Ted Cruz says Caitlin Clark is under no obligation to jump into the transgender athlete debate ... but he was more than happy to take his shot -- including one aimed at TMZ DC.
Charlie got the Senator from Texas on Capitol Hill Tuesday and asked whether Caitlin should take a stand after Megyn Kelly called the WNBA star a "coward" for not picking sides after her teammate said young girls in sports shouldn't have to compete against biological men.
Cruz first praised Caitlin as "a hell of a ball player" ... then said athletes shouldn't be required to weigh in on every hot-button topic.
As for his own view, Cruz didn't hold back ... arguing it's unfair for transgender women to compete against biological women -- and challenging Charlie by asking whether it would be fair to let LeBron James play in the WNBA ... then asking if he knew the difference between boys and girls.
2:05 PMPT -- Maui Police Department tells TMZ ... at one point, Kirill Basin had pulled out a knife -- injuring himself in the process.
He allegedly chucked it into the ocean before the cops arrived. They say a bystander found the alleged knife and turned it over to police.
MPD tells us the whole thing started when Basin was approached about turning his music down ... they say he allegedly threatened the man and his wife, claiming he had a gun and was going to shoot her.
A Hawaiian congressional candidate got hit by a double whammy ... he first got his ass whooped on the beach ... and then he reportedly got arrested for making terroristic threats ... and the brawl is on video.
Kirill Basin, a Democratic candidate running for Congress against incumbent Democrat Jill Tokuda, got into a heated back-and-forth Saturday with a couple at Keawakapu Beach on Maui. The verbal altercation was captured by a witness on dramatic video, along with the ensuing ass-kicking.
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Check it out and bring the popcorn ... the clip starts with Basin talking about putting the other man in the hospital before doing a total 180 and shaking the man's hand.
Former 'Real Housewives of Orange County' star Kelly Dodd is dragging her brand manager to court … claiming the woman sent products intended for Kelly to her own home ... causing Kelly to lose out on brand deals and paydays in the process.
According to court docs obtained by TMZ, Kelly and her husband Rick Leventhal sued a Florida-based woman named Lacey Kogan for $12,500 in small claims court.
Kelly said she hired Lacey to work as her brand manager "to solicit deals with companies that paid Kelly to share their products on her social media for monthly payments and commissions."
Alex Dougherty, the oldest son of the parents behind the wildly popular "Dougherty Dozen" social media channels, is standing by his younger brother, James Dougherty, after his arrest on a public lewdness charge.
Alex addressed the controversy on social media, saying he supports James, is there for him and considers the discussion over. He also assured followers his brother is doing okay.
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19-year-old James was arrested July 29 at a mall in upstate New York. According to the Ontario County Sheriff's Office, deputies determined James was allegedly masturbating inside his vehicle in the mall parking lot while visible to members of the public.
Lisa Vanderpumpis taking TomTom back to its original identity ... removing the PUMP branding added to the West Hollywood venue nearly three years ago as she continues searching for a buyer ... TMZ has learned.
Ken Todd, Lisa's husband, tells TMZ ... having two restaurant identities operating from the same property became confusing, and because the space was always the TomTom building, they decided to make it solely TomTom again.
Workers removed the PUMP signs from the building and front gate Monday, officially ending the dual brand setup.
Jared Leto apparently lost out on a major movie role last year ... with producers behind the political thriller "Assassination" ultimately passing on the actor as sexual misconduct allegations mounted.
Leto was deep in talks to join Barry Levinson's film before concerns about the accusations helped bring those discussions to an end ... according to Page Six.
Leto's failed casting comes back into focus after even more allegations surfacedlast week in the BBC documentary "Jared Leto: Hollywood's Dark Secret."
Brad Pittclaims his ex-wife, Angelina Jolie, is refusing to turn over her movie contracts as he challenges her claim that she put her career on ice following their 2016 separation ... and now he wants a judge to intervene ... TMZ has learned. Angelina denies Brad has a right to see the information.
Brad filed court docs claiming Angelina has been giving him the runaround on producing documents showing her income from 2017 to 2021. During the time period, Angelina starred in many projects including "Maleficent: Mistress of Evil," Marvel's "Eternals," and "Those Who Wish Me Dead."
