Jake Gyllenhaal Director Says Jake Didn't Ruin Movie ... Visions Just Weren't Aligned

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Jake Gyllenhaal came under a microscope this week after reports surfaced about alleged erratic behavior on a movie set ... but now, the film's director's clearing the air.

Here's the deal ... director Thomas Bidegain spoke with the French magazine Technikart last week where he discussed his movie "Suddenly" -- which, at one time, had Gyllenhaal and Vanessa Kirby attached before both allegedly dropped out during pre-production.

The interview detailed several alleged frenzied episodes involving Gyllenhaal ... like demanding a car that was neither "red or white," rehearsing in a ridiculous accent like the Pepé Le Pew accent, and stripping down to his undies before launching himself into the freezing ocean -- all of which was being mocked and widely discussed on social media.

Ultimately though, all of it might not be true -- 'cause while Bidegain refused to comment on the validity of those stories, he did tell Variety his issue came from creative differences with JG and VK rather than any unprofessional behavior.

TB explains it like this ... the film was still very early in the process, not shooting and not even in pre-production yet like Technikart suggested. This was in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic, so the creative team had only spoken over Zoom when Thomas pitched the idea of meeting as a group in Iceland for a week to work on the project.

The French director said he thought they all were on the same page, but quickly realized their visions weren't in sync when they started breaking down the script together ... Kirby and Gyllenhaal apparently had entirely different opinions on the story's meaning and themes.

Bidegain says he peaced out on the trip after four of the seven days when he realized it wouldn't be a fruitful partnership ... with Thomas noting he'd never worked with an actor-producer like Gyllenhaal before ... and that, he says, created challenges.

Vanessa later contacted Bidegain about purchasing the script, Thomas claims, but he wouldn't sell ... instead making the movie with French actors -- as they seemed more in tune with his vision.

Thomas is more diplomatic in his response now ... saying he wanted to make the movie his own way. We'll admit though ... what he's quoted as claiming against Jake in the OG article is ... a little wild. BTW, this movie of his finally came out last year.

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In any case, it's all water under a bridge, it seems ... and there's a lesson in this.

We're not quite sure what that is, but make of it what you will!

'The Bear' Star Ayo Edebiri Trashed J Lo in 2020 Podcast ... Both on 'SNL' This Weekend

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2:09 PM PT -- Ayo Edebiri stood shoulder to shoulder with Jennifer Lopez for a new 'SNL' promo that just dropped -- and it's hard to say if there's any sour feelings between them after this pod news dropped.

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Check out the three promos that were just uploaded on the 'SNL' page ... it's Ayo standing in the middle with Jen to her right and Heidi Gardner (a cast member) to her left. They rattle off some lines, and the first take seems to show Jen and Ayo expressing their mutual fandom.

Like we said, there's no true way to tell if Jen's mad -- the body language is pretty neutral. It's possible they shot these before the news dropped ... so we'll see how Saturday goes!

Well, this is awkward ... Ayo Edebiri eviscerated Jennifer Lopez's talents 4 years ago -- well before she was super famous -- and now ... the 2 of them are doing 'SNL' together.

The 'Bear' star is this weekend's host, and Jenny is the musical guest -- so you gotta imagine her resurfaced comments could make it a little bit awkward during rehearsals ahead of the big show tomorrow night.

Ayo was featured on a podcast in 2020 with a woman named Laci Mosley who hosts "Scam Goddess" -- which is dedicated to uncovering "scams" in the public eye and gossiping about them. In this particular episode, she had Ayo (who, again, was not a big-time TV star yet).

Right from the get-go, they start to discuss one "scam" they perceive ... and that would be the "career" of J Lo -- their words, not ours. Ayo then trashes Jen in very harsh terms.

You can listen to her remarks for yourself -- but essentially ... Ayo and Laci are yukking it about the notion Jennifer just isn't that great of a singer, at least in their eyes -- and they believe she's fooled the masses into thinking she's this fantastic vocalist.

Ayo herself even leans into this long-standing (and unfounded) rumor that J Lo has allegedly used ghost singers in her career ... something AE runs with as fact, and just further evidence (from her POV) that Jen has fleeced the industry. Like we said, this is rough.

There are more mean comments that Ayo and Laci make, which we won't include here.

