Bill Maher Mocks Caitlyn Jenner's Run for Cali Guv

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COMIN' FOR CAITLYN

Bill Maher danced right on the line Friday night, zeroing in on Caitlyn Jenner's bid to become California's next governor.

Some of Maher's jokes were trans-related ... “I know that you think of her as a reality show star, but c’mon, people, change ... She is trans, rested and ready. She’s got a great slogan, ‘Take the sack out of Sacramento.'”

Maher's trans references seemingly were designed to show Caitlyn has had curious views, at times in lockstep with her Republican Party which has been anything but supportive of the trans community ... “A lot of people, of course, are saying, ‘Isn’t it strange for a trans woman to be in a party that is passing anti-trans laws all over the country?’ And, Caitlyn said, ‘Yeah, I get that. It’s just something about being in a party that doesn’t respect me that makes me feel like I’m home with the Kardashians.”

Jenner supported Trump in 2016 but disavowed him 2 years later. That said, she has enlisted the help of several high-level Trump campaign advisers.

Fact is ... if current Cali Guv Gavin Newsom is recalled, she will probably be the most famous contender to become his successor in what promises to be a crowded pack of candidates, and name recognition could give her way more than just an edge.

Stars and Scars You Be the Judge

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Derek Chauvin's murder conviction has the attention of every police department in America, and Caitlyn Jenner is trying to follow in Arnold's footsteps. So we gotta ask ...

What's The Big Frigin' Difference?

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Don't let these two almost identical images of Amber Rose have you feeling overwhelmed ... keep your focus and try your best to find the sneaky switches that have been made to this tricky pic!

The reality star was decked out in pink while out and about in Los Angeles, CA just last week ... and we have made a few changes to the original snap! Put your detective skills to the test and see if you have what it takes to find the differences between these two super similar snaps!

**HINT -- There are THREE differences in the above photographs!**

Steelers' Justin Layne Arrest Video ... DB Said In Cop Car 'I Got One Blunt!!!'

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TMZ Sports has obtained police video from Justin Layne's arrest Friday ... and the Steelers DB can be heard in the back of a squad car saying, "They acting like I got some drugs -- I got one blunt!"

The 23-year-old -- who was a Steelers third-round pick in 2019 -- was pulled over after cops say he was doing 89 MPH in a 60 MPH zone in his 2020 Dodge Charger.

During the stop, officers put him in the back of a patrol car while they searched his ride ... and that's when Layne got on the phone with some of his friends to talk them through his situation.

While on the line ... Layne can be heard telling one friend, "I'm nervous as f***, bro. They about to get me."

Layne continued, "They might get me for the pistol, bro." He later told his friend that he had a blunt in the car.

Cops say they eventually found weed residue, a grinder and a loaded Glock 9mm pistol during their search of his car ... and released photos of their findings to TMZ Sports.

Layne was ultimately arrested and booked on a felony charge of improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle.

What's interesting ... Layne mentioned twice during the stop he was an NFL player -- and even at one point told an officer he played for the Steelers.

For their part, the Steelers said they were aware of the situation and were gathering more information.

Layne has played in 26 games for Pittsburgh since 2019 ... tallying 25 combined tackles.

Paul Stanley I'm Demolishing My Bev Hills Mansion ... KISS My Merch Goodbye!!!

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Paul Stanley is starting over ... he's demolishing his mansion in Bev Hills to make way for a brand new home, so he had an estate sale to get rid of EVERYTHING inside.

Paul unloaded tons of KISS merchandise ... the collectibles were displayed in his master bedroom.

We're told most of the band's merch still had the tags on, and folks were buying up all the KISS shirts, pins, license plates, cups and travel bags for anywhere between $15 and $50.

There were some pricier items too ... drinking glasses were going for upwards of $1,200, big French doors went for $900 a pop and Paul's couch went for over $2,000.

Paul's daughter, Emily, had a bunch of stickers on her bedroom door and it was up for grabs at $95.

Heck, Paul even put his lemon trees on sale ... as well as pots and planters starting around $400.

