Morgan Wallen Wins 3 Billboard Music Awards ... Despite Being Banned

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Morgan Wallen continues to rake in success, despite using a racial slur -- the guy just nabbed multiple wins at the Billboard Music Awards ... even though he wasn't allowed to show.

The country singer was among several winners who were announced before the broadcast -- which starts at 5 PM PT -- and lo and behold ... he ended up taking three awards home, after being nominated for six total.

MW won for Top Country Artist, Top Country Male Artist and Top Country Album -- for his sophomore project, "Dangerous: The Double Album," which has continued to stream incredibly well in recent months. This in spite of the fact that he hurled the n-word in February.

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PROFANE GOODBYE

Dick Clark Productions had already said Wallen would NOT be involved in the BBMAs this year in any capacity because of the epithet he said ... saying his behavior didn't align with their values. That said, they acknowledged he'd move forward as a finalist nonetheless, which was based solely on his music numbers and his charting.

DCP said they'd reevaluate his progress in the near future and decide if they want to invite him back for next year. Of course, Wallen doesn't appear to have done a whole lot outside of basic apologizing ... as we've reported ourselves.

All things considered, you could argue he's walked away relatively unscathed. Go figure ...

Florida High School Edited 80 Girls' Yearbook Photos ... To Cover Up Cleavage

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A Florida high school is getting dogged for editing yearbook photos of female students whose outfits were deemed too revealing ... and now, they're having to face the music.

Bartram Trail High in St. Johns County caused utter outrage among dozens of families who realized their daughters' yearbook headshots had been horrendously altered after the fact ... all in an apparent attempt to cover up their upper chests and/or slightly exposed cleavage.

An investigation undertaken by News4Jax revealed that a whopping 80 of these yearbook photos had been edited in post, with what appears to be Photoshop. And, yes, you guessed it ... all of the changed photos are from girls. Not a single boy's pic was changed.

It's interesting ... because there are reportedly several guys at the school who are featured in the yearbook wearing skimpy Speedos, but none of those photos were touched up.

News4Jax reports that once the yearbooks were out -- and purchased by scores of students, including many whose photos were changed -- the kids themselves saw their pics had been butchered ... causing their folks to demand answers, not to mention $100 refunds.

Turns out, the yearbook coordinator is the one who made the call for the cover-up ... this per the St. Johns County School District, which confirmed their HS had, in fact, cloaked what they considered scantily-clad young women, some of whom were as young as 14.

Their rationale ... instead of nixing these girls' photos from the yearbook altogether for violating the school's dress code -- what would normally be their regular practice, they say -- officials wanted to try and include everyone this year, so they did some digital scrubbing.

The weird thing is that some of these students claim they'd gotten mixed messaging on their outfits -- including the same ones they wore for picture day. One student claims she wore the same top another day on campus, asked if it was okay ... and was given the a-OK.

As a result, BTHS now says parents who are upset can get their money back if they want -- they just gotta return the yearbooks they bought, which aren't cheap, fully intact.

Many say the refunds aren't enough though ... they want a proper apology, but it doesn't look like that's coming anytime soon.

Ben Affleck Hits Miami to be with J Lo ... Bennifer's Back, In the Flesh

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Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez are back, and they're done hiding it ... because the first clear shots of them together have surfaced, and they look all too pleased in each other's company.

BA flew into Miami Sunday to meet up with his old flame, trying to look incognito in a helluva getup. Dude was rocking sunglasses, a dad hat pulled down low and a face mask for good measure. Yet, even with all that, he kinda stuck out like a sore thumb ... and paps picked up on the scent. Good effort, though, Ben!

It became clear he was in town when he later surfaced at a waterfront mansion J Lo was at -- where Ben came out onto the balcony for a smoke at one point ... facing out towards the cameras, without trying to mask anything. There's no question, that's Ben Freakin' Affleck.

Jen popped in and out herself, but you could only make out her back, as she seemed to be trying to lay a little more low than her boo was. They never came out onto the balcony together -- but it's obvious ... they were sharing the same space, if only temporarily.

Eventually, they gave up the elusive act altogether and walked down a flight of stairs -- with Ben trailing Jennifer, who flashed a big smile ... and couldn't have looked happier. We'd like to say the same for Ben -- but he looked as aloof/pensive as he ever has (in memes and elsewhere).