Anyway, the bigger point is ... Ayo and Jen are literally in the same building right now, and they will most certainly see each other over the next 24 hours, so it'll for sure come up.

The question, of course, is ... will they be able to play nice and get through the show?

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... this incident with Ayo was long ago, and that she is most certainly a fan of Jenny right now -- we're told she's excited to work with her and be in her presence. As for Jen ... our sources tell us she doesn't usually let these sorts of things bother her -- and that her mantra is about moving on and moving forward.

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We're told J Lo is looking forward to working with Ayo this weekend.

Originally Published -- 10:24 AM PT

Gracie Bon Big Butt Flyers Need Comfort ... Can We Get XL Seating?!?

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Gracie Bon's leading the charge for big booty travelers everywhere ... asking for more accessible seating while 30,000 feet in the air -- doubling down on her plea from earlier.

We talked to the Instagram model on "TMZ Live" Friday ... and she absolutely torched the seat sizes on airlines as they currently exist, explaining she's comfy on trains and automobiles -- but there's barely any room for her on planes. Yes, it's a real problem ... so says GB!

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SOMETHING'S GOTTA CHANGE

As explained to us here, Gracie hasn't seen any airlines offering options to bigger people ... and she suggests putting a couple extra large seats on each plane exactly for people with a bit more junk in the trunk.

Gracie says she needed two economy seats to fly to Rome, where she called us to do the interview ... and even that wasn't comfortable for her. Check out the vid -- she's clearly doing her best, but the makeshift bench ain't supporting her big behind, the way she needs.

Harvey and Charles also asked asked Bon about some rumors/assumptions that she's had butt implants ... making the size of her caboose her choice, but Gracie set the record straight. She said she's never enhanced her ass -- instead, she just downsized the rest of her bod.

As Gracie tells it, she used to weigh 300 pounds, but she got surgeries to manage her weight in her belly and arms, so she looks small up top. When it comes to her thighs and butt though ... the good docs left all that intact.

Now, she's not hating on girls who've gotten surgery though ... saying the airlines should accommodate every passenger they can to give people of all body types the same experience.

Bon's opened up about her body to us a lot in recent days. We spoke with Gracie Thursday too, and she told us pretty much the same thing -- adding she's serious about petitioning airlines for more equitable accommodations.

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So, major airlines oughta watch out ... 'cause Gracie Bon and her buns are coming to change industry standards. Sitting or standing, she's here to make a difference!

Carl Weathers Apollo Creed from 'Rocky' ... Dead at 76

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3:41 PM PT -- Two of Carl's former costars have expressed condolences for the late actor.

Arnold Schwarzenegger posted a photo of them from the set of 'Predator,' and wrote ... "Carl Weathers will always be a legend. An extraordinary athlete, a fantastic actor, and a great person. We couldn’t have made Predator without him. And we certainly wouldn’t have had such a wonderful time making it."

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Dolph Lundgren of 'Rocky' fame also posted a tribute, writing ... "I was saddened to hear the news this morning. Along with the world, I will miss Carl. He was a great actor, a terrific athlete and a good friend. I cherish many special memories of Carl, both professionally and personally. Like Apollo Creed, he had that special charm that always brought a smile to your face"

Carl Weathers -- famous from a number of movies, but most prominently as Sylvester Stallone's early nemesis in the 'Rocky' movies -- has sadly died ... TMZ has confirmed.

The beloved actor passed away peacefully Thursday while surrounded by loved ones -- this according to a statement from his family. They say, "We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Carl Weathers."

They add, "He died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday, February 1st, 2024. … Carl was an exceptional human being who lived an extraordinary life. Through his contributions to film, television, the arts and sports, he has left an indelible mark and is recognized worldwide and across generations. He was a beloved brother, father, grandfather, partner, and friend."

Unclear what ailments, if any, Carl may have been battling lately ... he'd been actively acting in recent years -- and on the surface, there didn't seem to be much wrong with him.

In any case ... it's an absolute blow to showbiz -- Carl was a titan in the movie industry, with acting credits dating back to the early 1970s when he was guest starring on shows like "Good " 'Kung Fu," "S.W.A.T.," "The Six Million Dollar Man," "Cannon" "McCloud" and more.