The estate sale went down last week, and by the weekend, pretty much everything had been sold ... so stuff was really flying out of the house.

Now that Paul's done some serious spring cleaning, we're told he's knocking down the 7-bedroom home and building a more modern estate on the property.

VHS Embezzlement Case Be Kind, Rewind & Oh, Plz Return it ... Or Else You're a Criminal!!!

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A woman got a blast from the past in the worst possible way -- learning of embezzlement charges against her ... all 'cause she supposedly never returned a rented tape in the '90s.

This story comes out of Oklahoma -- where Caron McBride told KOKH FOX25 she'd recently stumbled across a stunning discovery re: her criminal record -- namely, that she was wanted for felony embezzlement because she never returned a VHS movie from 1999.

The film in question is "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" ... and prosecutors say she rented it from a video store called Movie Place ... which ain't a thing anymore. Because the movie never made it back to its rightful owner, the Cleveland County District Attorney's Office filed the embezzlement charge in 2000, and it's been sitting ever since.

McBride says she was never aware of the charge, or the fact that she'd even rented that movie. As a result, the charge has been sitting in limbo, with her wanted by authorities. McBride says she only became aware of it after trying to change her surname at the DMV.

She says she tried clearing it up with the D.A.'s office, but it took a while before they ultimately decided to dismiss the charges against her. Thing is, she's still gotta get that charge expunged from her record -- which will undoubtedly be another pain in the ass.

McBride says she'd been cut loose from several jobs over the past 20 years -- but without any explanation. Now, she says it's probably due to that lingering charge employers might've seen on a criminal background check. Thank God streaming services came along. 😅

Bikini Babes Steppin' Up See You Ladder!

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Sexy stars are working their way to the top in more ways than one, and they sure do have a lot to show off ... whether it's pools, yachts or other ominous bodies of water ... plenty of celebs have been taking their ladder selfies to a whole new level.

Stars like Kaitlynn Carter, Ayesha Curry and Kim Kardashian have been steppin' up by sharing their sweet shots on steps and we've grabbed all the best ones to take you to the top!

Step right up and get a good look at who else has been posting pics like this ... Just scroll through our gallery of bikini babes on ladders!

How high can you go?!

Tiger Woods Up On Crutches, Smiling in 1st Pic Since Crash

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TIGER WOODS!!!

The golf superstar is up on his own two feet -- and flashing that trademark smile -- to mark the 2 month anniversary of that horrific car crash.

45-year-old Tiger is standing on crutches at one of his golf courses -- with a medical brace on his lower right leg and ankle ... standing next to his beloved dog.

"My course is coming along faster than I am," Tiger wrote on IG ... "But it’s nice to have a faithful rehab partner, man’s best friend."

It's a great sign to see Tiger smiling and upright ... considering the catastrophic injuries he suffered during that Feb. 23 car wreck in Southern California.

As we previously reported, Tiger suffered comminuted open fractures in his right leg -- meaning the bone was shattered in at least 2 places and broke through the skin.

Doctors used a rod to stabilize it, according to Tiger's medical team -- and he's reportedly been spending the past several weeks recovering and rehabbing at one of his residences in Florida.

Tiger was driving through Rancho Palos Verdes on his way to an L.A. golf course when he crashed his Genesis GV80 SUV down the side of a hill -- wrecking the car and suffering major injuries.

Investigators determined Tiger was doing driving at speeds between 82 and 87 MPH leading up to the crash -- more than 40 MPH over the 45 MPH speed limit ... and was doing 75 when he collided with a tree.

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ACCIDENTAL ACCELERATION

Officials said Tiger showed no signs of impairment and believe he may have panicked behind the wheel and stomped on the accelerator instead of the brake when he realized he was losing control.

Woods obviously missed The Masters tournament due to his injuries and many wonder if he'll ever be able to play pro golf again.

But, this photo of Tiger at the course on Friday is definitely a good sign.

Cardi B I Didn't See 'WAP' Until After My Rant ... Congressman Confesses

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The Congressman who ripped Cardi B on the House floor says he didn't watch her Grammys "WAP" performance until AFTER his lecture ... and he couldn't stomach the whole thing.