Brad's team says they asked her to provide info on upfront fees for her film roles, brand sponsorships, and any profit participation statements from movies Angelina starred in leading up to the time when she claims she "determined that she needed to sell Chateau Miraval to achieve financial independence."
The life of an influencer is hard and all, but if jet-setting and yacht sailing is part of the job description, then where does one apply?!?
Stassie Karanikolaoucan check off Spain from her summer tour of travels -- the brunette bombshell served up a stack of sexy snaps aboard a bougie yacht, looking extra glowy and gorgeous.
Fresh out the water, Stassie came thru drippin' with sunny selfies on deck ... and there's plenty more where these came from.
'Real Housewives of Atlanta' alum NeNe Leakes' son Bryson Bryant added a new mug shot to his collection after being booked into jail once again ... TMZ has learned.
According to jail records obtained by TMZ, Bryson checked into the Gwinnett County Jail in Georgia on July 24 related to a contempt of court charge.
Bryson has a lengthy history of legal trouble. As we first reported, he was arrested May 1 for allegedly failing to pay court-ordered child support, violating probation, and failing to appear.
Scott Disick can still flip it with the best of 'em ... because he developed a property -- and now he's ready to sell for $20 million!
The "Flip It Like Disick" star is selling an 11,227-square-foot home which sits on more than an acre of land in a gated neighborhood in Hidden Hills.
The 7-bedroom, 10-bathroom abode boasts a professional theater, floating staircase, massage and wellness room ... plus a bar with an entrance that makes it feel like a speakeasy.
Influencer Joe Felz -- known for documenting his van life, businesses and spiritual journey -- is dead.
Joe's girlfriend, Alxzondra, announced his death Monday in an emotional Instagram statement ... writing, "Joe Felz has left this earth and has finally found his free."
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The cause and manner of death are unclear.
Joe's girlfriend said she didn't have many words and asked fans to give her, Joe's family, and his loved ones space to process the enormous loss.
WWE Hall of Famer Dory Funk Jr. -- one of the longest-reigning world champions in professional wrestling history -- is dead.
Triple H announced Dory's death Tuesday ... paying tribute to the wrestling legend and saying Dory's hard-nosed style inspired countless performers and helped lay the early foundation for pro wrestling to become a global phenomenon.
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He said Dory's impact stretched far beyond his own matches ... pointing to the decades Dory spent training younger athletes for life inside the squared circle.
Nicki Minaj may sing about starships ... but when it comes to real science, D.L. Hughley says she's better off trusting Dr. Anthony Fauci -- and taking a look at the president she supports instead.
We got the comedian at Cedric the Entertainer's 13th annual celebrity golf tournament on Monday ... and we had to ask about Nicki roasting Dr. Fauci for his role in the Covid-19 pandemic.
D.L. says Nicki shouldn't go after the dude who tried to inject some scientific method into America's COVID response ... specifically mentioning when President Donald Trump said the virus could be cured by injecting disinfectant into our veins.
A bit of a wild statement, considering she's done things with Orlando that people don't usually do with their brothers ... it's literally how they had their son, Flynn.
Johnnyand Matthew Gaudreau's father has not forgiven the man who allegedly took their lives ... as the two-year anniversary of their death looms ... TMZ has learned.
Guy Gaudreau tells TMZ ... he has not forgiven Sean Higgins, who was charged with aggravated manslaughter after allegedly ramming his Jeep into the brothers while they rode bicycles in New Jersey. Guy also says he has not forgiven God for taking his sons away from him.
He explains ... "Everyone's life goes on but mine. I will never get my sons back."
Guy told us he doesn't know how he will ever forgive Higgins.
The leader of a Mexican criminal cartel was swept up by authorities after allegedly ordering the brutal murders of his son's beauty influencer ex-girlfriend and a mayor.
Ramón Ángel Álvarez Ayala was arrested in late July by military personnel and law enforcement officers during a joint operation ... according to multiple reports.
Mexican officials say Ayala was known as "El R-1" ... he was the main leader of "Los Rs", one of the most violent criminal organizations connected to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel -- a group allegedly involved in murder, extortion and drug trafficking.
According to authorities, Ayala masterminded and financed the hit on 23-year-old beauty influencer Valeria Marquez -- whose ex-boyfriend is Ayala's son. In May 2025, Marquez was shot and killed by a gunman while livestreaming in her beauty salon in the Mexican city of Zapopan.
