Paul Mooney Comedic Legend Dead at 79

Published | Updated

Paul Mooney -- the longtime comedian, writer and actor known best for his work with Richard Pryor -- has died from a heart attack ... TMZ has learned.

According to his family ... Mooney died Wednesday morning at his home in Oakland. We're told the paramedics tried unsuccessfully to revive him after he suffered a heart attack.

Paul, who's been out of the public eye for a few years, had also reportedly been suffering from dementia for some time and was staying with a family member.

Though born in Louisiana, Mooney moved to Oakland and grew up there, and got his start in entertainment as a circus ringmaster ... which led to a passion for telling and writing jokes.

This led to his first professional gig in show business as a writer for Pryor, and the 2 would maintain a working relationship for years to come ... with Paul contributing to Richard's legendary stand-up performances such as 'Live on the Sunset Strip.'

Mooney was also the head writer on "The Richard Pryor Show" and wrote a few episodes of "Pryor's Place." His other notable writing credits include "Sanford and Son," "In Living Color" and "Chappelle's Show."

As an actor, Paul's best known for playing Sam Cooke in the 1978 film, "The Buddy Holly Story," and for his role as Junebug in Spike Lee's "Bamboozled" ... along with regular appearances on "Chappelle's Show."

051921_paul_mooney_last_time_kal 12/21/09
LAST TIME WE SAW HIM ...

Paul was 79.

RIP

Aaron Carter Dropped By Body Shot In Prep For Lamar Odom Fight ... Video Shows

Published | Updated

Welp, Aaron Carter's chances of beating Lamar Odom next month ain't looking great ...

Video of the pop singer getting destroyed by an amateur's body shot has just surfaced ... and, yeah, somewhere Odom's got to be smiling.

TMZ Sports has learned it all went down on May 4 ... when Carter was in a Santa Monica gym prepping for his June 11 Celebrity Boxing tilt with the ex-NBA star.

We're told Carter was mixing it up with Ian Feiner -- a fellow gym-goer who he had sparred with several times before -- when he got caught by a right hook to the gut.

The video shows Carter didn't exactly handle it well ... he crumpled to his knees in pain and the session ended just a few moments later.

We reached out to Carter for his side of the story, but so far, no word back yet.

Feiner tells us Carter was "fine overall" ... but it's clear, even though this was over two weeks ago, AC's going to need some work to avoid a loss to Odom.

You'll recall ... Odom's looking GOOD in his recent training sessions -- and was already the heavy favorite heading into the fight.

Yeah ... God speed, Aaron.

Demi Lovato I'm Non-Binary Changes Pronouns to They/Them

Published | Updated
051921_demi_lovato_kal
BIG REVELATION

Demi Lovato has an announcement about their personal life -- as they launch something new professionally -- and it's that Demi now identifies as non-binary, and therefore they're changing pronouns.

The singer revealed Wednesday they are happy to share the very personal moment on their "4D with Demi Lovato" podcast. Demi said, "Over the past year and a half I've been doing some healing and some self-reflective work. And through this work I've had the revelation that I identify as non-binary. With that said, I’ll officially be changing my pronouns to they/them."

Demi went on to say changing their identification best represents the fluidity they feel in their gender expression ... while allowing them to feel most authentic and true.

The singer's first episode will explore how excited they are and what this change means. They will also explore what it may look like for other people going through the same journey.

As we've reported ... the "Sorry Not Sorry" hitmaker recently shared their personal struggles with mental health and addiction in the stunning YouTube documentary "Dancing with the Devil," which followed their journey prior to and following a near-fatal overdose in 2018.

The film was also the first time they opened up publicly about sexual and gender fluidity.

A$AP Rocky Rihanna's 'The Love Of My Life' ... She's 'The One!!!'

Published | Updated

A$AP Rocky is down for the count -- he's madly in love with Rihanna, and he's got no problem publicly declaring he wants to be with her ... for life.

Rocky opened up for the first time about his relationship with Rihanna and gushed about her like this -- "[It's] so much better when you got the One. She amounts to probably, like, a million of the other ones." Deep stuff.

He didn't shy away either when GQ asked him about monogamy, saying ... "I think when you know, you know. She's the One."

Now, he also talked about his arrest in Sweden, a friend's overdose and doing 2 weeks on Rikers Island as a teenager -- but, for sure the headline was him calling RiRi ... "The love of my life. My lady."

When the subject of fatherhood came up ... Rocky laughed and said, "I think I'd be an incredible, remarkably, overall amazing dad. I would have a very fly child. Very."

Yeah, he's all in.

