E.T. ANIMATRONIC HEAD AUCTIONED FOR $635K ... Out of This World Sale!!!

Published

The original mechanical animatronic head from Steven Spielberg's "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial" has sold, and as you'd expect ... it went for an astronomical final bid.

A whopping $635,000 was shelled out for the iconic piece created by legendary special effects artist Carlo Rambaldi. It's composed of a metal frame and a foam latex outer skin, which could activate the pulsation of veins in some close-up scenes.

The 1982 movie centered around a young boy befriending an alien stranded on Earth ... catapulting the likes of Drew Barrymore and Henry Thomas to mega-stardom.

The sale was made through Julien's Auction, which joined forces with TCM Presents during a 4-day star-studded auction event entitled "Hollywood Legends" -- and it all kicked off Thursday with a "Robots, Wizards, Heroes & Aliens" themed evening in Beverly Hills.

Other pop culture memorabilia auctioned off included a "Lost in Space" Robot Model B-9 selling for $455,000 ... and a "Conan The Destroyer" sword netting $45,500 -- 4 times more than it was estimated to bag.

'Harry Potter' prop wands also exceeded expectations, with Ron Weasley's selling for $76,200, Hermione Granger's for $28,575, and Lord Voldemort's for $57,150.

Suge Knight I've Been Hacked!!! Says X & FB Pages Are Fake

Published | Updated

Suge Knight says he's got nothing to do with the recent string of social media posts drumming up Tupac conspiracy theories and old beefs with Snoop Dogg and Diddy … because he has no access to those accounts.

Suge tells TMZ Hip Hop ... someone is out to destroy his reputation by hacking into his Twitter and FB accounts. He says the hacker is attempting to come off as the real deal by posting clips from Suge's “Collect Call” podcast and old photos.

daz-dillinger
HELP YOUR FRIEND SNOOP

The incarcerated music mogul says he has no issues standing on anything he's ever said, on the podcast or otherwise, but he can't condone the activity on the social accounts ... which created Daz Dillinger's current rift with Snoop.

Suge's currently serving a 28-year prison sentence and tells us the errant posts have caused him a ton of unnecessary stress -- and he wants Twitter and FB to boot the hacker.

Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.

He's adamant he wouldn't invite such negative energy to his situation, and says his only official account is his Instagram page.

Suges' podcast is already spicy enough -- no need to over-season on social media!!!

Kanye West Unhinged Rant in Vegas ... 'Jesus Christ, Hitler, Ye! Sponsor That!!!'

Published | Updated

Kanye West is apparently in the grips of a serious mental health episode ... that's the only conclusion to draw from his furious rant, attacking his ex-business partners, Donald Trump and, of course, Jewish people.

Looking like a cult leader, Kanye was surrounded by a few dozen people early Friday morning somewhere in Las Vegas when he just lost it -- during a roughly 10-minute explosion he seemed to draw a direct line from Jesus to himself as he screamed, "Jesus Christ, Hitler, Ye! Sponsor that!!!"

He also rolled out one of his favorite antisemitic gems ... claiming Zionist Jews own all the banks, hospitals and even private schools in Los Angeles.

During the rant, which was live streamed by several people in the room -- including Miami influencer Yes Juelz, who was standing next to him -- Kanye screamed "f***" Balenciaga, Gap and Louis Vuitton." He also said he wouldn't support Donald Trump's run for president if he didn't free Larry Hoover from prison.

Perhaps the most troubling part was when he started yelling about his daughter, presumably North ... as he screamed, "My daughter ripped up the mother f**king couches in the house to be able to be with me right now."

Indeed, North was with Ye Thursday night in Vegas, during a listening event for his new "Vultures" album. With North and Ty Dolla $ign next to him he rapped, "I still keep some Jews with me. Management? Nah. I only let 'em do my jewelry."

During his rant, Kanye groused that no one was standing up for him, and when one woman in the room challenged him by saying, "You ain't God, n***a" ... he threatened to have her tossed out of the room.