U.S. Rep Glenn Grothman tells TMZ ... he finally watched Cardi's Grammy performance for the first time Thursday, about 5 hours after decrying it as "inconsistent with basic decency" while lambasting the FCC for broadcasting it.

Grothman tells us he stopped watching "WAP" after about 2 minutes ... he says he was turned off by how "offensive and boring" it was.

As you know ... Grothman complained about Cardi's Grammys appearance on the House floor, saying it's contributing to America's moral decline.

Cardi quickly shot back ... calling Grothman names and wondering why the Wisconsin Republican's wasting time on the House floor ranting about "WAP" instead of tackling critical issues like police brutality.

Grothman says he was just doing what his constituents asked of him -- he tells us folks in his district complained to him about Cardi's performance shortly after the Grammys, demanding he straighten things out with the FCC when he's in D.C.

Rep. Grothman says Thursday was his first chance to speak up, and he believes young people are in his corner on this one. He says several "respectable young staffers" did not give him positive Cardi reviews before he shared his piece. Of course, they work for him ... so, those are hardly unbiased opinions.

The way Grothman sees it ... Cardi struck it rich by appealing to the lowest common denominator, and he thinks that hurts the country's moral climate.

Despite Cardi protesting, he says he's working on assembling a group of 15 to 20 Congress members to cosign a letter to the FCC about not allowing this kind of content on TV.

'Duck Dynasty' Willie Robertson Family Sued by Drive-By Suspect ... Guy Claims Defamation

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The man who was arrested and charged for a drive-by shooting of "Duck Dynasty" star Willie Robertson's house is now suing Willie and his family, claiming he was wrongfully arrested ... and defamed by the family.

This is a strange one, for sure, but Daniel Dean King is suing Willie, Willie's son John Luke Robertson, and John's wife Mary Kate ... alleging he's suffered from being incarcerated and took an unfair hit to his reputation.

In docs, obtained by TMZ, King says John and Mary reported they were targets of a drive-by shooting on April 24, 2020 while they were home with their child -- which led to King's arrest -- but he claims their statements to cops were "calculated, false and ultimately defamatory."

According to the suit, King claims the cops did not properly investigate the case before arresting him, and wrongly -- he believes -- charging him with felony aggravated assault by drive-by shooting.

Despite his allegations in the lawsuit, there's still an active criminal case against King -- and according to the 4th Judicial District DA's Office ... the charge against him has been changed to felony illegal use of a dangerous weapon.

King -- who appears to have filed the suit without a lawyer -- goes on to accuse Willie and John of publicizing his arrest and making defamatory statements, which he claims were intended to hurt his rep.

Along with suing Willie's family for damages, he's going after Robertson's Duck Commander company and the Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office too.

As we first told you ... when King was arrested, he allegedly admitted to police he was the shooter and told them he "had been drinking Vodka during this incident." The Robertsons were also granted a restraining order against him. So, his lawsuit reads like a desperate attempt to get some revenge on the family.

We've reached out to Willie, but no word back yet.

L.A. Co. Supervisor Janice Hahn Returning Black Family's Stolen Land ... It's Time to 'Make Amends'

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L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn says the rest of the country needs to get on board with righting obvious wrongs ... just as L.A. is by returning a Black family's beachfront property, which was stolen from them almost 100 years ago.

Hahn joined "TMZ Live" Friday and explained why she led the effort to return the land -- known as Bruce's Beach in the city of Manhattan Beach -- to the descendants of Willa and Charles Bruce. The couple owned and operated a beach resort there in the 1920s.

A little history lesson first ... Willa and Charles bought the land in 1912 and created a beach resort catering to Black residents. Fast-forward to 1924, when the city used eminent domain to seize the property and force the resort out of business by 1929.

The land sat dormant for decades ... until a park was finally built in 1960 and eventually renamed Bruce's Beach. The Bruce family sued claiming they were victims of a racially motivated removal campaign.

