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Gypsy Rose Blanchard is getting her first taste of freedom ... and one of her first orders of business is footwear.

The famous felon and her husband Ryan went on a bit of a shopping spree Thursday, buying her some necessities ... like new kicks from a shoe warehouse.

Gypsy's not exactly doing retail therapy here ... she really needed the new shoes ... because earlier in the day we saw her leaving their hotel room wearing only socks on her feet.

GRB and her hubby have been tooling around in his white Cadillac sedan since he picked her up early Thursday following her early release on parole ... and they have a camera crew documenting her every move for an upcoming Lifetime docuseries.

With her newfound freedom in hand, Gypsy looks super happy here ... and she's got more big plans on the horizon ... like trying to meet Taylor Swift this weekend at the Kansas City Chiefs game.

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

Imagine Dragons is helping a 15-year-old Ukrainian boy's family get their home back together .... after the place was destroyed during the ongoing war in his country.

Sashko is the teenager from Ukraine who was featured in the music video for the band's song, "Crushed" ... the video and song became a huge hit in large part due to Sashko's story about losing everything at the hands of Russian forces.

The boy's home was completely obliterated in 2022. Shortly after the Imagine Dragons' Director of Photography Ty Arnold met Sashko during a trip to Ukraine and was moved by Sashko's story ... and wanted to let the world know about the horrors Sashko faced.

The music video sparked massive donations to UNITED24 -- a platform launched by President Zelensky to collect donations for Ukrainian's -- because Imagine Dragons teamed up with the organization.

Thanks to the Imagine Dragons video, UNITED24 found a private donor to rebuild Sashko's house.

UNITED24 used the funds to pay for the entire restoration of Sashko's house ... and we're told Ty handed over the keys to the rebuilt home last week to Sashko and his mother.

A teenage surfer tragically died on Thursday after he was mauled by a shark in South Australia ... and a witness says the horrifying incident all went down right in front of the boy's father.

South Australia Police said in a statement they received reports of the attack at around 1:30 PM at Ethel Beach in the Innes National Park ... but, sadly, when medics arrived on the scene, they said the boy had passed.

A bystander at the beach told the Adelaide Advertiser ... the teen had been out in the water with his father catching waves -- when a shark suddenly took his leg.

"Another local guy ran out, jumped on his board, and paddled out to help him," the witness told the outlet.

"The shark was circling them as the guy pulled the boy out of the water. There was a lot of blood. He brought him to shore but I think it was too late by then."

Tragically, this is the fifth reported shark attack this year in South Australia ... and sightings of the sea creatures have been common in the area recently.

In fact, a teacher was just killed by a shark at Walkers Rock in May -- which is just west of where the teen died Thursday.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard is no longer behind bars and TMZ has the first look at her prison pickup ... featuring her husband and a camera crew documenting her every move.

The famous felon was freed on parole early Thursday, and when she departed Chillicothe Correctional Center in Chillicothe, MO she was greeted by a familiar face ... her hubby, Ryan Scott Anderson.

Gypsy wanted to keep media away from the prison, and she left in a car ... but she's not shying away from Ryan's camera guy. After all, she's the subject of an upcoming Lifetime doc.

Ryan, a teacher from Louisiana who married Gypsy in prison last year, captured his wife's first taste of freedom after her 7 years behind bars ... and then he and the photog went back to their hotel a few hours later, without Gypsy.

As we first told you, Gypsy's release was super secretive ... media and fans weren't allowed on the premises, and the parking lot was off limits too.

Ryan and his photog had the golden ticket though ... his car stood out in the empty parking lot, and not just because of the personalized 'Hitman' license plate -- a tribute to the famous WWE wrestler.

Gypsy's homecoming has been eagerly anticipated ... remember, she was was sentenced to a decade behind bars back in 2016 being convicted in the murder of her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard -- who was accused of forcing Gypsy to pretend to be disabled for years.

Gypsy's then-boyfriend, Nick Godejohn, admitted to murdering Dee Dee in 2015 to help GRB escape her mother's clutches -- and he's still serving a life sentence.