Watch the video, there's a lot to try to make sense of here -- but, the bottom line is Kanye seems to be in a very bad, very dark mental space.

Michael B. Jordan New Video Shows Actor Racing another Ferrari Just Before Crash

Published | Updated
michael_b_jordan_kal- 12/2/23
NEED FOR SPEED

New video shows Michael B. Jordan's violent car crash as it unfolded in Hollywood ... and it appears the actor may have been racing another car before smashing into a parked car.

Check out the new clip -- Michael's blue Ferrari is speeding down the street next to another Ferrari, and it looks like they were racing as Michael's car veered into a parked Kia.

120323_michael_b_jordan_kal 12/2/23
MANGLED MESS

You see his car lurch left, and then move sharply to the right as MBJ appears to try and correct, but he goes too far and careens into the Kia.

Mind you .... they were racing on busy Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood.

Both MBJ's car and the Kia were mangled messes. LAPD found no signs Michael was impaired by drugs or alcohol. At the time. cops asked Michael what had happened but he didn't offer an explanation. Now we know.

Crashing during a race can be a real drag.

We covered it all on the latest episode of The TMZ Podcast, available on all podcast platforms.

Ukraine Video Shows Politician Detonating Grenades During Council Meeting

Published | Updated
121523_ukraine_grenade_kal_v2
The Shocking Footage

A local politician in Western Ukraine turned a village meeting into chaos Friday morning when he detonated 2 grenades, injuring 26 people ... and it was live streamed on Facebook.

The man enters the council room during a heated discussion. He stands around for around half a minute, then pulls the grenades out of his jacket and tosses them into the room.

You hear the explosions and people screaming as the room fills with smoke.

What makes this even more horrific ... the man's grievance was over his salary. The council members were debating whether to give themselves a wartime pay increase. He had been arguing with his fellow council members, left the meeting and came back with the grenades.

Six people are currently listed in grave condition. There were reports the grenade-thrower had died, but doctors resuscitated him.

Kanye West & Kid Cudi Friends Again ... Hug It Out In Vegas

Published | Updated
121523_kanye_cudi_kal 12/15/23
FRIENDSHIP REBORN

Kid Cudi was clearly in a much better mood than Kanye West Thursday night as he officially ended their beef in Las Vegas -- a total shocker to many after Cudi vowed to forever cut all ties with him just last year!!!

The “Kids See Ghosts” duo were spotted hugging, and briefly speaking during Kanye’s Vegas rave for his “Vultures" album.

Kanye and Cudi feuded through all of 2022 -- Ye was upset Cudi chose to keep his friendship with Pete Davidson as he dated Kim Kardashian ... which forced Cudi to label him a dinosaur in the music industry, and swear to never work with him again.

You can see Cudi was far more inviting than Kanye, who pulled away after a few moments Thursday night. It's unclear if the reunion happened before or after Ye went on a wacky rant in which he lumped himself in with Jesus Christ AND Hitler!

Everyone else seemed to be having a good time and enjoying the music ... Cher's boyfriend Alexander “AE” Edwards and several women can also be spotted catching a vibe to the new music ... before the festivities got shut down by cops.

Ye and Cudi have a HUGE history working together, and Kim and Pete are no longer a thing -- soooo, no reason to stay mad???

Justin Timberlake Addresses Britney Backlash ... 'Cry Me a River' Is Nothing Personal

Published | Updated
121523_justin_timberlake_kal 12/13/23
Cry Him A River

Justin Timberlake seemed to address the controversy around him in Britney Spears' recent memoir during his Sin City performance -- using just two words to make his cryptic point.

As you know, JT hit the stage to perform in a theater at the grand opening of the posh Fontainebleau Las Vegas Wednesday night -- but, as he teed up his hit, "Cry Me A River," he suddenly made his very brief comment.