Rocky wouldn't divulge deets on the exact timeline of their relationship -- but, as we reported, Rihanna surfaced with him in January 2020 following her split with Saudi billionaire Hassan Jameel. They've been inseparable ever since.

It seems they're also mixing business with pleasure. Rocky also hinted Rihanna's listening and responding to his new work ... and that she's "absolutely" influenced his new music.

Joseph Baena Acting Career Taking Off Like Dad's ... Big Roles Ahead!!!

Published | Updated

Arnold Schwarzenegger's son already follows in his dad's footsteps when it comes to bodybuilding ... but now he's mimicking his pops in Hollywood.

Sources close to Joseph Baena tell TMZ ... on the heels of landing his first big acting gig earlier this year -- in the John Malkovich sci-fi flick, "The Chariot" -- he's hired a manager, Henry Penzi, and is booking more and more roles.

We're told Joseph just finished shooting an independent film called "Bully High" -- that's where these photos are from -- where he plays the school president ... one of the main characters. "Bully High" is directed by Bill McAdams Jr.

On top of that, our sources say Baena's set to appear in an upcoming project with Bruce Willis and another project with Cartoon Network. We're told there's lots of interest in booking him for other gigs, too.

Along with Joseph's professional life taking off in 2021, it's also been a big year personally. As we previously reported ... he was seen publicly hanging out with his half-brother, Patrick, for the first time in April.

So, looks like Joseph's making his old man proud ... and we already know he can be bad to the bone, too.

Billy Porter Reveals He's HIV-Positive ... Opens Up After 14 Years

Published | Updated

Billy Porter is HIV-positive -- something he's known since 2007 when he was first diagnosed, but he's opening up about it now because, as he says ... "The truth is healing."

The "Pose" star says after his HIV was first detected 14 years ago, shame and fear drove him to keep it a secret ... especially while trying to make it in an industry he says hasn't always been kind to him.

Porter, in an essay for The Hollywood Reporter, says ... "I was trying to have a life and a career, and I wasn’t certain I could if the wrong people knew. It would just be another way for people to discriminate against me in an already discriminatory profession. So I tried to think about it as little as I could. I tried to block it out."

The actor says people who needed to know about his diagnosis knew, but he hid it from everyone else -- even his mother. However, Billy says the past year of quarantine has taught him a lot and he began real trauma therapy to deal with his past ... and it led him to decide to reveal his truth.

Before that, Porter says he used Pray Tell -- the HIV-positive character he plays on "Pose," a role that won him an Emmy -- as his proxy. Billy explains, "I was able to say everything that I wanted to say through a surrogate," while acknowledging nobody involved with the show knew he was drawing from his own life.

051921_billy_porter_kal
SPEAKING WITH SPIRITUALITY

In an emotional interview with Tamron Hall Wednesday, Billy revealed he used to question why he was able to survive ... and says he felt like his casting on "Pose" was a sign from God.

Now everyone knows, and Billy says that's liberating. He also points out that he's the healthiest he's ever been in his life and he's hopeful the stigma around HIV can become a thing of the past.

As he puts it ... "This is what HIV-positive looks like now."

johnny depp Sues ACLU Over Heard Donation ... Did She Really Pay You?!?

Published | Updated

Johnny Depp is fighting tooth and nail to uncover whether his ex, Amber Heard, actually donated millions of dollars to charity like she said she would ... suing the actual org who was supposed to get to the money to get to the bottom of it.

JD just sued the ACLU in an effort to obtain financial documents as he seeks to undo a judge's ruling in London late last year ... which concluded The Sun hadn't defamed him with their 2018 "wife-beating" headline.

That's where this ACLU drama comes in. Johnny and his legal team are attempting to prove Amber perjured herself in court when she claimed she donated $7 million total to the ACLU and Children's Hospital L.A. -- something she agreed to do as part of their divorce settlement.

Remember, it was in August 2016 when the ACLU put out a release thanking Amber for pledging to donate half of her $7 million settlement. A few months later, the organization announced Heard had donated $350,000 directly ... but Depp's team believe it was Elon -- whom Heard was dating at the time -- who paid that and anything else donated in her name.

Johnny believes the judge bought Amber's charitable deeds and it worked against him in the final ruling, so he wants the truth to surface about where that money actually went ... and who it came from. If it turns out she didn't fork over the loot, he believes it could help his second defamation case here in the United States.

Depp thinks Heard only donated around $450k total from her own pocket in the end -- and he claims the ACLU has refused to play ball and turn over docs on the issue. So, now, he wants a judge to step in and make it happen with the slam of a gavel.

