami Heat player Meyers Leonard for ONE WEEK for hurling an anti-Semitic comment during a video game sesh ... TMZ Sports has learned.
Leonard was also fined $50,000.
For the record, Leonard will make more than $9 million in contract money this season.
There's more ... the NBA says Leonard will be required to participate in a cultural diversity program.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Leonard's comment was "inexcusable and hurtful and such an offensive term has no place in the NBA or in our society. "
Silver continued, "Yesterday, he spoke to representatives of the Anti-Defamation League to better understand the impact of his words and we accept that he is genuinely remorseful."
"We have further communicated to Meyers that derogatory comments like this will not be tolerated and that he will be expected to uphold the core values of our league -- equality, tolerance, inclusion and respect -- at all times moving forward."
Leonard's Miami Heat teammates and coaches spoke about the situation during a media session on Wednesday.
Head coach Erik Spoelstra said he's been in touch with Leonard -- who he considers a "good human being."
Spoelstra says Meyers "feels really bad" about using the anti-Semitic K-work during a video game streaming session and is getting a better understanding of why the word is hurtful and dangerous.
Miami Heat star Udonis Haslem also spoke out about Leonard's comment -- saying he has a bunch of Jewish friends and reached out to make sure they know hate speech is NOT tolerated within the Heat organization.
"I have a lot of Jewish friends and ya know, they call me Udonis Haslem-berg sometimes," he joked.
"So I felt it ... and I reached out to a couple of 'em after that happened just to see how they were feeling and just to make sure they were okay and just let 'em know that we don't condone that."
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Georgetown Law Professor Fired For Saying Her Worst Students Are 'Blacks' ... Colleague Says She Needs To 'Wake Up'
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11:21 AM PT -- Professor Anthony Cook, who also teaches law at Georgetown, says Sellers needs to "wake up" and realize why her comments promote white supremacy.
Cook says Sellers needs to understand that her feelings towards Black students only perpetuate stereotypes.
If she ever teaches again, Cook hopes Sellers changes her techniques to try and get the most out of her Black students.
10:43 AM PT -- Dean Treanor says he's terminated Professor Sellers after further review of the incident. He says during his conversation with her, she told him she intended to resign, but either way ... Sellers is "no longer affiliated with Georgetown Law."
As for Professor Batson, the dean says he's been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation by the school's Office of Diversity, Equity and Affirmative Action.
Treanor adds ... "We are taking significant steps to ensure that all students in this class are fairly graded without the input of Professor Sellers or Professor Batson."
A law professor at Georgetown University is under fire for comments she made about Black students doing poorly in her class ... with some calling her racist and demanding she be fired.
Ya gotta see the video ... the professor is discussing student performance when she says, "I end up having this angst every semester that a lot of my lower ones are Blacks. Happens almost every semester."
The Georgetown Black Law Students Association says the professor is Sandra Sellers ... and the organization says she should be fired for "blatant and shameless racism."
The BLSA also says Sellers was talking about a Black student when she said their answers were "a bit jumbled." The org says David Batson is the other professor in the video seen nodding in agreement.
GU says it's investigating and law school dean Bill Treanor says the video is "abhorrent" and "reprehensible."
Originally Published -- 9:37 AM PT
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Prince William Royals 'Very Much Not a Racist Family'
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Prince William is a man of few words, but the words are revealing ... super revealing.
Harry's older brother visited a school in London Thursday when a reporter asked point-blank if the Royals were a racist family. William addressed it head-on ... "We are very much not a racist family."
There has not been such a declaration from the Royals up to this point ... not even close. The Queen said Harry and Meghan's revelation was concerning ... that someone from the family worried about the color of Archie's skin, but William went further.
It's interesting he placed emphasis on his statement ... "We are VERY MUCH not a racist family."
William clearly knows ... there's lots of speculation that the comment about Archie's skin tone might have been made by him, or his dad, Prince Charles. The reason -- Harry apparently told Oprah the comment was not made by the Queen or Prince Philip. He apparently did not eliminate William and Charles, which adds to the speculation.
That said, William also revealed he has not spoken to Harry since the interview, adding he intends to do so. That's a little weird ... what's he waiting for? It underscores the fractured relationship between William and Harry.
As we reported, they have hardly spoken since even before Meghan and Harry left England, and Harry made it clear during the interview ... they are still estranged, at least for now.
As you know, the Palace has said the racism allegations were being taken "very seriously." The statement went on to say, "The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan."
The Royals said they are going to handle the controversies "privately." That seems like a pipe dream.