In any case, it would appear the cat's outta the bag -- and something tells us we might just see more of their public outings going forward. Flashback to the early 2000s, here we go!

Eurovision 2021 Winning Band Investigated After Alleged Drug Use During Show

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One of the members of the winning band for this year's Eurovision stands accused of taking a bump during the live broadcast ... but he's denying it, saying it's not what it looks like.

Damiano David -- the lead singer of Maneskin, which took top honors at the singing competition -- could be seen at one point during the broadcast in what looked to many like a compromising position. In the now-viral video of the bizarre moment, you see him leaning down face-first toward the table in front of him, hovering for a bit ... and surfacing again.

There's a giant bowl blocking the camera from seeing what's right below in that shot -- but many saw it as it happened live Saturday, and immediately thought he was doing drugs.

Yeah, at first glance ... it does look like he might be doing a line. But, then again, it's hard to tell what the hell's actually going on down there. Some have also noted there are no visible signs of drug residue as he comes back up -- namely, white powder ... aka, cocaine.

The European Broadcasting Union -- which organizes the Eurovision show -- has said it's aware of the video, and that they're looking into the matter with an investigation of their own. Apparently, they tried getting an on-the-spot drug test done for David right then and there, but weren't able to get it together in time before the band flew out for the night.

However, David and his bandmates say they're more than willing to submit to voluntary drug tests ASAP ... as they insist there was zero drug usage by the singer or anyone else nearby.

DD insists someone dropped a drink and he was looking down to survey the mess. Organizers confirmed there was, indeed, broken glass found where he was sitting ... but the results will be the ultimate tell. If he tests positive, Maneskin will likely lose their award.

New Jersey Baby Handoff 14-y-o leaves newborn with stranger ... Seemingly Flees the Scene

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A teenager who'd apparently just given birth left her kid with a woman who was grubbing at a New Jersey restaurant -- but, luckily, the baby will get a good home after all.

This happened Wednesday in Jersey City, where Alease Scott and her boyfriend, Walter, were having lunch at a joint called El Patron ... when out of nowhere, this teen girl -- who's said to be just 14 years old -- wanders in somewhat cloaked, carrying a newborn in her arms.

In CCTV footage provided by the restaurant owners, you see the teen walk up to the counter to seemingly ask something, and then sits down at a table ... which is when Scott checks in.

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LUNCH INTERRUPTION

She goes over to the young mother and they appear to have a brief conversation, before the girl finally hands her baby over to Scott who then takes the child, a girl, back to her table as she rocks her. The teenager comes over herself for a bit, but then abruptly walks out ... seemingly fleeing.

Scott later told the authorities that the teen mom was asking for help, and that Scott -- who's trained in CPR and first aid -- asked if she could check the baby's vitals ... which the mother allowed.

Sure enough, the police were called ... and a flock of first-responders showed up to the scene -- even providing oxygen to the baby as she appeared to be having trouble breathing. Reports say the infant also still had some of her umbilical cord attached.

Eventually, one of the police officers takes the kid ... and they also tracked down the mom who left as well. She won't be facing any charges, and the baby will be put up for adoption.

Kevin Spacey Books 1st Movie Role Since Scandal ... Shooting in Italy

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Kevin Spacey is easing back into acting again -- but his first job ain't even here in the States ... dude's heading all the way over to Italy to get back to work.

The disgraced actor -- who has faced a mountain of sexual assault allegations since 2017, and essentially been exiled from mainstream Hollywood -- booked his first acting role since the accusations came to light ... this according to ABC News, who confirmed it.

Spacey is set to star in an Italian film called "L'uomo Che Disegno Dio," which will be directed by famed Italian actor-turned-director Franco Nero ... the guy who played the OG Django waaaay back in the '60s. The title translates to "The Man Who Drew God."

The synopsis says it's about a blind artist who has the God-given ability to draw portraits of people by just listening to their voice ... who then skyrockets to fame and becomes a TV star. It's unclear what role Spacey will play, but he'll be opposite Nero's wife, Vanessa Redgrave.

Of Spacey's casting, Nero tells ABC ... "I'm very happy Kevin agreed to participate in my film." He adds, "I consider him a great actor and I can't wait to start the movie."