Johnny is moving mountains to figure this out -- trying to firm up his forthcoming legal case here in the States. But, you gotta ask ... if the org got the money either way, what's the big deal???

Daniel Radcliffe Wand, Glasses From 'Deathly Hallows' ... Could Fetch Up to $100k at Auction!!!

Published

Harry Potter fans can own some serious wizardry memorabilia ... but it won't be sold by Ollivander and it'll cost way more than seven Galleons.

The folks over at Prop Store will hold one of the world's largest live auctions of film and TV memorabilia in L.A. ... and leading the way are the glasses and wand used by Daniel Radcliffe in the 2010 and 2011 films 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.'

Radcliffe used the wand in Part 1 and the glasses in Part 2. And, whoever wants to cop these will need more than wizard currency. We're told each of the items is expected to fetch between $30k and $50k. That's cold hard cash, homie.

Prop Store, one of the world's leading film and TV memorabilia companies, will stream the auction online between June 29 and July 1. Not a Harry Potter fan? Don't fret.

There will be more than 1,200 rare and iconic lots up for grabs during the 3-day event. Such as ... the fedora Harrison Ford used in "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom." The fedora should pull in anywhere between $150k to $250k.

'Star Wars' fans can snag the R2-SHP remote control droid from "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker." That beaut could fetch as much as $120k. 'Batman' fans with $10k in disposable income can have Michael Keaton's utility belt.

Need something for the kids? Statler and Waldorf puppet heads from "The Muppets" can be yours for anywhere between $30k and $50k.

All in all ... Prop Store expects to haul in in excess of $6.1 million. Good luck!!!

'Too Hot to Handle' Harry & Francesca Hang in Mexico ... Could Rekindle Romance

Published | Updated

Harry Jowsey and Francesca Farago have been seen getting cozy in Mexico lately -- and TMZ has learned it could, indeed, possibly lead to them getting back together.

The "Too Hot to Handle" stars -- who hooked up on the show, only to break up after their season had aired -- were spotted embracing over the weekend down in Cancun, where we're told Francesca is currently staying as her American visa gets approved. She's Canadian, if ya didn't know.

Harry had his arm around her, and she was leaning into him in snug fashion ... leading many to believe they were for sure a thing again.

That's not quite the case -- at least not yet, per sources familiar with the situation. We're told that, yes, Harry went down there ... and that Francesca even picked him up at the airport -- this after he'd reached out to her not too long ago following her split from Demi Sims.

Long story short ... our sources say they're hanging out again, but that it's not really serious at this point. That said, we're told Harry is due to head back down there for his birthday next weekend, so the door to a full-blown rekindling is certainly cracked open.

You'll recall ... some 'THTH' cast members felt Harry and Francesca's relationship was a publicity stunt from the jump -- and that Harry was allegedly only after clout.

Welp, if they link up when cameras aren't rolling ... ya might wanna rethink that. 🤷🏽‍♂️

Kamaru Usman Charles Oliveira's Great ... But Khabib's On A 'Different Level'

Published

Charles Oliveira vs. Khabib?!

That's the fight many MMA fans are clamoring for ... believing the new UFC lightweight champ's style matches up favorably with the retired 29-0 superstar from Dagestan.

But, don't prematurely hand Khabib his 1st loss ... 'cause UFC welterweight champ Kamaru Usman -- who's friends with 32-year-old Nurmagomedov -- says he doesn't believe Khabib's any closer to returning to the Octagon after witnessing 31-year-old "Do Bronx's" impressive performance at UFC 262.

"I think Khabib did watch the fight. Was he intrigued? 'Yes, I wanna get back in there.' Probably not," Usman tells us.

"I mean, he's a man that's happy. He's happy with his life. He's happy with the direction that it's going and yeah, I think he's retired."

Of course, Khabib and Dana White met on multiple occasions over the last year ... but the former lightweight champ ultimately decided he was never going to fight again.

So, Charles vs. Khabib isn't happening ... BUT (hypothetically) does Oliveira have the necessary tools to beat the unbeatable fighter?!? Kamaru says no.

"More power to Charles Olivera. I'm impressed by him and I'm a fan for what he's able to do with his career but I just think there's levels to the game and I think Khabib is a different level."

Now, don't get it twisted ... Usman believes CO is a great fighter who went through hell to win the belt.

"[Oliveira's] had a lot of downs, he's had a lot of ups lately and for him to still weather that storm, believe in himself, come back the next round like nothing happened that 1st round and go out there and get the finish shows that he's definitely a tough, tough fighter and more power, more respect to him."

