Kim Zolciak's Daughter Ariana Mom Staying Strong Through Divorce ... It's All Gonna Work Out!!!
Kim Zolciak's daughter, Ariana Biermann, is keeping the faith ... saying her parents' nasty divorce will work itself out, and that her ma's staying strong through a really tough time.
Ariana was boarding a flight Thursday at LAX when a photog asked her how Kim and Kroy Biermann are holding up at home. You could tell she didn't really wanna chat about this -- but she opened up a bit nonetheless.
The split looks pretty dramatic from the outside, but Ariana's saying the whole family's actually doing great these days ... though it sounds like she doesn't want to add to the tension or say anything bad about her parents. Truth is ... we all know the opposite is true.
Anyway -- Ariana's leaving it all up to God in terms of the fallout ... and she won't even weigh in on whether Kim and Kroy should be more civil with each other moving forward, rightly pointing out that they're adults ... and more importantly, she's not in the relationship!
Remember ... Kim's former 'RHOA' costar NeNe Leakes ran into Kim earlier this month and told us Kim was having a hard time uncoupling from Kroy.
But Ariana says Kim's a strong woman and her stepdad's doing "awesome." If we're being frank ... this is definitely her putting a brave face on for her parents -- 'cause lord knows their situation these days is anything but.
As we've told you ... Kim and Kroy keep lowering the price of their Georgia mansion to try and sell it so they can climb out from a mountain of debt and avoid a potential foreclosure.
Nonetheless, Ariana doesn't sound too concerned with her parent's real estate happenings either ... not her casa, not her problem!!!
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Sofia Richie I'm Preggers ... Expecting Girl w/ Elliot!!!
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Breaking News
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Sofia Richie has a bun in the oven -- something people have suspected for a while now ... and which she just confirmed with a big, splashy magazine cover story.
The model/socialite made the announcement Thursday courtesy of Vogue -- which posted a bunch of maternity shoots pics that were taken by a professional photog ... showing off Sofia's growing belly, not to mention of a bunch of fashionable outfits to boot.
Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.
The mag writes, "Congratulations are in order for @sofiarichiegrainge! The star is expecting her first child with her husband, @Elliotgrainge."
There's a quote from SR in their piece, which reads ... "I’ve learned more in the past six months than I have in my entire life." She reveals in her interview that she's having a little girl, and that the baby is due in June -- 'cause it's gonna be a Gemini kid.
In terms of how Sofia found out ... she says she caught on to the fact she was pregnant fairly early -- about 4 weeks in, she felt sick during a fashion show in Milan ... and when she got back to L.A., she started taking pregnancy tests just to be careful.
As it turns out, she was preggo -- and notes she and her husband, Elliot Grainge, had been casually trying to make a baby since they got hitched last April at their big French wedding.
Now that Sofia is in the final trimester of her pregnancy, she has this to say about the journey ... "[Y]ou just have to sit back and just be in awe, and know that everything you’re going through is completely normal and all of the ups and downs are normal. It’s made me feel better knowing that other people have gone through the emotional ups and downs. That was comforting for me."
If we didn't already say it, congratulations!!!
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KANSAS TEEN IMPALED BY PLIERS IN FREAK ACCIDENT ... Graphic Injuries!!!
A teenage boy ended up hospitalized after accidentally impaling himself on a pair of pliers in a gruesome freak accident ... and the photos are absolutely mind-blowing.
15-year-old Joey Zeman recounted the incident through his parents -- who say the teen slipped and fell last Saturday while shoveling snow outside his family's home in WaKeeney, Kansas. Almost right away, he realized the pliers in his pouch seconds earlier were now inside him -- and the injuries are just as gory as you'd expect.
Joey's mom, Alicia Zeman, shared the graphic pics on Facebook ... and as you can see, the tool's handle is embedded just above his hip while the sheath hangs by the side.
The teen tells KWCH he tried pulling it out a few times ... but when he couldn't, he rang his mom and told her he was heading to the ER at his local hospital cause "the pliers were inside me."
At first, his mom thought he was joking ... thinking the pliers had merely poked him a little - though it was anything but a prank. But soon, she came to learn it was no laughing matter.