As we reported ... Gypsy was granted parole in September, and her release on Thursday comes 3 years before her original release date.

Gypsy's case captured the nation's attention and spawned an HBO doc and a Hulu series ... though her story will now be told in her own words thanks to the new 3-part doc, "The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard." Hence the camera crew here.

Dwayne Johnson is NOT the In-N-Out Burger virgin he claims to be.

"The Rock" posted a fun video earlier this week claiming he was trying In-N-Out Burger for the first time ... leading to a lot of attention, headlines and pats on the back.

While we enjoyed Dwayne's production and his zest for In-N-Out hamburgers, fries, the smooth drive-thru process and their friendly employees ... we noticed he's done this same thing before.

In fact, this is the THIRD time Dwayne's mentioned going to In-N-Out for the first time.

Funnily enough, Dwayne posted a video on Instagram in August 2022 documenting a cheat meal of In-N-Out Double-Doubles, fries and his own brand of tequila.

Of course, Dwayne mixed reposado and blanco tequilas in the same glass to wash down his In-N-Out last year ... so maybe he forgot about the whole thing.

But then there's the fact The Rock also posted about his "first" In-N-Out experience back in 2017 ... that time it was just a selfie with a couple In-N-Out employees at the drive-thru window.

In his February 2017 post, Dwayne added a long caption explaining his wife and daughter wanted In-N-Out. He also promised to "destroy multiple burgers" should his "Moana" movie win an Oscar a few days later ... well, the movie came up empty.

So, Dwayne's at least been to In-N-Out and tried the food before claiming this week he was having his "first ever" experience at the popular chain.

Anthony Bourdain once said he would get more likes on IG posts about In-N-Out than pics with huge celebs ... and it seems Dwayne's wanting some of that engagement too.

Jennifer Lopez brought some serious heat to St. Barts ... strolling down the sandy white beach in a teeny white bikini top.

The multi-talented star paraded her toned bod while catching some rays ... completing the vacation look in a large straw hat, shades, and a pink towel wrapped around her hips.

With headphones plugged in, J Lo was in complete R&R mode ... clearly making the most of her festive Caribbean getaway following a busy year.

Things will kick off again in the New Year for Jen -- especially with the February release of her new doc, "This Is Me ... Now."

The film will focus on her rekindled romance with Ben Affleck and their 2022 nuptials ... so looks like the husband/wife duo will be hot on the promo trail soon.

Lance Bass is saying hi, hi, hi to an *NSYNC reunion ... he says there's discussions about getting the band back together.

Lance says Justin Timberlake, Joey Fatone, JC Chasez and Chris Kirkpatrick are talking about making a comeback ... and Lance is hoping to give *NSYNC fans good news at some point.

The boy band member hinted at the potential reunion during a recent appearance on the monthly online game show "Rent Free" which is played in the Bilt Rewards app.

But, when Bilt Rewards founder and CEO Ankur Jain pleaded for their return to be as early as January 1, Lance pumped the brakes ... saying, "Give us a little more time than that."

However, sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ there are still no official talks or plans for *NSYNC to reunite ... despite what Lance is saying here.

Our sources add there's no possibility of a tour, album, or residency happening anytime soon either.

Despite the uncertainty, an *NYSNC reunion would be a huge hit ... especially after the enormous reception to their VMA comeback in September.

Scott Disick is enjoying sandy beaches with a woman from his past ... his old flame, Chloe Bartoli, who he dated 17 years ago.

Scott and Chloe took a dip in the water together Wednesday in St. Barts, splashing away in the waves for a holiday rendezvous.

They seem to be pretty chummy and we're told they're staying in the same luxury villa together -- unclear how many bedrooms are in there, though. 👀

And, get this ... we're also told they were seen earlier in the trip dining at the same restaurant, so there's clearly something going on here.

As you know, Scott and the celebrity stylist dated back in 2006, before things between him and Kourtney Kardashian got serious. Scott and Chloe were also spotted lounging together in the South of France in 2015, when Kourtney worried he'd fallen off the wagon.