His true big break came courtesy of Sly ... Carl was cast as the brash and bold heavyweight champ of the world, Apollo, and he was pitted against Rocky in the ring for two films.

His character stuck around for another two 'Rocky' films ... in the third one, he actually brought the Italian Stallion out of a slump and back to glory with a new type of training he'd never experienced ... making for some iconic, memorable scenes as part of a montage.

The shot of them slow-mo running on the beach, and Sly eventually pulling ahead, goes down in movie history as one of the most awesome and inspiring things caught on camera.

Apollo was killed off in "Rocky IV" -- in dramatic fashion, no less -- but his imprint in that movie franchise lives on even today ... Michael B. Jordan plays his fictional son in the 'Creed' flicks, which are still going strong -- and which continue to be cranked out in Hollywood.

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Even outside of 'Rocky,' Carl's presence left an impression in just about every cult classic flick he's been a part of. Just to name a few right off the bat -- "Predator," "Happy Gilmore," "Action Jackson," "The Defiant Ones," "Braker," "Death Hunt," "Hurricane Smith," and others.

His TV credits are also quite impressive ... CW was on shows like "Fortune Dane," "Tour of Duty," "Street Justice," "In the Heat of the Night," "Brothers," "The Shield," "Arrested Development," "Chicago Justice," ... and more recently, in Star Wars' "The Mandalorian."

He'd appeared in episodes of the latter as recently as 2023. In all, he has 80 acting credits.

Outside of Hollywood, Carl was involved in noble charitable efforts -- including Lupus L.A., The L.A. Police Memorial Foundation, The PEACE Fund and The Tower Cancer Research Foundation.

Prior to his acting career, Weathers played for the Oakland Raiders from 1970-1971 ... and the team addressed the tragic loss in a statement Friday afternoon.

"Always a proud Raider, Weathers will be missed dearly by his Raiders Family and his many fans worldwide," the team said. "Our deepest condolences are with the Weathers family at this time."

He's survived by his two sons. Carl was 76.

RIP

Originally Published -- 3:41 PM PT 

Joe Biden Reportedly Calls Trump 'Sick F***' ... Nearly Said It in Speech?!?

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Joe Biden's supposedly has a choice pet name for his likely 2024 opponent ... one you can't really use in polite society -- which he almost said in a speech recently!

A report from Politico released Thursday reveals the current Prez is seemingly disgusted with Donald Trump ... calling him a "sick f***" when talking to close friends and White House aides.

And, it appears he likes to double down on it too ... commenting "What a f***ing a**hole the guy is" on at least one occasion according to the premier political magazine.

While this may seem hard to confirm ... video evidence from a Pennsylvania speech early last month shows "Dark Brandon" seemingly ready to fire off his new catchphrase while railing against the former POTUS for his remarks.

JB said, "At his rally, he jokes about an intruder whipped up by the big Trump lie, taking a hammer to Paul Pelosi's skull and echoing the very same words used on January 6 -- "Where's Nancy?" -- and he thinks that's funny. He laughed about it. What a sick--."

POTUS never finished that statement ... instead the audience laughed and Biden added he thought DT was "despicable" -- pretty clear he wanted to use a more graphic term though.

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If you're wondering if the Trump campaign's concerned about Biden's words at all ... it's pretty obvious they're not. Chris LaCivita, a top campaign adviser, told Politico it's abhorrent he'd use such words to describe his predecessor -- though it's "no surprise he disrespects the 45th president the same way he disrespects the American people with his failed policies."

Bottom line ... these fellas don't like each other, and they're not afraid to show it.

Joe also reportedly gets triggered by Don's statements all the time ... with Politico saying he'd expressed distaste for Trump after comments he made about Charlottesville, Vladimir Putin and veterans.

It's gearing up to be a tense election season. Just remember, Joe ... the debates are live -- so leave the potty mouth at home.

Tech Expert Brian Heater Apple Vision Pro Isn't Danger To Society ... At Least Not Yet!!!

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Tech expert Brian Heater isn't buying the notion a new virtual reality headset will further isolate people from human interactions ... at least not in the short term.

Brian, an editor at TechCrunch, joined us on "TMZ Live" and gave us the lowdown on the latest offering from Apple ... the Apple Vision Pro.