Check out this new footage ... Before launching into the song, JT turned to the packed crowd and said, "No disrespect," apparently referring to Britney, who slammed the track for its link to their shattered relationship in her book, "The Woman In Me," published in October.

JT created the tune after his 2002 breakup with Brit, alluding to infidelity in the lyrics and, in an accompanying video, he shared the spotlight with a woman who looks a bit like Brit.

In her memoir, Brit revealed several of the secrets they kept as a couple for years, shocking the world with her claim that Justin got her pregnant and they agreed to get an abortion.

Brit wrote that they didn't want the news to leak to the media, so they opted for an at-home abortion -- which BS described as an excruciatingly painful procedure.

She also said infidelity was a 2-way street in their relationship.

As for JT, he has yet to release an official statement addressing the controversy. But his two-word comment at his Vegas show might be all he has to say.

Brazilian Gospel Singer Drops Dead During Show

Published | Updated

A tragedy unfolded for fans of Brazilian gospel singer Pedro Henrique ... as he collapsed onstage in the middle of a performance and died.

The incident happened Wednesday night during a religious event in Brazil, where Pedro was performing a song when he suddenly fell to the floor unconscious ... and it's all on video.

Footage shows Pedro on the edge of the stage interacting with the crowd and singing the song "Vai Ser Tão Lindo" when he appears to lose his balance ... falling backward in front of his band and crashing to the ground.

Once Pedro collapsed onstage, folks rushed over to help him as the horrified crowd watched in shock.

Pedro was rushed from the concert venue to a nearby medical clinic, where he was pronounced dead ... and his record label, Todah Music, says he suffered a massive heart attack.

He was only 30.

RIP

KANYE WEST & TY DOLLA $IGN 'VULTURES' BASH SHUT DOWN BY COPS

Published | Updated

Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign's "Vultures" album was supposed to be released Friday, unsurprisingly, that didn't happen ... and to add to the string of bad luck, their Vegas listening party got shut down by the cops.

A law enforcement source tells TMZ LVMPD officers first responded to a warehouse in the Vegas desert at 11:21 PM Thursday after getting info a promoter was organizing a music event. At first, they were assisting with crowd control and dispersal.

121523_Kanye_North_kal DECEMBER 2023
IT'S YOUR BESTIE

However, we're told the promoter wasn't able to produce any licensing for the event ... and was cited by Clark County investigators, who eventually shut things down only a few songs in.

News of the shutdown first surfaced when social media personality YesJulz revealed on X, "Cops shut us down. We are putting another stream up in 20 minutes."

Quavo, Rich The Kid, Playboi Carti, Lil Durk and more were in attendance at the rave -- where the admission tickets sold for $2,000. At one point, Kanye performed with his 10-year-old daughter North West.

Everything surrounding the album has drawn incredible controversy so far ... with the "I just f***ed a Jewish bitch" lyrics from the lead single "Vultures" ... and Ye performing at a listening party earlier this week in KKK-inspired black garb.

121523_kanye_signs_kal
WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS, STAYS IN VEGAS

His daughter's involvement in the album has also raised eyebrows -- though North appeared to enjoy her daddy-daughter time.

Selena Gomez Lockin' Lips With Benny Blanco

Published

Selena Gomez is all in with Benny Blanco ... because they clearly can't keep their lips off each other!

SG posted some pics showcasing some of her "favorite moments" in New York this week -- starting with a photo celebrating her pal Taylor Swift's birthday.

And then there's the kiss ... celebrating her love for Benny as she plants a big one on his lips

As you know, Selena's been putting BB on her socials, defending her relationship with Benny after some of her wonky fans blasted her for "dating down" ... referencing her prior relationships with guys like Justin Bieber and Nick Jonas.

Selena's fired back, saying she'll never date "a f***boy ever again," and that he's been treating her "better than any human being."

Good on her ... only thing is, don't give those jerks oxygen.

We covered the drama on the latest episode of TMZ Verified, available on all podcast platforms.

Nicki Minaj Sorry Ye, Clearing Old Music Doesn't Work For My New Album!!!