Guess Who This Graduation Guy Turned Into!

Published | Updated

Before this graduation guy became one of the most well-known rappers representing the Bay Area, he was just another tasseled high schooler walking to get his diploma in Vallejo, California.

This studious sweetheart first jumped on the hip-hop scene over thirty years ago ... since then he's formed rap groups, founded a record label and earned success as a solo performer. You may recognize him by his stage name, but this talented MVP's yearbook photo reads "Earl Tywone Stevens Sr."

Now, with this school year coming to a close, he is telling all the new graduates when to go!

Can you guess who he is?

Bryce Hall Ignites All-Out Brawl W/ Austin McBroom ... At Pre-Fight Event

Published | Updated
051821-mcbroom-hall-fight-kal 5/18/21
tiktok tussle

Bryce Hall and Austin McBroom couldn't wait 'til their fight date to get their hands on each other -- the two social media stars got in an all-out brawl Tuesday ... and it was violent.

Hall, one of the most popular characters on TikTok, and McBroom, a YouTube megastar, were promoting their June 12 celeb boxing match ... when suddenly fireworks ignited.

McBroom and Hall were trading jabs at Fred Segal in West Hollywood ... when Bryce got up and charged at Austin.

The two grabbed and shoved each other -- taking their violence to the floor ... and then damn-near everyone in the building hopped in to separate the guys.

At one point, someone even smashed a bottle over another dude's head!!!

Eventually, the guys all separated and the skirmish dispersed ... but it's clear -- these two HATE each other!!

In fact, after the brawl ... we got McBroom outside of the venue -- and he was PISSED at Hall for how the scrap went down.

"He out here trying to wrestle," McBroom said. "We got a fight June 12 -- he's wrestling me!"

"If he does that bulls*** on June 12, he's getting his ass knocked out. That's what's happening."

As for if the tussle was fake, McBroom told us point-blank, "None of this s*** was staged. This s*** is real. He's getting knocked the f*** out."

As we previously reported, 21-year-old Hall has promised to knock out McBroom during their headlining fight on the "YouTubers vs. TikTokers" card next month ... with Hall explaining to TMZ Sports he's going to use the K.O. bonus money to buy his mom a new house.

Less than four more weeks 'til the real action all goes down in Miami ... getcha popcorn ready.

Kylie Jenner & Travis Scott Take Stormi to Disneyland ... Big Happy Family Again???

Published | Updated
051821-kylie-jenner-travis-scott-kal
DISNEY DAY

Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott are with their daughter at "The Happiest Place On Earth" ... and it's the latest sign they might be a happy couple again.

Stormi's Mom and Dad treated her to a Disneyland trip Tuesday, and appeared to be having good family times ... especially when they took her on the Alice in Wonderland ride.

Kylie, Travis and Stormi were apparently at the amusement park with a few of Stormi's friends -- perhaps some of her cousins -- as well, and though their security guard didn't sound like he appreciated fans recording them ... Kylie seemed cool with it.

Even though a Disney outing is nothing new for Kylie and Travis -- even when they were definitely broken up -- this visit feels different, and only fuels recent speculation they're back together.

As we reported, they did a triple date night earlier this month with the Biebers and Kendall Jenner and Devin Booker, and before that ... Kylie flew to Miami to celebrate Scott's bday with him.

So yeah, it seems to be adding up to more than just co-parenting.

Robert Durst Back In Court Looking Frail ... Murder Trial Resumes

Published

Robert Durst -- the notorious subject of the HBO documentary, 'The Jinx' -- is back in court for his murder trial ... after a 14-month break due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Durst just appeared in court, appearing thin and frail with his nose and mouth hidden behind a white medical mask. In case you've forgotten ... he stands accused of shooting his friend, Susan Berman, in the head at her Beverly Hills home in December 2000 ... allegedly because she knew something about the mysterious death of his wife, Kathleen, who disappeared in 1982.

Durst was arrested in New Orleans in March 2015, just weeks after "The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst," began airing and the LAPD reopened the Berman case.

The docuseries detailed bizarre and disturbing allegations against Durst and chronicled why he was suspected in the killings of Susan and Kathleen ... along with how he was acquitted of the murder of a Texas neighbor in 2001.

'The Jinx' ended with a jaw-dropping moment in which Durst -- believing his microphone was off after excusing himself from an interview -- seemingly confessed to murder while talking to himself in the bathroom, saying ... "What the hell did I do? Killed them all, of course."

The documentary also linked a letter sent to police alerting them of Susan's dead body to Durst.