As Brian explains, the fancy new device blends virtual reality with augmented reality ... presenting some really cool features, and the potential to take an already isolated society and further remove us from real life.

But, Brian's not ready to declare the Apple Vision Pro a danger to society just yet ... not while the headset comes with a $3,500 price tag.

Plus, Brian says we're already interacting through screens on Zoom calls and FaceTime ... so it's not a huge shift here with what basically amounts to a smartphone on steroids.

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The real societal changes, Brian says, will be felt further in the future ... when the Apple Vision Pro and similar gadgets become more affordable and accessible to the masses.

Until then, Brian says the headset will change other parts of life ... like buying a car.

Jason Kelce Breaks Out Mickey Mouse Tee ... Disney Day With The Fam!!!

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Jason Kelce threw on his best Mickey Mouse T-shirt and had a Disney day with the fam on Friday -- and by the looks of things, the NFL star very much enjoyed his trip to Walt's World.

In Orlando this weekend for the 2024 Pro Bowl games, Kelce, his wife and his kids got away from the gridiron for a bit and made the trek over to Disney World ... and according to a bunch of people at the park, the Philadelphia Eagles center was lovin' the most magical place on Earth.

One witness tells TMZ Sports, Kelce was first spotted at the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train ... and plenty of people stopped what they were doing to snap pics of Travis Kelce's brother as he made his way around.

Later, others saw him helping his kids take a jaunt on the ultra-popular Mad Tea Party tea cup ride.

Of course, Jason's got a few more days of relaxation before it'll get a bit more stressful for him ... after all, his little brother is playing against the 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII, and he'll have to be on his best behavior in the stands as he'll almost certainly have a seat yet again next to Taylor Swift if she can make it to the Big Game.

But, for now, Jason is soakin' in what could be his last-ever Pro Bowl experience ... as he reportedly told his teammates following their playoff loss last month that he's retiring this offseason.

BRITNEY SPEARS & SAM ASGHARI Divorce Nearing Finish Line ... Key Step Just Took Place

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Britney Spears and Sam Asghari could be on the verge of settling their divorce, 'cause Sam just filed some information that usually signals ... the end is near.

According to legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Sam's legal team turned over his financials to Britney's attorneys, including the declaration of income and expenses among the required paperwork, as well as a list of assets and separate and community properties.

It looks like he's just ready to say goodbye to this chapter once and for all -- 6 months after filing for divorce from the singer in August. Filing financial disclosures is often the last step taken in a divorce that suggests all parties are coming to an agreement.

As we reported, Sam cited "irreconcilable differences" for their split -- 14 months after tying the knot at her Thousand Oaks home. They'd been together as a couple for much longer than that, of course.

On her end, Brit reflected on the failed marriage on IG in December ... saying they'd endured many ups and downs and that it was strange being single again.

But, it doesn't seem like Sam's on Brit's mind too much recently ... she's been having a bit of a back-and-forth spat with her ex, Justin Timberlake. She hasn't uttered Sam's name in a while.

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Anyway, this thing should be tied up pretty soon here. We already know they have an ironclad prenup -- which leaves Sam with nothing. Unclear why the divorce has dragged on as long as it has with this in mind -- but it appears they're buttoning it up once and for all.

Darius Rucker Cops Claim He Had Multiple Drugs ... Marijuana, Psilocin Pills

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Darius Rucker allegedly had multiple substances when cops say they busted him for drug possession in Tennessee ... TMZ has learned.

As it turns out that stop happened almost a year ago, but Darius just turned himself in to cops on Thursday.

According to the arrest affidavit, obtained by TMZ ... Franklin police officers say they pulled the Hootie & the Blowfish frontman over -- on Feb. 19, 2023 -- because they noticed the tags on his cars appeared to be expired, a fact they say they confirmed with their in-car computer.

Officers claim they smelled marijuana coming from the vehicle, then asked Rucker about whether he'd smoked that evening to which they say he promptly replied "no" -- though he allegedly said he may have smoked in it the day prior.

The cops searched the car and say they discovered what they suspected was a THC pen along with 14 unmarked purple pills -- items police allege Rucker said were given to him by his GF, Summer.

One of the officers then says he informed DR he'd pat him down ... and Darius then allegedly handed him a small marijuana blunt from his pocket before the search got underway.