Fast-forward to now and Hahn says the right thing to do was return the land to its rightful owners. It's interesting ... Hahn says she learned to swim in the ocean a couple of blocks from where Bruce's Beach is located and never knew about this injustice.

She believes it's the first time in our nation a government has given land back to an African-American family to make amends for past discriminatory policies.

It's a fascinating story, and you can see Hahn's full interview Friday on "TMZ Live" (check local listings) -- but she firmly believes it's time for America to wake up and make amends.

Capitol Insurrection Alleged Rioter Brags on Bumble ... Gets Banned From App!!!

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11:04 AM PT -- Sources close to the situation tell TMZ ... Chapman was also flagged on Bumble by another user and he was part of the group of alleged rioters officially banned from the app.

UPDATE

We're told Chapman was banned from Bumble the day after he was reported by another user back in January.

A guy on Bumble didn't just strike out with a woman while trying to impress her -- he got arrested for it, because his pickup line involved the Capitol riot ... according to prosecutors.

According to legal docs ... a man named Robert Chapman began chatting with a woman on Bumble a few days after the January 6 Capitol riots and told her, "I did storm the capitol," adding ... "I made it all the way into Statuary Hall!"

The feds say after he boasted a bit more about doing interviews with the media, the woman simply replied "We are not a match." ... and according to the docs, she turned him in by providing a screenshot of their convo to law enforcement.

Based on the tip -- and some additional info about Chapman allegedly shared on Facebook -- the authorities say they learned he goes by Robert Erick on social media, and they discovered several more potentially incriminating posts.

Prosecutors say in one FB post, Robert said he was leaving "the rotten apple" of NYC to head "down to the District of Criminality to Enjoy some much deserved Entertainment."

A day later, the feds say he posted a photo of himself at the riots along with the caption, "I'M F**KIN INSIDE THE CRAPITOL!!!"

Chapman's now been arrested and charged with trespassing and disorderly conduct on restricted government property. He is one of more than 370 people arrested for involvement in the Capitol riot -- but he's one of few who was nabbed through a dating app.

Congrats ... denied and busted!!!

Originally Published -- 6:51 AM PT

'Love is Blind' Star Mark Cuevas My Fiancee's Getting Death Threats ... Suspect Arrested

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SCARY SITUATION

"Love is Blind" star Mark Cuevas claims a woman from his fiancee's past is now threatening her and their baby ... and cops have made an arrest.

To better understand his death threat story, Mark says his fiancee -- Aubrey Rainey, who is about to give birth to their son -- was one of the victims of a series of hit-and-run crashes last year in Ohio.

According to Westlake PD PIO Gerald Vogel ... the suspect in those crashes is Shayla Harris and she was charged with attempted murder. He says Harris was involved in 2 other crashes similar to Aubrey's accident.

Vogel tells us Harris was released on bond, and she recently sent Facebook and IG messages to Aubrey threatening her and threatening to kill her unborn child.

We're told Mark and Aubrey filed a police report about Shayla's threats, and she's now been arrested by Westlake Police for misdemeanor aggravated menacing.

In Mark's video -- which was seemingly posted before he knew about the arrest -- he claims Harris sent more than 100 messages referencing Aubrey and their baby.

By the way ... Mark and Aubrey's due date is today.

Caitlyn Jenner I'm Running for Governor of CALI!!!

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Caitlyn Jenner is throwing her hat in the ring to become the next governor of California.

There was a lot of talk that she might run and Caitlyn didn't stop the buzz. She made it official Friday, saying, "I have been a compassionate disrupter throughout my life, from representing the United States and winning a gold medal at the Olympics to helping advance the movement for equality. As Californians, we face a now-or-never opportunity to fundamentally fix our state before it’s too late.”

Her path isn't set in cement. There is a petition to recall Governor Gavin Newsom ... a movement that has gained steam in the wake of the pandemic. If the recall movement qualifies for the ballot, California voters will be asked 2 questions. Should Newsom be recalled? If a majority of voters say yes, then the second question is on the table. Who do you want to replace him? That's where Caitlyn's name will land.