Published | Updated

Nicki Minaj isn't budging on Kanye West's impromptu request to clear her verse for his upcoming "Vultures" album ... despite his album being scheduled to drop on Friday.

In a new convo with her fans on IG, Nicki softened her tone and told all Ye's supporters there was no disrespect ... but whatever wrapping you put on it, the bottom line is it just ain't happening!

As everyone knows, Nicki just released her long-delayed "Pink Friday 2" album -- which is headed to the top of the Billboard charts!!!

Nicki says she doesn't want to redirect any momentum from her album, so Ye is likely going to have to find another solution to fill the track.

Kanye originally had Nicki rap on "New Body" for his long-lost "Yandhi" album back in 2018 and a different version -- without Nicki's verse -- was played earlier this week at his Miami listening party for "Vultures."

There's no telling if "New Body" is the reason "Vultures" isn't dropping Friday morning, as promised, but fans aren't happy.

We're sure they'll be alright ... nothing they haven't experienced before!

Justin Timberlake I Perform at Fontainebleau, But Sleep at Wynn

Published

Justin Timberlake apparently made a boatload of $$$ for his performance during the grand opening of the Fontainebleau Hotel in Vegas Wednesday, but he triggered a hotel war by staying overnight at the Wynn.

Justin shared a pic after his big appearance at Fontainebleau's big event, strolling down a hotel hallway with his wife, Jessica Biel. Thing is ... something looked off.

Social media sleuths noticed the hallway isn't part of the Fontainebleau ... it's the Wynn! So dude got a reported $6.1 million from the Fontainebleau and chose to put his head on a Wynn pillow.

The folks over at Wynn found JT's post irresistible ... re-posting the pic on the hotel's IG with the caption, "where everyone ends up."

121423_timberlake_brady_kal
ROLLIN' WITH THE G.O.A.T.

Wynn's post has been taken down, but point well made!

We checked with Fontainebleau and although rooms Wednesday night were not available to the public, they were available to the celebs, including Justin, who attended the grand opening.

The feud between Fontainebleau and Wynn has been brewing for a while. Wynn had accused Fontainebleau of poaching its employees, so this was payback.

121523_justin_timberlake_kal 12/13/23
Cry Him A River

Fontainebleau cost $3.7 billion to get up and running. Gotta start renting those rooms to make it back!

'SQUID GAME: THE CHALLENGE' WINNER WILL FINALLY GET $4.56M PRIZE ... Well, Soon!!!

Published | Updated

The winner of "Squid Game: The Challenge" is inching closer to finally seeing her $4.56M payday, but by the terms of her contract ... TMZ has learned she's still gotta play the waiting game.

Sources tell TMZ ... show champ Mai Whelan -- who recently said her winnings from the Netflix series have yet to hit her bank account -- signed a contract alongside all other contestants that stated the jackpot would be disbursed 30 days after the finale aired.

The finale aired December 6, so 30 days later would be Friday, January 5, 2024 -- so Mai won't get those millions until next year.

Basically, Mai knew all along she'd have to wait a while for the big bucks to roll in ... 'cause the contract she signed informed her about the payment plan.

When she revealed last week she still hadn't seen a dime ... everyone took it as her complaining -- but with the full context of her contract, it's more likely she was reminding producers the clock's ticking!

We're also told it's unclear if she'll receive the money as a lump sum or in increments.

Despite not receiving the dough, Mai -- who escaped Vietnam as a young girl during the communist regime -- has already splurged on some luxe items such as Jimmy Choo shoes and a Ralph Lauren dress.

Although, when the check does come through, Mai says she'll be spending it more responsibly ... on a retirement home, and donating to charity.

Prince Harry Wins Landmark Phone Hacking Case Judge Awards Him $180K

Published | Updated

Prince Harry just landed a huge victory in his landmark civil suit against the Mirror Group Newspapers, as the judge found the company illegally obtained information from the royal, awarding him about $180,000 in damages!!!