Nurse practitioner Sarah Gibbs explained that Joey had to be airlifted to Wichita's Wesley Medical Center ... in case he needed emergency surgery if his internal bleeding didn't stop when pulling out the tool.
Alicia adds that the pliers were firmly lodged into his bone ... the reason why Joey couldn't pull them out on his own. Joey's now on crutches after spending a night in the hospital ... and will make a full recovery as his internal organs were spared.
We're sure Joey will probably not carry pliers in frigid temperatures going forward ... but the ordeal will undoubtedly serve as the perfect icebreaker in future social settings, right?!?
Anyhoo ... stay safe out there, y'all. Don't go running around with scissors, and pliers too apparently.
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Travis Kelce's Ex, Kayla Nicole I'm Over Dating Athletes ... Gimme A Man With Power!!!
Travis Kelce's ex-girlfriend, Kayla Nicole, is putting the WAG lifestyle in the past ... revealing she's no longer interested in dating athletes -- she wants a man with power instead.
The model and influencer opened up this week about her dating life after the Kansas City Chiefs tight end moved on with Taylor Swift ... and while she's not definitively slamming the door shut on jocks for good, she'd be perfectly content if her future partners never stepped foot on a field, court or ice.
Kayla explained her stance on the "Behind the Likes" podcast ... saying, "I'll never say never, but I fully, wholeheartedly believe that I am out of the athlete stage."
But don't get your hopes up, broke boys -- Kayla made it clear she still wants a guy with a lot of 0s in his bank account.
"I would love to just date someone that ... I do think that I am attracted to men in positions of power and I also think that those types of men are attracted to me," she added.
"So, I would love to date an executive of a record label or a movie producer so that we can go to the sporting events. Let date night be courtside at the Laker game, that’s my kind of guy."
As Kayla put it -- she still wants to go to games for entertainment, but doesn't want to be there as a supportive GF.
fly eagles fly. https://t.co/Z4AL14l7HV
— that girl. (@iamkaylanicole) November 28, 2023 @iamkaylanicole
Kayla -- who dated Kelce on and off for years before their split in 2022 -- also addressed her social media post about Jalen Hurts ... and she defended her actions, even though the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback is in a happy relationship.
Kayla claimed she was just speaking her mind and had no intention of acting on it ... but said the post got her in "trouble."
There's a lot more ... she also addressed her experience dealing with the public eye amid the Tayvis craze and the changes she's made to handle the negativity.
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Vince McMahon Sued Ex-WWE Employee Claims He Sex Trafficked Her
UPDATE
2:22 PM PT -- TKO released a statement on the matter ... saying, "Mr. McMahon does not control TKO nor does he oversee the day-to-day operations of WWE."
"While this matter predates our TKO executive team’s tenure at the company, we take Ms. Grant’s horrific allegations very seriously and are addressing this matter internally."
A former WWE employee is suing Vince McMahon ... claiming he repeatedly sexually assaulted her, sex trafficked her -- and then paid her off to stay quiet about it all.
The disturbing allegations were made by Janel Grant in a lawsuit filed on Thursday in a federal court in Connecticut.
In the suit, Grant says she met McMahon back in 2019 ... at a time when she was at rock bottom. She says her parents had just died ... and she was struggling to find work.
However, she says after being introduced to McMahon through a mutual friend, he promised to get her a gig in the WWE.
But, according to the suit, as McMahon was finding her an entry-level role in his company ... he slowly began to use his "life-changing promises" to coerce her into sexual acts.
Grant says just after she was told she had a "legal administrator-coordinator" job with a salary of $75,000 inside McMahon's wrestling org. ... he "trapped her in an impossible situation." She alleges she "feared adverse career and personal consequences and legal retaliation if she declined his advances" -- and began to engage in what she called nonconsensual sexual activity with him.
Grant said in the suit the job she had been given required little work. In fact, according to the lawsuit, she was assigned an additional role in McMahon's XFL to help fill her time.
Grant, though, claims in her suit McMahon suddenly stopped referring to her as a friend ... and "largely stopped talking to [her] outside of sexting and fantasy talk." She alleges he forced her to send him explicit pictures, some of which she says he would share with others in the WWE. A short time later, she says he recruited other men and began sex trafficking her.