KS hasn't been on camera -- besides his own weird home movies, that is -- since he parted ways with Netflix's "House of Cards" in late 2017 ... which revamped the entire final season, killing his character off from the outset and pushing forward with just Robin Wright.

He's been sued over the alleged sexual assaults -- but on the criminal end ... Spacey dodged charges from coast to coast, with a case against him Massachusetts being dismissed in 2019, and the L.A. County District Attorney's refusing to prosecute since the alleged victim died.

TikTok Party Massive Bash Broken Up by Cops with Tear Gas

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TikTok can draw a crowd for sure, much to the dismay of Huntington Beach residents.

An estimated thousand people swarmed the beachside community Saturday night and police broke up the bash that was called "Adrian's Kickback."

The party was advertised on Tiktok and went viral -- with users all over the country chiming in on the possible bash. The viral vids clearly did the trick, with hordes of people filing the SoCal beach and streets.

The crowd started to form at around 6:30 PM and things got rowdy pretty quickly. By 7:30 it was going full bore and then the fireworks started going off. By around 11:30 PM ... cops made their move, declaring the event an unlawful assembly.

Police used tear gas to break up the crowd. It was pretty much pure pandemonium as everyone started yelling as they either ran away or ran for cover.

At 11:30 PM the City imposed a curfew that lasted until 5:30 AM Sunday.

As for Adrian ... his name is Adrian Lopez and the celebration marked his birthday. All he said on TikTok was "pop out n celebrate my bday." That's all it took.

121 adults and 28 juveniles were arrested and booked for various charges including vandalism, the firing of dangerous/illegal fireworks, failure to disperse, and curfew violations.

Dominique Wilkins Accuses Restaurant of Racism ... Restaurant Says Just Enforcing Dress Code

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Dominique Wilkins says he was straight-up denied service at an Atlanta restaurant because of the color of his skin, but the restaurant shot back, saying it was simply enforcing a dress code that was colorblind.

The basketball Hall of Famer says he was denied service at Le Bilboquet restaurant, saying, "In my many years in the world, I've eaten at some of the greatest restaurants in the world, but never have I felt prejudice or been turned away because of the color of my skin, until today in #atlanta in @LeBilboquetAtl #turnedawaybecauseimblack."

The restaurant denied it had anything to do with race, saying, "We, at Le Bilboquet, do our best to accommodate all of our guests. However, we have received consistent complaints from our patrons regarding other guest's wardrobe choices.  As a result, to protect our restaurant's culture, we installed a minimum standard in our 'business casual' attire dress code which includes jeans and sneakers but prohibits baseball caps and athletic clothing including sweat pants and tops."

Wilkins, who played between 1982 and 1994 for the Hawks, wasn't buying it, saying, "They looked me up and down ... and to add insult, talked about how my clothes were not appropriate when I was wearing designer casual pants and a shirt."

The restaurant seemed to say they're considering a revision of the dress code ... "Though the definition of 'casual' is ever evolving, we strive to maintain our policy requirement daily but it isn't a perfect system." That last part seems to suggest maybe they were too hard on Wilkins.

Paul Mooney Eddie Murphy, Tiffany Haddish, Kevin Hart All Invited for Tribute Show

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Paul Mooney made the Laugh Factory in Hollywood practically his second home ... so it's only fitting to have a tribute there ... and comedy royalty's expected to attend.

Jamie Masada, the owner and founder of the iconic comedy club, tells TMZ ... a special show will go down in honor of Paul Thursday at 3 PM. Eddie Murphy and Kevin Hart are among the many who have been contacted to attend. We're told Tiffany Haddish is not able to attend because of work but will send in a special video tribute to be played during the event.

Paul's twin sons -- comedians Dwayne and Daryl -- will also be there ... with the list of special guests expected only to grow.

Jamie says he envisions guests doing a little stand-up (duh), sharing their best Paul Mooney stories and more.

Paul was a regular at the famed Hollywood location. In fact ... Jamie tells us he still remembers Paul being one of the very first comedians on opening night in 1979.

Paul, of course, was vocal about the Black Lives Matter movement ... and he always found hilarious, yet enlightening, ways to weave the movement into his set. After all ... he had been advocating on behalf of his community over the course of his 40-plus years on stage.