Chloe's also been previously linked to Jared Leto ... but it seems she's back on Scott's radar.

The home where 4 University of Idaho students were brutally murdered has been demolished ... this coming a year after suspected killer Bryan Kohberger was arrested.

The demo crew got to work early Thursday morning on razing the property in Moscow, ID ... the sun was barely up when demolition began, and the whole front of the building was out of sight in roughly 15 minutes.

The university claimed the demolition could take several days, although the property already looks completely unrecognizable. University officials said the decision to tear it down was an attempt "to decrease further impact on the students who live in that area."

As you know, it's been almost a year since 29-year-old Kohberger was arrested for the November 2022 murders of Kaylee Goncalves, Maddie Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin, who were all found dead inside the home.

The Goncalves and Kernodle families issued a statement Wednesday, asking the university to wait to tear the building down until Kohberger's trial is completed -- even though a trial date has not been set.

A Florida couple had a complete meltdown at the airport ... accusing American Airlines of keeping their pet dogs away from them after their flight was delayed.

Dustin Miller and his husband Anthony Thorne were captured on viral TikTok footage making a massive scene at Charlotte Douglas Airport in North Carolina ... while also telling a woman in a wheelchair to "f*** off, bitch!"

As you can see, Miller, who appears drunk, yells to other travelers at the top of his lungs that the airline has f***ed them over ... as they all wait to board a flight to Fort Lauderdale.

Thorne tries to calm his husband down, but to no avail ... as Miller fires back: "You don't care about the girls?!" .... repeatedly slurring the name of their pet dogs, Shelby and Dolly -- adding he was merely trying to get back home ASAP to be with them.

Miller's tirade escalates when the woman in the wheelchair with her own pet pooch beside her asks them to go away -- and he snaps viciously at her, too.

To add to the chaos, OnlyFans model Austin Summers, who used to live in the same apartment complex as the couple, recognized the couple from a video ... claiming on X they've made transphobic comments in the past.

Harry Styles is still lookin' Golden, even when the weather is crap ... 'cause he put his hot bod on full display while taking an ice-cold swim with his boo, Taylor Russell.

Harry and Taylor took a freezing cold dip in the Hampstead Heath swimming ponds, in a post recently uploaded on Instagram by a fan -- who we're sure was grinning from ear to ear.

The singer wasn't shying away from showing himself off ... rocking a beanie, underwear, what appears to be socks, and not much else -- we get why folks adore you, Harry.

As you know, Harry and Taylor have been linked since June when they were spotted on a date at a London art gallery ... and she was getting the VIP treatment at his Vienna concert the following month.

Since then, the 2 have been together quite a bit -- including when they got cozy at the press night for Taylor's play "The Effect" in London, as they chatted it up with folks like James Corden.

They also were spotted at U2's concert at Las Vegas' Sphere last month ... and as you'll recall, he was sporting a buzz cut -- which definitely shocked a few fans.

A Sephora customer has untangled a mysterious web ... why spiders can't get enough of their body butter.

A review on Sephora's site for Sol De Janeiro Body Butter set the internet wild, warning folks who are scared of wolf spiders not to butter their bodies, claiming the product is a magnet for the pesky insects.

The customer claims the bugs have appeared every day since using the lotion, adding, "one time, the spider wanted to eat whatever ingredient it is so bad that it chased me. I swear on everything. I'd run left, it ran left."

The bizarre review spun quite the web on the web, with a deep dive on Reddit ... where someone discovered a combination of farnesyl acetate and hexadecyl acetate often attracts male spiders.

The 2 chemicals are often used in skincare products, including body butter and lotion ... although it's not entirely clear if these are included in Sephora's product.

'Parasite' star Lee Sun-kyun had begged police not to publicly announce he was under investigation for using illegal drugs ... 4 days before his apparent suicide.

Police officials confirmed Thursday that Sun-kyun's lawyer requested cops to close the latest questioning round to the press on Saturday ... but they declined.