She says in May 2020, McMahon organized a threesome with her and her physical therapist ... telling her "he would lose a friendship if she did not go through with it." She claims in the suit that during the encounter, he defecated on her head but made her continue to perform sex acts with the two while she was covered in feces. She alleges in the days following, he texted her "i'm the only one who owns U and controls who I want to f*** U."
Several months later, the suit states, McMahon recruited John Laurinaitis -- a former WWE superstar who was at the time a high-ranking exec in the company -- "to join them."
Grant claims McMahon pressed her to send explicit pictures to Laurinaitis. In December 2020, she says McMahon arranged for her to have a threesome with Laurinaitis as well.
She says in the months afterward, she was moved to the WWE's talent relations department, where she reported to Laurinaitis. Once that move happened, she stated in her suit that there was an expectation from both McMahon and Laurinaitis "that she engage with Laurinaitis sexually, both physically and with explicit content."
In her suit, Grant says she was directed to "serve herself to [Laurinaitis] as 'breakfast'" at a nearby hotel before the start of their work day. She also claims McMahon texted her, "On days when he's in town, I want him to f*** U every morning and later In the office too."
She says the arrangements left her "miserable and enraged," but "in her years of experience with McMahon, she knew her requests to stop would be ignored at best or used to destroy her career and reputation at worst."
Grant stated in her suit that in June 2021, McMahon and Laurinaitis raped her in Laurinaitis' office. She says at the outset of the encounter, she told them "No, no, no" and "Please stop," but claims McMahon told her, "Take it, bitch."
Grant says a week later, McMahon forced himself on her again over a massage table at WWE's headquarters ... before giving her $15,000 in Bloomingdale's gift cards.
Grant also alleged in her suit that McMahon used her to help him sign a WWE Superstar. The suit describes the talent as "a world-famous athlete and former UFC Heavyweight Champion." The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday this was Brock Lesnar.
In the suit, Grant claims McMahon ordered her to create "personalized sexual content" for the WWE Superstar. She also says he advertised "a sexual encounter with her" to the wrestler while trying to negotiate a new booking contract.
Ultimately, Grant claims in her suit McMahon distanced himself from her in January 2022 ... claiming his wife, Linda McMahon, had found out about their relationship. Grant says it all led to McMahon's request that she sign a non-disclosure agreement.
In the lawsuit, Grant says she agreed to be paid $3 million to sign the NDA ... but she claims that after receiving $1 million, McMahon didn't make further payments.
Grant says she's been traumatized from the whole ordeal and is now seeking unspecified damages ... as well as for a judge to invalidate her NDA.
Meanwhile, McMahon, the WWE and Laurinaitis have not yet publicly commented on the suit.
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Anthony Ramos Cast as Latin 'Bob the Builder' ... Meet Roberto, Everybody!!!
Anthony Ramos has been tapped to play a live-action version of 'Bob the Builder' -- but the move is turning heads ... 'cause his character is apparently going to be Latino, explicitly.
Here's the deal ... AR was announced as the lead of Mattel's newest toy-to-movie offering, meaning he's going to play Bob himself -- although, in the press release that's going around ... it says his character's real name is actually "Roberto."
The official description of the plot reads ... "When Roberto 'Bob' travels to the enchanting island of Puerto Rico for a major construction job, he takes on issues affecting the island and digs deeper into what it means to build. Bob’s journey will celebrate the vibrant and colorful textures of the Caribbean Latin nations and their people."
The other big news from this is the fact that Jennifer Lopez's movie company -- Nuyorican Productions -- is helping make this thing ... of course, she herself is also Latina.
So the question ... why are we making 'Bob the Builder' Hispanic all of a sudden???
That's certainly what a lot of people online are asking right now -- not to mention a bunch of memes and jokes about this surprise twist on the cartoon show that's been around for years. The biggest takeaway is that Bob has always been perceived as a white character.
Now, however, it looks like J Lo and co. wanna reimagine that for some reason -- and let's just say there are mixed reactions to the decision. Some are for it, arguing it shouldn't matter what race/ethnicity Bob is ... but others are crying foul and claiming this is "woke" casting.
Worse yet ... some are even suggesting that making Bob Latino might just be a little racist -- playing into stereotypes and turning a character on its head, which nobody asked for.