We're told there were instances back in the day when other clubs wouldn't let Paul perform his material because of his race. But, the Laugh Factory always gave him a platform.

The comedy club's the latest to honor Paul. As we first reported ... the City of Oakland -- where he was raised and sadly died -- plans to honor him as well.

Michael Jackson Family Claims Martin Bashir Tricked MJ ... Alleges Documentary Caused His Death

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Michael Jackson's family -- or at least some of them -- are outraged by the revelations about the BBC's Martin Bashir interview with Princess Diana, and they're reportedly considering legal action.

In case you don't remember, Bashir did a documentary in 2003 titled "Living with Michael Jackson." It profiled MJ's life at the Neverland Ranch. During the interview, Bashir lasered in on Jackson's relationship with young boys and the allegations of sexual abuse.

Jackson was unapologetic about sleeping in the same bed as 13-year-old Gavin Arvizo, saying, "Why can't you share your bed? That's the most loving thing to do, to share your bed with someone."

As you know, Jackson was prosecuted for allegedly molesting Arvizo. The jury found MJ not guilty.

In the wake of the report concluding Bashir deceived Princess Diana into doing her famous interview, Jackson's nephew, Taj, and MJ's brother, Tito, now allege Bashir "manipulated footage and unethical journalism."

The pair believe Bashir tricked Jackson the way he tricked Diana. Taj blames Bashir on Michael's death, saying, "Bashir's manipulated footage and unethically journalism is one of the main reasons my uncle Michael is not here today."

Taj wasn't done, adding, "That 2005 trial broke him. Shame on those who provided cover for Bashir. Shame on those who rewarded him. My family deserves an investigation & apology too."

Jackson's former bodyguard, Matt Fiddes, told the Mirror the Jackson family is considering taking legal action.

Lil Nas X I Really Ripped One on 'SNL'!!!

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Lil Nas X brought 'SNL' to a grand finale Saturday night, but the performance was a little ... well, a little too tight.

Lil Nas was performing "MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)" during the show, and all the gyrating was too much for his pants, 'cause they split down the front.

It happens at around the 2:20 mark in the video, as he was dancing on a stripper pole. You see him drop low, and that's when his pants do the splits.

He's a pro, so he immediately grabbed his crotch -- Michael Jackson style -- so it wasn't super obvious ... but yeah, it happened.

He boldly glares right into the camera as it happens and then presses on to the end of the song.

Lil Nas X was the musical guest for the season 46 finale. Anya Taylor-Joy did the hosting honors.

He's a funny guy, tweeting after the show, “NOT MY PANTS RIPPED ON LIVE ON TV,” adding, “OMFG NO… I wanted to do my pole routine so bad this what I get lmaoo.”

He followed up saying, "at first i was afraid to even perform. then we rehearsed for 2 weeks, then all of the dancers got removed because one had covid and new ones had to learn the routine in 24 hours, and then i ended up ripping my pants and couldn’t finish. everything happens for a reason tho lol"

Frankly, it was fun to watch a real pro follow the maxim, "The show must go on!"

Simone Biles Lands Hardest Vault ... In Women's Gymnastic History

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Simone Biles is undoubtedly one of the greatest gymnasts of all time, but she may have just taken top spot with what is considered the hardest vault in women's gymnastics ... EVER.

Simone was competing at the 2021 GK U.S. Classic when she attempted what's called a Yurchenko double pike.

You see the intensity in her face as she prepares, and then races to the vaulting table and hurls herself in the air. You just gotta see it. Amazing!!!

The judges assigned a difficulty value of 6.6 and she scored a 9.5 for her execution.

Simone was happy though subdued, saying, “To finally just put it out in a competition was quite nice, I know it’s not the correct value that we want, but I can still do it, so why not show off my ability and athleticism.”

She goes on to the U.S. Olympic team trials at the end of June, and we're guessing it's almost a foregone conclusion she'll be competing in Tokyo in July.

In case you forgot, in the 2016 Rio Olympics, Simon snagged 4 gold medals and a bronze.

Tragedy in Italy Cable Car Plunges to Ground Killing 13

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UPDATE

9:20 AM PT -- According to most recent reports, 13 people have been killed and 2 children are seriously injured from the accident.