A day before Sun-kyun's body was found, his lawyer added the actor was hopeful any future interrogation would be in private ... explaining he felt burdened discussing the allegations in a public setting as the media coverage had been intense.

While the Incheon Metropolitan Police Chief, Kim Hui-jung, expressed deep regret over Sun-kyun's passing ... he stuck by their tough line of questioning -- adding it had been done with his consent.

As we reported, the South Korean actor was found dead, aged 48, in his car Wednesday in the capital city of Seoul ... after his manager reported him missing to the police.

He was under investigation for a drug blackmail plot ... accused of using marijuana and other substances at the home of a hostess from the local bar -- though he claimed she deceived him into taking the drugs and tried to blackmail him.

He was last questioned by police on Dec 23 ... and was detained for 19 hours before being released.

Two suspects – a man and a woman – were arrested in connection with the narcotics investigation ... and a day before Lee was found dead, he requested through his attorney that police administer a lie detector test to him and the two others.

It's not clear if they were given the polygraph exam.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard's back on the outside ... she's just been released from behind bars and is out on parole.

Gypsy had been serving a 10-year prison sentence after being convicted of second-degree murder in connection with the death of her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard.

As we reported ... Gypsy was granted parole in September and the Missouri Department of Corrections scheduled her release for Dec. 28, three years before her release date.

Remember ... Gypsy was sentenced to a decade behind bars back in 2016 after pleading guilty to her mother's murder, a case that spawned an HBO documentary and a Hulu scripted series.

You'll recall ... Dee Dee was accused of forcing Gypsy to pretend to be disabled for years, holding her hostage and even tying her up in a bed after Gypsy tried to escape her clutches.

Dee Dee suffered from Munchausen by proxy ... a mental disorder where someone fabricates illnesses or actually causes injury to someone for sympathy or attention.

Gypsy's then-boyfriend, Nick Godejohn, admitted to murdering Dee Dee in 2015 to help Gypsy escape her mother.

While Gypsy is now enjoying some newfound freedom, Godejohn was convicted of murder and is serving a life sentence.

GRB, now 32 years old, has said in prison interviews she felt more free behind bars than she was when she was living with Dee Dee ... and she says she regrets her mother's murder.

Nikki Haley may need a refresher course in American history ... the 2024 Republican presidential candidate failed to mention slavery as the catalyst for the Civil War.

The former South Carolina Governor was talking to a bunch of voters in Berlin, New Hampshire Wednesday when a man asked her what caused the American Civil War. Nikki bungled the answer, saying the government was infringing on people's rights.

Here's her full response ... “I mean, I think the cause of the Civil War was basically how government was going to run. The freedoms and what people could and couldn’t do.”

As you see, nowhere did Nikki mention the word slavery, which most people know was the reason for the war between the Union and the Confederacy.

Haley then asked the man what he thought triggered the conflict, prompting him to reply, "I'm not running for president."

Haley followed up with an even more tone-deaf response, saying, “I think it always comes down to the role of government and what the rights of the people are. I will always stand by the fact that I think government was intended to secure the rights and freedoms of the people. It was never meant to be all things to all people."

Considering all the backlash she received for her comments, Nikki may want to clarify what she meant, as she travels around the Granite state with four more campaign stops.

Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater are in an increasingly serious relationship ... because TMZ has learned they are now living together.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... Ariana and Ethan are living under the same roof in New York City. That said, we're told each maintains a separate residence, but they are together almost all of the time.

One source tells TMZ, aside from sharing a common interest in acting ... they "vibe together" and enjoy each other's company to the point they'd rather spend time together as a couple than galivante around town to fancy restaurants.

We're told Ariana will return to England early next year to finish filming "Wicked." It's unclear whether Ethan will go ... he has a commitment on Broadway where he stars in "Spamalot." Even if they are on separate continents while she finishes the film, we're told she'll only be in England for a short period of time.

We're told the plan will be status quo when Ariana returns to NYC, underscoring this relationship is serious.