The police claim they later tested the 14 pills and identified them as psilocin ... a schedule I controlled substance similar to psilocybin or magic mushrooms.

Officers released him from the scene without charges, pending identification of those pills. According to the docs, a warrant was issued for his arrest in December 2023.

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We broke the story ... Darius was arrested Thursday on 3 misdemeanor charges -- 2 for possession and one for driving with an expired registration. The whole booking took about an hour, and Darius was released after paying $10,000 bail.

We've reached out to Rucker's camp for comment ... so far, no word back.

ISSA RAE H'Wood Execs Are Old & Stupid ... Where Did Diversity Go?

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Issa Rae has a bone to pick with Hollywood execs ... accusing them of copping out of their promises to increase diversity onscreen ... and continuing to live in the Stone Age.

The "Insecure" creator/actress lays out her thoughts about the current state of the entertainment industry to TIME ... saying she hasn't seen Hollywood so scared, clueless and at the mercy of Wall Street, and stating there are no more smart execs around anymore.

Issa's firm on her stance ... saying that many have aged out, holding onto their position with iron-clad claws and refusing to let young blood in to get that much-needed representation on the big screen. In other words, a bunch of old heads are still calling the shots -- and Issa seems to think they're screwing the pooch 'cause they're out of touch.

A main point she's trying to make is that conglomerate leaders should stay in their lane, focusing on the business side of things rather than making big creative decisions they know nothing about.

One such example -- Issa says these execs haven't caught onto the fact that social media has changed the way we consume entertainment ... saying the only people taking risks are on platforms like TikTok, adding, "That's what's getting the eyeballs of the youth. So you're killing your own industry."

Though, the "Barbie" star ain't blind to the harsh realities of keeping up with the evolving industry herself ... she's had her reality series, "Sweet Life: Los Angeles," canceled, and she also had to lay off 8 staff members amid the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes last year.

But, she's staying true to her brand identity and will continue fighting to have diverse stories told on the big screen.

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From what we're hearing, she's just hoping the power players wake up and deliver on those promises. Sounds reasonable!

Tyson Fury Out Of Usyk Fight ... After Suffering Gnarly Cut In Training

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February's highly anticipated heavyweight clash between champions Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk is OFF ... after The Gypsy King suffered a deep cut above his eye, forcing him to pull out of the fight.

"I am absolutely devastated after preparing for this fight for so long and being in such superb condition. I feel bad for everyone involved in this huge event and I will work diligently towards the rescheduled date once the eye has healed," Fury said.

Tyson continued, even saying sorry to Oleksandr and his people.

"I can only apologize to everyone affected including my own team, Team Usyk, the undercard fighters, partners, and fans as well as our hosts and my friends in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia."

It's especially a bummer for Fury 'cause he'd been training so hard for the fight ... and had his body looking better than it has in years. In fact, he's noticeably leaner now than when he fought Francis Ngannou in October 2023.

If you're a boxing fan, there's a good chance you were pumped for the upcoming bout, originally scheduled to go down on February 17 in Saudi Arabia ... until this morning's sparring sesh.

The deep cut is very close to where Fury was split open while fighting Otto Wallin in 2019 ... nearly forcing that fight to be stopped. It's unclear if that played a part in today's cut ... as scar tissue can make a fighter more apt to sustaining cuts.

A rep for Fury said the eye required immediate medical attention, including stitches, to close up the wound.

It's unclear how long Tyson will need to heal up ... but several reports indicate Usyk may not want to wait, and will instead seek out another opponent to step in on short notice.

Here's hoping the two champions fight sometime, somewhere ... even if we now have to wait just a bit longer.

Wendy Williams Sobbing Over Having 'No Money' ... First Documentary Trailer

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A new documentary about Wendy Williams is alarming fans -- 'cause she seems to be signaling she's been going through a lot of financial hardships, among other issues.

The first trailer for the Lifetime doc -- "Where is Wendy Williams?" -- dropped Friday ... and it shows the reclusive TV personality apparently saying she has "no money" before pulling a throw pillow close and letting the tears flow.

Remember ... Wendy Williams was placed in a financial guardianship back in 2022 after Wells Fargo claimed she was a "victim of undue influence and financial exploitation" -- a move her family repeatedly rails against in the clip ... including WW's sister who demands to know how she's not fit to take care of her sis.