Here's the reality ... she has an edge because of her name. You may recall, years ago California Governor Gray Davis was recalled and Arnold Schwarzenegger led the large pack of candidates to become the next governor.

There will almost certainly be a large number of candidates vying for the job, but Caitlyn may be the most famous of the batch, which would give her an edge.

Caitlyn already took a shot at Newsom, saying, "This isn’t the California we know. This is Gavin Newsom’s California, where he orders us to stay home but goes out to dinner with his lobbyist friends." She's obviously referring to Newsom's notorious dinner at the French Laundry.

She's not the only celeb flirting with a governorship. Matthew McConaughey is not only interested in running ... he seems to be leading the pack and even pulling way out ahead of current governor Greg Abbott.

Stay tuned ...

Rob McElhenney & Kaitlin Olson Daring Dog Rescue!!! Leads to Heartwarming Family Reunion

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12:34 PM PT -- TMZ spoke to one of the unsung heroes of this story -- Helen Pitts of Los Angeles Petfinders -- who tells us she helped connect Rob with Chance's family after seeing their missing dog post ... and putting 2 and 2 together with Rob's social media posts.

UPDATE

Helen says Chance had ear infections and suffered burns to his paws from running on the hot asphalt, but he's healing great and is now microchipped.

UPDATE

We're told Petfinders has helped reunite about 5,000 lost pets with their owners.

Rob McElhenney's tale of rescuing a dog and reuniting him with his loving family will help you through ruff times ... especially when you see the pup's tail.

The "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" star says he and his wife -- and 'Sunny' costar -- Kaitlin Olson, stopped traffic on an L.A. freeway when they saw the "handsome motherf**ker" running alone.

After they got the dog -- which looks like a Pit Bull mix -- in their car with the help of another good Samaritan named Bridget, Rob and Kaitlin took him to a vet ... where they learned he wasn't chipped, but he was assigned the name "Brad Pitt" because he's "so damn beautiful."

Rob chronicled Pitt's story on IG, and it gets so much better. He says they decided to rename the pup, Frank Reynolds because of his body type -- an 'Always Sunny' jab at Danny DeVito's character. Then they learned the dog's loving owners were desperately searching for him, and they also learned his real name ... Chance!

Rob says they spoke to the family on the phone and they were crying with joy, and soon after they brought Chance home for the happiest of endings.

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GOOD BOY RESCUE

As McElhenney puts it ... "Social media may be ripping apart the fabric of our society but ... Sometimes it's pretty great."

The end.

Originally Published -- 9:01 AM PT

SF Giants Fans Bring Therapy Bunny To Game ... Cutest Spectator Ever?!?

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STOP WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND LOOK AT THIS ADORABLE BUNNY!!!

A pair of San Francisco Giants fans hit up Oracle Park to watch their boys take on the Miami Marlins on Thursday ... and forget the peanuts and crackerjacks, they brought their cute ass therapy rabbit along to enjoy the fun!!

The 4 1/2-month-old bunny named Alex belongs to owners Kei Kato and her fiancé, Josh Row ... who bought the Flemish giant after Kato's brewery restaurant closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Alex helps with Kato's anxiety and stress ... and brings joy to the couple's life during the tough times.

The furry friend has been living it up since he joined the family -- from NASCAR races to tubing and kayaking ... and even helped hand out Easter eggs to kids!!

The fun continued when Kato and Row brought Alex to his first baseball game ... and it was a monumental moment -- it's believed he's the VERY FIRST bunny to attend a ballgame at Oracle Park, according to the team.

Alex -- who was wearing a Giants-colored bowtie -- quickly became a fan favorite ... and the Marlins even tried to convert him to their side with some free merch, while SF invited him back as their good luck charm.

Giants CEO Larry Baer also spoke about their new fan ... saying, "Love this therapy bunny," Baer said. "We could all use a therapy bunny right about now!"

So, what's next for the lovable trio?? They're hoping to hit up a Warriors game ... and Golden State has already welcomed Alex with open arms.

Oh, and BTW -- the Giants won, 3-0 ... but Alex is for sure the MVP.