Judge Timothy Fancourt handed down his ruling Friday in a London courtroom, explaining that MGN-owned newspapers unlawfully gathered personal details about Harry's life and published them for the world to read.

Fancourt determined that the tabloids hacked Harry's phone and gained access to his voicemail messages to write their juicy stories.

In his 2019 suit, Harry claimed the intrusions went on for years, and also targeted his wife, Meghan Markle, causing them "considerable distress."

Judge Fancourt found that 15 out of the 33 articles published by The Sunday Mirror and another paper contained information illegally gathered by hacking into Harry's personal phone between 2004 and 2009. Harry's attorney entered a total of 147 newspaper stories into evidence -- and many of them were forensically analyzed.

Most of Harry's allegations in the suit occurred from 1991 to 2011 at a time when he was running third to the British throne behind his father, King Charles, and his older brother, Prince William.

During the trial, Harry testified for seven hours, making him the first senior royal to take the witness stand in centuries in a court of law.

Harry and Meghan still have two more lawsuits pending against British tabloids for allegedly violating their privacy rights.

ROSARIO DAWSON ONE HOT GRANDMA AT 44 'Call Me Glamma!!'

Published | Updated

Rosario Dawson's family tree is growing branches ... with the actress set to become a first-time grandma at age 44!!

The "Seven Pounds" actress revealed her daughter Isabella is pregnant with her first child -- and she plans to be called "Glamma" once the new arrival is here.

"It's very exciting," Rosario enthused to Page Six ... adding the baby is due next year.

Rosario adopted 21-year-old Isabella in 2014 out of foster care ... and has largely kept her out of the spotlight -- though they were pictured together on a red carpet in 2017.

In 2021, she opened up about her motherhood journey ... explaining she didn't go through an adoption agency or center... telling Health magazine she knew Isabella's biological mother and that it was without a shadow of a doubt that she'd adopt her when she found out her circumstances.

Rosario talked about her desire to adopt years before ... saying she wanted children to pass on stories of how amazing the other women in the family were.

And, a decade after adopting Isabella ... it looks like her daughter will continue passing on those stories just as she had hoped.

Kanye West Disney Day With Bianca & North

Published | Updated

Kanye West is back home in California with his family ... taking his daughter North to Disneyland, a place that's practically her playground, but there were some big differences on this trip.

Ye spent part of his Thursday visiting the Mouse House with North and his new wife, Bianca Censori.

North's been to Disneyland a bunch with her famous parents, and other family members, over the years -- but this is the first time she's been with stepmom Bianca -- instead of Kim Kardashian -- as far as we've seen.

TMZ obtained photos of the trio making their way through the huge Disneyland holiday crowds with a personal Disney tour guide, of course, and some security in tow.

Folks in the park tell us Kanye, Bianca and North went the back way into the Haunted Mansion -- reserved for VIPs -- and North looked happy as she held Bianca's hand.

On their way into the Haunted Mansion, which currently has a "Nightmare Before Christmas" holiday overlay, we're told North and Bianca were talkative ... while Kanye remained silent.

Kanye and Bianca have been married about a year now, and all evidence points to his kids totally warming up to her.

After riding the Haunted Mansion, we're told the West trio hoofed it over to nearby Frontier Land for more fun.

As you can see, Kanye is covering up in a black hoodie, and we're told the group went largely unnoticed -- which, as you'd expect, never happens when Kim's there. Interestingly, Bianca was rocking one of her standard bodysuits, but a much more conservative, non-see-through, family-friendly one.

Kanye and Bianca have been all over the world this year -- Japan, all over Europe and then Dubai ... where, earlier this week, Kanye unveiled his new album, "Vultures."

121223_kanye_west_north_kal 12/11/23
BRING YOUR DAUGHTER TO WORK

North has a verse on the record, so you could view the trip to Anaheim as a celebration of her rap debut. Miss Westie loves her some Disneyland!