Funny enough, there are even a handful of folks suggesting Jen and everybody would've been better off developing/adapting another "worker" cartoon character who's already written as a Latino ... namely, 'Handy Manny.' Why not just have Anthony play him?
How people are digesting this is for sure a mixed bag -- and we suppose Bob's racial identity is, technically, in the eye of the beholder. We'll say this ... it does sorta feel like a reach.
We'll see what the box office brings for this one. 🤷🏽♂️
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Oklahoma Highway Patrol Officer Goes Flying During Traffic Stop Vehicle Swiped by Other Car
A highway patrolman in Oklahoma got tossed like a rag doll after the car he pulled over for a traffic stop got smashed into by a completely different vehicle ... and it's all on video.
This wild footage was just released by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol ... which shows one of their own getting hit (indirectly) by a car that comes crashing into the white SUV he was in the middle of talking to while on the side of the road on a freeway in Yukon, OK.
The state trooper's name is Jesse Gregory ... and as you can see, he definitely didn't see this coming -- evidenced by the fact that he had no time to brace for impact whatsoever.
As much as he might've been hurt in the moment ... you gotta wonder how the driver of the car he was speaking with might've been -- 'cause they got rammed into on their side. On its face, it looks pretty ugly ... and while you'd think there'd be major damage, apparently not.
Officer Gregory's employers say that not only was he okay after this ... but so were the other two people involved in the accident -- which, frankly, is a bit of a miracle (in a good way).
The reason they posted this was to remind people of the dangers of the road ... highlighting the importance of slowing down, moving over to the shoulder, and being mindful of traffic.
Consider the lesson learned ... 'cause this is about as scary as a car wreck can get. 😬
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Fontainebleau Las Vegas Nachos Upgraded After Online Jokes ... Competition Piles On
update
1:30 PM PT -- The Fountainbleau finally responded to all the backlash, and this is what they had to say ... "The Tavern menu was designed to be 'bar food favorites, all grown up.'"
The Tavern menu was designed to be “bar food favorites, all grown up.” We hope you’ll excuse our growing pains while the nachos went through their awkward phase. We’re thrilled to report they’ve matured into one stacked snack. pic.twitter.com/CIibhiGMrQ
— Fontainebleau Las Vegas (@fblasvegas) January 25, 2024 @fblasvegas
They add, "We hope you’ll excuse our growing pains while the nachos went through their awkward phase. We’re thrilled to report they’ve matured into one stacked snack."
Fontainebleau Las Vegas found itself in a sticky situation ... drowning knee-deep in melted cheese after photos of some lackluster nachos went viral -- with people crapping on them.
Here's the deal ... an X user posted a pic of nachos he said he bought from The Tavern at the Vegas hotel Monday that the user said his party waited an hour to get -- and, quite frankly, they left quite a lot to be desired.
Check it out -- six total chips, crusted in melted cheese, with almost as many condiments as actual food to put them on ... and if you're wondering how much they cost, the outraged poster said he paid $24 for the food. That's quite the hunk of cheddar.
Of course, other people on the internet were outraged on the guy's behalf and started recommending other places to go if he wanted some premium nachos -- well, FLV must've got the memo 'cause they turned things around in a hurry.
Unfortunately for Fontainebleau, other hotels and casinos seemingly ordered their nachos with extra spice ... 'cause their social media accounts capitalized on the viral moment to post their pics of their own offering.
Circa Las Vegas, OYO Hotel and Binion's Gambling Hall are just a few of the locations that shared their own photos. They don't directly call out Fontaine, but the message from other hotels seems pretty clear -- come get our chips 'cause Fontainebleau is na-cho destination for great nachos. That's definitely the sentiment, anyway ... they're drizzling on extra shots.
Fontainebleau already upgraded their viral nachos pic.twitter.com/q1Ter0cet7
— Jacob Orth (@JacobsVegasLife) January 25, 2024 @JacobsVegasLife
FWIW, a local Vegas influencer went to the hotel later in the week and received a more respectable-looking plate of nachos -- certainly more than six chips at the very least -- so maybe people will consider bringing their fiestas back to Fontaine!
We've reached out to Fontainebleau about all the viral attention ... so far no word back.
