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HGTV star Nicole Curtis has one person coming to her defense after a video leaked of her using the N-word on her popular show "Rehab Addict" ... well, kinda.

Here's the deal ... the network shelved Nicole's show yesterday after the slur was made public ... and she later issued an apology, telling TMZ the use of that word does not represent who she is.

Ryan Sawtelle -- who worked on "Rehab Addict" and dated NC during the decade they knew each other -- told us he thinks Nicole's a bad person who treats others on the show like garbage ... so he's not surprised this video was leaked. He pointed to reports in the past of contractors suing her, claiming they weren't paid for their work.

However, he also added, “As much as I dislike her -- and it may be validating to see her get in trouble -- she is unequivocally not a racist. Nor has she ever said anything racially insensitive over the years we dated, and I have known her.”

Ryan -- who was actually holding the ladder in the 2022 episode clip when you hear Nicole blurt out the N-word -- told us she often used nonsensical words and gibberish to avoid cussing on the show … and calls it "unfortunate” she mistakenly blurted out the slur. RS points out ... “It was so unexpected, the crew laughed because we knew that isn’t her."

TMZ has received another email from the person who claims to know the identity of Nancy Guthrie's kidnapper ... and the words are chilling.

As we reported, TMZ received an email Wednesday, asking for 1 bitcoin in return for the name of the kidnapper. A single bitcoin is currently worth around $65,000. We monitored the account all day, but nothing was deposited.

Just after 8 AM Pacific Time Thursday ... TMZ received a second email from the same person, who complained, "I am not being taken seriously." He makes some ominous statements in the email ... TMZ is cooperating with law enforcement by not disclosing specifics. One thing he makes clear ... the situation has changed from Wednesday to Thursday.

As for why he wants a bitcoin ... he says he will need money to lay low after identifying the kidnapper for fear of retaliation. He also worries he might be "incriminated like that Carlos [the deliveryman who was detained and released] guy."

He ends by saying this is his final attempt to help.

Chuck D didn't mince words when addressing Gene Simmons' comment that rappers shouldn't be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ... he told us KISS is rock, but they got no roll.

ICYMI ... Simmons slammed the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on an episode of the "LegendsNLeaders" podcast, saying, "Hip-hop does not belong in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, nor does opera, symphony orchestras ... it's called the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame."

Chuck D says he's well acquainted with Gene Simmons' views, as the KISS member "seems to say this every 3 years."

The GoFundMe set up for James Van Der Beek's widow and his family is surging towards the $2 million mark ... and Steven Spielberg just gave it a serious boost.

The legendary director and wife Kate Capshaw dropped a massive $25,000 donation ... quickly landing the coveted "top donation" spot on the page set up to help James' family cover crushing cancer treatment costs.

Spielberg’s connection to James runs deep ... he was famously the filmmaking idol of James’ character Dawson Leery on "Dawson's Creek," and even showed up to the show's reunion last September while James battled his illness.

GloRilla's sister Scar Face Woods is still beefing with the rapper as they go back and forth over how much Glo is helping to financially support the family ... and the dirty laundry has been good for Scar Face's bottom line.

Scar Face joined us on "TMZ Live" Thursday and told us Glo is breaking off crumbs for their parents ... even though Glo hopped on social media with her parents and they thanked her for buying them things, like a Jaguar for her pops.

Thing is ... Scar Face claims Glo paid their parents $9,000 for the kind words.

Kandi Burruss says her estranged husband, Todd Tucker, is living rent-free in her guest house amid their bitter divorce and not paying a dime in rent ... TMZ has learned.

According to new court docs, obtained by TMZ, the 'RHOA' alum slammed Todd for not contributing financially to the home and the care of their kids ... as they continue to fight over custody and support.

Kandi says since they separated, Todd's been living in her guest house in Atlanta ... which she says is her own property purchased before the marriage. In the docs, she says Todd hasn't paid a “single expense for the maintenance and upkeep of the home, to include - utilities, gas, lawn care, water, pest control or even fees associated with the alarm system.”

Eva Longoria leaned on a trusted friend while assembling the cast of Netflix's "The Fifth Wheel" ... tapping Brooks Nader for a role in the Netflix comedy.

Production sources tell TMZ ... it was Eva who personally asked Brooks to be part of the female-driven film. The two have been friends for a few years, and Eva believed Brooks would be a strong fit for the project.

We're told there were no shortcuts, and Brooks still came in and read for the role like any other actress. She auditioned, impressed, and landed the part.

We got photos of Brooks on set in Pasadena Wednesday, deep in filming. Our production sources say she's not just popping in for a cameo ... she's playing a meaty role with multiple speaking scenes.

Jill Zarin's controversial comments about Bad Bunny's halftime show have tons of people turning against her ... and one company with a former connection to the star is paying the price.