There was a horrific cable car accident in Italy Sunday ... and at least 8 people died.

The car -- which connects Italy's Maggiore Lake with a nearby mountain, careened to the ground.

The car takes tourists from the town of Stresa up 1400 meters above sea level to Mottarone Mountain. The ride is supposed to take 20 minutes.

There was a frantic rescue attempt which included 2 helicopter ambulances to take the injured to a local hospital.

The car that plunged to the ground carried 11 people, 2 of which were children. The children survived and were taken to the hospital. So far, authorities have not said what caused the cable car to plunge to the ground. Authorities offered no additional details. We don't know if the entire lift operation was halted, but that's typically what happens after such an accident.

The tragedy has several layers. As the world escapes the grip of the pandemic, people are traveling at a fever pitch, and that's why the mountain was so crowded with tourists ... people who were held up for more than a year ... looking for some enjoyment that turned to tragedy in an instant.

Originally published -- 5:16 AM PT

Lisa Vanderpump Pooch Foundation Banks on Cameo ... Raises Over $200k!!!

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Lisa Vanderpump's barking up the RIGHT tree when it comes to raising money for her dog foundation ... 'cause she's using Cameo vids to raise big bank for the pups!!!

So, get this ... Lisa usually hosts a huge in-person gala for her Vanderpump Dogs Foundation but when the pandemic hit last year, those plans went kaput -- and that's when Lisa made a brilliant pivot.

The ex-'Real Housewives' star turned to Cameo to raise the money, and so far, after recording more than 1,100 Cameo shout-outs, we're told she's hauled in $215k ... with more to come.

All proceeds from her $275-per-video fee go straight to her non-profit dog rescue org to fund all kinds of necessities -- housing hundreds of dogs and getting them medical treatments.

We're told the foundation's executive director, Dr. John Sessa, and Lisa's daughter, Pandora, have also been instrumental in raising funds for the org outside of Lisa's Cameo gig.

Just to give you an idea of how much time LV's putting into this ... we're told, at one point, she recorded roughly 50 videos in one sitting. #GoodHooman.

And, those who are still new to her work with dogs will soon get a closer look.

Peacock, NBC's streaming service, just announced Lisa's new show, "Vanderpump Dogs" ... which will follow the stories and adoptions that go down at her foundation in WeHo.

And, hopefully ... more cash donations will follow too.

Celebrity Scramble Guess Who!

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Hidden within this stretched-out snap is an actor that is best known for his sketch comedy.

This famous fella got his big start on Nickelodeon and starred in a number of their projects including a sketch show for kids and a burger-based comedy.

He later went on to join the sketch comedy big leagues, and has even won an Emmy for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series for his work.

Use the clues above and take another look at the photo before putting your celeb skills to the test and seeing if you have what it takes to guess which celebrity is hiding in this warped photo!

Lamar Odom I'll KO Aaron Carter In 1st Round ... He Has 'No Chance'

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HE WON'T LAST A MINUTE

Lamar Odom says his boxing match with Aaron Carter will last shorter than a TikTok video ... telling TMZ Sports he's gonna knock out the former pop star in the FIRST ROUND!!!

As we previously reported, the NBA champ has been CRUSHING it in the gym leading up to his June 12 bout with the "I Want Candy" crooner ... looking as polished as ever during training session vids.

We spoke with 41-year-old Odom ahead of the big fight in Atlantic City ... and he's basically saying folks won't wanna blink -- 'cause it'll be over in a flash.

"It's not gon' be a fight," Odom tells us. "It ain't gon' be a fight."

We asked if Odom will be able to handle AC in the first round ... and the dude is confident as hell he won't even need the full 1 minute and 30 seconds to get the win.

"Yeah. Probably, I would say the first minute."

Odom's had a lot going for him recently -- he just debuted his film, "Reborn," which details his use of psychedelic medicines to bounce back from addiction and anxiety.

Odom tells us how he's been recovering from his 2015 overdose ... saying, "Well you gotta put God first, your higher power first, before you do anything."

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REFRESHED AND REBORN

He adds his great friend Kobe Bryant is still inspiring him every day to strive for greatness ... adding "Family, my children. That's the reason why I'm living. It's just me sharing my 'Mamba Mentality' moment."

"That's the quest of being the best version of myself. In search of that."