Originally Published -- 10:35 AM PT
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Comedian Mark Normand Rushed Offstage at NYC Comedy Club ... Audience Evacuated
update
2:49 PM PT -- As it turns out, we were all duped by whatever happened at Mark Normand's set last night -- 'cause now the comedy club itself is saying it was all a staged stunt.
The New York Comedy Club posted a statement to their IG page apologizing for causing the panic, but noting that there was some filming going on ... and that it was all part of some production. They're offering a free show to those who got the boot -- so that's that.
Mark Normand was whisked away in the middle of his stand-up show this week -- and it made for a scary moment ... because the audience was eventually asked to GTFO, too.
The comedian was in the middle of a set Wednesday night at the famed New York Comedy Club, when all of a sudden ... there was some frantic activity out in the crowd -- which wasn't all that big, making the commotion very noticeable and suspicious.
Mark noticed it too ... and he awkwardly tried figuring out what was going on from the mic -- cracking jokes/attempting to keep things light, that is ... until he was asked to bounce, too.
It's pretty freaky ... and you can tell the audience started panicking, because nobody was saying what was happening and if anyone was in danger. Eventually, they were asked to leave by the producer of the show ... although, no proper explanation was given for why.
People started getting up from their seats and filing out, and while the producer asked them to keep calm -- it's hard to say if they actually did or not. Super weird, and very concerning.
Even more bizarre is the fact that Mark himself has been tweeting Thursday morning as if nothing happened -- although, he did hop on IG to somewhat address what the deal was.
He wrote, "Some s*** went down tonight my team is still trying to put together the details, sorry to the fans." On its face, it sounds like not even he knows why this unfolded. Some have suspected this was some kind of stunt -- in line with MN's humor -- but it ain't.
We've reached out to Mark's team and the club itself for clarification ... so far, no word back.
Originally Published -- 9:14 AM PT
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Teen Accused Of Killing Bicyclist Facing New Attempted Murder Charge ... Prosecutors Want It Added
The Las Vegas teen accused of fatally mowing down a retired police chief is now facing an attempted murder charge in a totally separate case ... and prosecutors wanna lump this into his already-existing murder case.
18-year-old Jesus Ayala was charged for attempted murder earlier this month, with prosecutors in Nevada claiming he stabbed somebody in the Vegas area -- which they say went down two months before he allegedly ran over Andreas Probst.
The authorities say the alleged victim told them Ayala and another person approached him on the street and started to use brass knuckles and knives on him -- with the man claiming he sustained multiple lacerations to his torso as well as near his head.
Now, in light of this new info -- the state wants to add the attempted murder charge to Ayala's original case in a new indictment ... according to new legal docs obtained by TMZ.
Remember ... in the OG case, prosecutors claimed Jesus was behind the wheel of a stolen car when he ran over a bicyclist on the road back in August ... killing the guy on the bike, who turned out to be retired police chief Andreas Probst. There was another teen in the car who is accused of recording the incident. Video of the alleged incident surfaced as well.
Like we said ... prosecutors are now seeking to amend Ayala's original charges to add the attempted murder charge from the stabbing incident -- and their argument is ... it's related.
It's not a done deal yet ... Ayala's legal team is pushing back against the amended charges -- claiming the prosecution's original case against their client is thin, which is why they're trying to add something completely different in the 11th hour. A judge has yet to rule.
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Hot, Hot Stars Celebs Heatin' Up in Sunshine State ... Happy Nat'l Florida Day!!!
If you didn't think the Sunshine State could get any hotter, allow us to prove you wrong ... 'cause these stars could burn even the hottest beach -- especially on Florida Day.
The sun's always out in this Southeastern state ... and Tyler Cameron knew exactly what to do in his hometown Jupiter, ripping off his shirt to expose the guns. Rebel Wilson covered up a little more in a zip-up suit but still added some color to her long legs on the beach while Maluma looked like the Florida MAN -- sipping on wine in the 305!!!
Rapper Coi Leray completely stole the show from the Miami coastline ... keeping all eyes on her behind in the smallest one-piece the town's ever seen.
And, what would Florida be without its boat culture ... something in which Tiktok star and certified boat babe Alix Earle indulged while lounging in a barely-there orange bikini off Fort Lauderdale's coast.