Here's the deal ... Zarin Fabrics -- a company owned and run by Zarin's stepson David -- has commenters on Yelp and Facebook accusing the company of racism.

Check it out ... commenters are posting one-star reviews and demanding they immediately ditch Jill. The problem ... the company's already addressed the controversy -- and Jill hasn't had a role with Zarin Fabrics for years.

1:40 PM PT -- Cardi B is not backing down in this developing feud with DHS ... tweeting her response hours after their comment.

The Department of Homeland Security is clapping back at Cardi B's ICE diss ... by digging up her stripper past!

ICYMI ... Cardi opened her "Little Miss Drama Tour" in Palm Desert, California on Wednesday night and told fans she will throw hands if ICE shows up at her concerts. A DHS spokesperson went all out in their icy response, telling TMZ ... "As long she doesn’t drug and rob our agents, we’ll consider that an improvement over her past behavior."

If you're scratching your heads ... the "I Like It" hitmaker raised eyebrows in 2019 when an old clip resurfaced in which she admitted to drugging and stealing from men when she was an exotic dancer. Specifically, she said she would bring clients to hotel rooms in order to "drug them up" and then rob them.

Jill Zarin is out at the 'RHONY' reunion show "The Golden Life," but producers aren't looking to fill her big shoes, at least as of now ... TMZ has learned.

Multiple sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... producers currently have no plans to replace Jill on the E! series after she was fired this week over her controversial statements about Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime performance, which many people found to be racist.

We're told the show's producers feel the remaining women are more than capable of carrying the show and don't need anyone else to take over Jill's spot.

Our sources also tell us fans could still see familiar faces from past RHONY seasons because there's chatter about cameos during filming. Speaking of former cast members, Dorinda Medley has just joined the reunion show ... but not as a full-time cast member, as of now.

TMZ Sports is going live from the newsroom to discuss the day's biggest stories ... but we don't just want folks to watch and enjoy the conversation, we want y'all to get involved!!

Hit the comment section as Babcock, Lucas, Luca, and the whole crew break down the most important topics of the day ... and we'll be interacting with viewers throughout the program between 1 and 2:30 PM PT.

YouTube, X, TikTok ... we're everywhere.

So tune in, make fun of us, share your two cents, sound off about your favorite team ... nothing is out of bounds.

This looks like a big update in the D4vd case ... prosecutors want to call the singer's mother, father, and brother to testify before the grand jury in California, but D4vd's family isn't giving in without a fight.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, D4vd's fam is claiming a court order summoning them to testify in California violates their due process rights.

Dawud, Colleen, and Caleb Burke, who all live in Texas, claim they were denied due process because they were given redacted versions of the affidavits used to support a lower Texas court's order summoning them to be witnesses in a California grand jury proceeding.

Chloe Kim fell just short of making history at the 2026 Winter Olympics ... as the 25-year-old took home the silver medal after putting up a score of 88.00 in an attempt to become the first snowboarder ever to win three straight gold medals in a single event.

Things were looking good for Kim when she took an early lead after her first run. For those who don't know, the best score you post counts toward the final results.

It took until the third run for someone to pass her ... when South Korea's Gaon Choi scored a 90.25 on her last attempt. When Kim took the pipe for her response, she took a spill on her third trick, sealing the victory for Gaon.

Cardi B was NOT the drama on the opening night of her new tour ... but her fans were!

A parking lot brawl broke out after the show, which ended with an innocent bystander's car getting a hot dog splattered on it.

You gotta see this video ... it's completely unclear why these women were fighting, but it's also totally irrelevant. What's important is, in the middle of the tussle, someone drops a fully-loaded hot dog on the hood of a pristine white car.

Abigail Ratchford's stunning looks have gotten her spots in Sports Illustrated and Maxim ... and now she's landed in our sexy shots gallery to celebrate her 34th birthday!

The model and influencer never met a bikini she couldn't make even sexier. Check out this hot yellow 2-piece ... she made it hotter than the California sun.

And for all the real fans out there ... test your AR knowledge with the mini crossword below!

But you don't have to be an AR expert to know she doesn't just rock swimwear ... she can also wear the heck out of some lingerie -- like this racy, lacey black number.

The man in this video -- recorded just 5 miles from Nancy Guthrie's home -- is on the FBI's radar -- TMZ has learned -- and the timing of the video is critical.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... the FBI is lasering in on the man in the video, who is both wearing and carrying backpacks ... right around the time of the kidnapping.

The backpack the man is carrying appears to have reflective straps ... similar to the one the apparent kidnapper was wearing as he approached Nancy's front door. It's unclear if the reflectors are on the shoulder straps or the side of the backpack.

TMZ broke the story ... the backpack seen at Nancy's house is a Walmart Ozark Trail Hiker, and that has now been confirmed by authorities.

The man in the new video is trying to enter a locked gate, to no avail. He was recorded on a resident's Ring camera at 1:52 AM.