So, he was arrested and charged with her murder in 2015, and though his trial began in March 2020 with a few days of witness testimony ... it was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. It was originally scheduled to resume in July but was postponed again.

Durst's lawyers requested an indefinite postponement of the trial earlier this month citing a "myriad of life-threatening health issues" ... including bladder cancer that is not being treated.

The judge denied it, and his trial resumed Monday, with Durst finally appearing Tuesday. Before that, Durst was last present for a court hearing back in March of this year.

T.I. & Tiny LAPD Investigating Alleged Sexual Assault ... While Vegas Case Closes

Published | Updated

T.I. and Tiny allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted a woman in 2005 and the LAPD is looking into her claims ... while authorities in Las Vegas tell us they have closed a case involving similar allegations against the couple.

According to a police report obtained by TMZ ... the L.A. accuser, identified as a Jane Doe, claims sometime in early 2005 she met the rapper and his wife at a club, and says she accepted a drink from Tiny after already having a couple others.

The woman told LAPD detectives she was then invited back to their hotel room along with 2 other women, but soon it was just her alone with T.I. and Tiny.

She claims T.I. and Tiny persuaded her to go to the bathroom and take a shower with them. After the shower, she alleges T.I. led her to the bed, turned on a porn flick and asked her to rub oil on him. She says Tiny soon joined in and then she claims T.I. came from behind and stuck his toes in her vagina.

According to the report ... the woman claims T.I. told her he was going to get a condom but she said she felt sick and went to the bathroom to throw up. She claims she blacked out soon after, but when she woke up the next morning ... her vagina was sore and had a burning sensation.

Though the LAPD is reportedly investigating the couple for alleged sexual assault, their attorney says they have not been contacted by the LAPD.

As for the allegations in Las Vegas ... another woman claimed she was drugged and sexually assaulted after meeting Tiny at the airport and being invited to hang out with the couple.

However, officials tell us since the alleged incident went down in 2010, and was just reported to the Las Vegas Metropolitan PD earlier this month ... it falls outside the statute of limitations -- so the case has been closed.

Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.

As we've reported, sexual assault allegations have been mounting against the couple, and T.I. was even sued for defamation by a woman who claims he trashed her reputation when he denied her allegations.

MLB's Kevin Pillar Drilled In Face By 94-MPH Fastball Shows Battle Scars W/ Media

Published
UPDATE

3:23 PM PT -- Kevin Pillar is tough as nails -- the Mets outfielder is back speaking with the media less than 24 hours after the scary incident ... showing off his battle scars after being hit in the face with a fastball.

UPDATE

Pillar said he'll "be fine" and knows Webb didn't intentionally try to hit him.

UPDATE

"I know he feels bad, I know me and him have talked last night, today," Pillar said. "I'm almost more worried about him than I am myself."

UPDATE
UPDATE

"I know I saw his reaction and I know how tough that could be on someone who feels responsible for someone getting injured."

UPDATE

Seriously so tough. Get well soon, Pillar.

UPDATE

6:57 AM PT -- The Mets said in a statement Tuesday morning, Pillar suffered "multiple nasal fractures" and will require further testing and meetings with doctors to figure out his next steps in recovery.

Horrifying moment in the Mets vs. Braves game Monday night ... NY outfielder Kevin Pillar was drilled in the face by a 94-MPH pitch, and he was immediately raced to the hospital.

The Mets star was at the plate for an at-bat in the 7th inning ... when Atlanta pitcher Jacob Webb unleashed a fastball that made a beeline straight for his eye socket.

Kevin, a 32-year-old who's known as one of the toughest dudes in the MLB, couldn't duck out of the way ... and was hit flush right in the middle of his face.

Pillar crumpled to the ground ... and you can see in video and pictures, blood was pouring out of what appeared to be multiple areas of his face.

But, after several moments on the ground, Pillar was able to get up and walk off the field under his own power ... though Mets manager Luis Rojas said his player required an immediate trip to the hospital for testing.

Fortunately, while the specific damage done to Pillar's face is currently unknown, it seems Pillar believes he'll eventually be all right.

The guy tweeted after the game, "Thanks to everyone that has reached out! Scary moment but I’m doing fine! #RBI #gamewinner."

Everyone on the field -- from Webb to Pillar's teammates -- were all shaken up over the pitch ... and even though the Mets went on to win, 3-1, the guys were visibly upset afterward.

"He gets hit by a pitch, and the last thing I'm thinking about is touching home plate," said Mets player James McCann, who scored as a result of Pillar's hit by pitch.

"Our thoughts and prayers are definitely with him."

Get well soon, Kevin.

Originally published -- 5:59 AM PT