And, Florida's a great hot spot for couples too ... just ask Olympic legend Simone Biles and NFL baller hubby Jonathan Owens who snuggled up in South Beach.
Like we said from the top -- it's National Florida Day, y'all ... so enjoy all the pics from everyone's fave swing state -- guaranteed to rapidly warm up anyone's chilly January!!!
Stay toasty, friends.
Porn Star Jesse Jane Dead at 43 After Apparent OD ... Cops Find Her, BF During Welfare Check
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Jesse Jane -- a well-known porn star from the 2000s -- has died alongside her boyfriend, who also passed away, and it sounds like their death is drug-related ... TMZ has learned.
Law enforcement sources tell us the famed adult film actress was found dead at a home Wednesday in Moore, OK -- where we're told police responded to this residence on a welfare check ... and when they got there, our sources say officers discovered both Jesse and her boyfriend, Brett Hasenmueller, deceased.
We're told the welfare check request was actually placed by Brett's employer, who hadn't heard from him in a few days. At the moment, we're told this appears to have been a drug overdose of some sort.
Unclear how long exactly Jesse and Brett might've been dead at the house, and an exact cause of death isn't known at this point either. An investigation is underway, and the Medical Examiner will make a final determination.
Jesse was one of the biggest porn stars in her day -- she started out with Digital Playground in 2002 ... and shortly thereafter, started to make appearances on Showtime's 'Family Business' -- and from there, her career in the industry took off.
She starred in a number of well-known adult films and adult film series -- including the 'Pirates' flicks ... notably the sequel in "Pirates II: Stagnetti's Revenge," which reportedly cost around $8 million to make and is considered one of the most expensive pornos to date.
Eventually, Jesse made her way over to Playboy ... serving as a host for a popular live show called 'Night Calls,' and even hosting Playboy TV's 'Naughty Amateur Home Videos.'
Jesse became a huge fixture in the porn world -- she hosted several award shows, including the AVN Awards multiple times, and she launched successful sex toy lines as well.
Outside of adult entertainment ... Jesse made some appearances in mainstream films as well, including 'Starsky & Hutch,' a guest role on 'Entourage,' and even an appearance on 'The Bad Girls Club.' In 2009, she was part of a CNBC doc called 'Porn: Business of Pleasure' -- which showed what her life was like behind the scenes, and away from cameras.
She survived by her one son. Jesse was 43.
RIP
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Tiësto Performing At Super Bowl LVIII ... First In-Game DJ!!!
Super Bowl LVIII's goin' down in Las Vegas, and the NFL's delivering the full Sin City experience ... tapping Tiësto to serve as the first-ever in-game DJ for the biggest sporting event of the year!
On Thursday the NFL announced the international superstar will be on the 1s and 2s, entertaining fans on Super Sunday ... during pre-game warm-ups and breaks in the game.
"Each year, we look to elevate the in-stadium experience for our fans," the NFL said, "and with our first Super Bowl in Las Vegas, it seems only fitting to embrace the legacy of iconic DJs in this city by having Tiësto bring his signature style to our biggest event."
Tiësto -- considered by many the "Godfather of EDM" -- is pumped for the opportunity, and says he's ready to give an epic performance.
"It's even more incredible that it's in my favorite place - Las Vegas," the 55-year-old said.
Of course, Vegas is known for its amazing, over-the-top parties starring some of the biggest musical acts in the world ... and now fans lucky enough to be at Allegiant Stadium on February 11, get to see Tiësto.
"Thank you to the NFL for having me," Tiësto said, "I cannot wait to party with you all at the big game!"
Tiësto -- who has generated over 11 billion streams worldwide and sold more than 36 million albums -- will be the fifth DJ to play during Super Bowl warmups ... but the first to spin in-game.
Get ready to party, Vegas!
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Common Disagrees with Mos Def ... Drake Is Hip Hop, Incredible Writer!!!
Common and Mos Def coming up together in the Lyricist Lounge doesn't mean they have the same take on Drake's place in the culture -- 'cause Common's got his back!!!
Hot 97's Ebro, Laura Stylez and Peter Rosenberg discussed Yasiin Bey's now-viral commentary that Drake's radio-friendly music was tailor-made for department stores and shopping malls ... an opinion the Chicago rap staple doesn't actually vibe with.
Common noted he attacked rap's commercialization with his 1994 classic cut "I Used to Love H.E.R.," but didn't necessarily see Drake's popularity as a bad thing, and he thinks Champagne Papi's longevity speaks volumes for his talent.
Common's point -- Drake can't be that bad if he's always on top!!!
Common went on to highlight how rap has expanded on many boundaries and fans can soak up what they like and ditch the rest.
He'll have a chance to put his money where his mouth is soon ... he and Pete Rock are releasing a collab album -- strictly for the rap purists!!!
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'THE WHITE LOTUS' UKRAINE SLAMS PRO-PUTIN CASTING ... HBO 'Supports Genocide?'
Ukraine is lambasting HBO's "The White Lotus" for casting Miloš Biković ... a Serbian actor who's voiced support and admiration for Russia amid the ongoing war, and has accepted a medal from Vladimir Putin.
Ukraine's foreign ministry called out HBO in an X post Wednesday ... asking if it was right for the outlet to work with a person who supports genocide and violates international law.
Miloš Biković, Serbian actor who has been supporting Russia since the start of the full-scale invasion, is now set to star in HBO's The White Lotus Season 3@HBO, is it all right for you to work with a person who supports genocide & violates international law?
— MFA of Ukraine 🇺🇦 (@MFA_Ukraine) January 24, 2024 @MFA_Ukraine
📹 @United24media pic.twitter.com/ceWkXVttfp
A quick rundown on the uproar: Biković's been accused of supporting Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine ... even posting an X poll showing that trust in Putin was higher than in Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky.
He's starred in a string of Russian films, such as 2014's "Sunstroke" ... which Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said he'd filmed in Crimea, the peninsula Russia seized from Ukraine in 2014.
In 2018, Putin awarded Biković a Pushkin medal for advancing Russian culture. A year later, Ukraine banned him from entering the country for national security reasons.
The 36-year-old was unfazed over the ban, making it clear where his loyalties lie as he gushed over receiving Russian citizenship in 2021 ... and added, he'd been actively participating in Russian cultural life for more than 7 years.
His casting in the third season of Mike White's anthology series was announced earlier this month ... and production is set to begin next month in Thailand.
Deadline reports he'll likely play a Russian-speaking wellness guru at the hotel -- though his character details haven't been confirmed.
The dark comedy has been a massive hit with fans and has dominated award season with its first 2 seasons ... so expectations are undoubtedly high for the third.
How HBO handles the backlash to Biković's casting remains to be seen.
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Ariana Grande Finally Wraps 'Wicked' Filming ... BF Ethan Slater Done Too
Ariana Grande's moving on to bigger and better things -- she's finally finished filming "Wicked," and it was not a dry goodbye.
The singer/actress shared a behind-the-scenes pic of herself in character as Glinda ... at least we're pretty sure it's Grande. The pic was taken through a white curtain, so you can really only make out a silhouette, but it certainly looks like her.
She captioned the snap, "like a handprint on my heart" ... pretty cryptic, but director Jon M. Chu helped clarify, confirming this was the end of Grande's time working on the movie by resharing Grande's pic to his own Instagram story, and thanking her for all her hard work.
And, here's where it got REALLY emotional ... 'cause Grande then replied to Jon and thanked him for "leading the way with such compassion, openness, brilliance and kindness" and said she added more tear-drenched eyelashes at the end of filming.
Part of the reason emotions are running so high is the fact Ari and co. have been at this for a long time in Hollywood terms. Filming started way back in late 2022, but was paused due to the SAG-AFTRA strike.
BTW, Ariana's new man, Ethan Slater, is done filming too ... he posted a goodbye to his character Boq earlier this week alongside a series of related photos.
It's kinda a big moment for the Grande/Slater coupling ... the duo met on the set of the movie and started dating not long after -- they've each filed to divorce their respective spouses since we broke the news of their relationship last July.
And, we know it's getting pretty serious too ... sources told us last month that AG and ES are living together -- though they each still maintain separate residences in NYC.
Nice luxury to have in case they can't work out a lover's quarrel.
Now that the movie's wrapped though -- and Ariana's gonna be busy promoting her new album "Eternal Sunshine" out March 8 -- we'll have to wait and see if their showmance keeps going strong.