On the other hand, her son Kevin Hunter Jr. says he thinks she's surrounded by "yes people" in this trailer -- people he says don't actually look out for her best interests ... so there's clearly a difference of opinion among Wendy's own family, at least that's what the doc suggests.

Members of her inner circle are also seen in this trailer expressing other concerns, including one man who confronts Wendy with a nearly-empty bottle of booze ... one Wendy appears to admit she downed in a single day while stretched out in bed, bathrobe still on.

Williams also comes across as confused at her surroundings at times in the doc's first trailer ... apparently causing concern among the people around her she's losing her memory. Her wide-eyed, almost surprised look at times adds further fire to these speculations.

Wendy's overall health does, in fact, seem to be poor at times, too ... she's wheeled out of a hospital on multiple occasions in the trailer and seems almost incapable of walking by herself when stepping out of an SUV.

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Ultimately, the trailer seems to end on a hopeful note ... Williams seemingly expresses interest in reconnecting with her estranged family and recognizing the detriment of having certain business associates in her life. The full thing airs in a two-part special on Lifetime later this month ... Feb. 24 and Feb. 25 at 8 PM ET/PT, so more will be answered then.

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We haven't seen Wendy out much in the past year or so ... outside of a paparazzi interaction last February where Williams claimed she was 138 pounds -- a moment that makes it in the trailer BTW -- and a couple pics of her on the street, she's mostly stayed out of the public eye.

Wendy dropped out of several speaking engagements in May ... before reportedly heading to treatment to deal with issues she was allegedly battling.

Wendy doesn't appear to have addressed what's been revealed in the trailer just yet -- but considering her exit from showbiz was so abrupt and tumultuous, ya gotta imagine people are gonna tune in to find out ... "Where is Wendy Williams?"

SOFIA VERGARA DATE NIGHT W/ DOC JUSTIN SALIMAN ... Post-Joe Prescription!!

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Sofia Vergara couldn't wipe the smile from her face, and for good reason ... 'cause it looks like things with her new fella are going swimmingly!

The "Griselda" star headed on a romantic date night Thursday with the dashing orthopedic surgeon Justin Saliman at Beverly Hill's Cipriani -- and they looked happy as hell. The couple turned heads, not only with their palpable chemistry but their synced-up 'fits too.

Sofia, of course, looked incredible in her sheer black corset top and coat -- while Justin exuded laid-back charm in a black leather jacket. Must say, they complement each other well.

The duo seemed to be having a blast in each other's company ... laughing, smiling and interacting with the paps while exiting the upscale Italian eatery. It's interesting that we're seeing them out right now ... for one big reason.

For starters, we haven't seen Sofia with Justin in a while -- at least not publicly -- and there's some who thought they might've split. Clearly, that's not the case ... they're going strong.

S&J were first linked in October when they were spotted on a date ... and the fact that months later, they're still going strong rubbishes whispers he was just a rebound for Sofia post-Joe Manganiello.

Remember ... the "Modern Family" star and "Magic Mike" hunk split in July 2023 ... mainly cause of their differences in wanting kids. Joe wanted 'em, she didn't.

Hopefully, Joe will be on the same page with his new squeeze, Caitlin O'Connor -- they went public as a couple in December. Each of them seems to be moving on just fine.

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In the meantime, Sofia is riding high on her Netflix debut ... things are looking up for her.

Taylor Swift Played Sandy in Kid Version of 'Grease' Cute New Pics Revealed!!!

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Taylor Swift has had performing in her blood for a long, long time -- evident in the fact that she once played Sandy in a kid-version of "Grease" ... and the photos are adorable.

Actor/comedian Tobin Mitnick threw up some photos he has in his possession that show him acting alongside Tay Tay in a children's version of the famed musical/film -- and TM seems to be playing Danny Zuko, whereas Taylor is playing Olivia Newton John's character.

There's 3 pics total, and it looks like Tobin/Tay were good pals during this production way back in the day -- it also seems like they were giving their all, in rehearsal or otherwise.

Tobin writes, "Thank you mom for digging these pics of @taylorswift and I harmonizing like buttah on summer nights twenty five years ago out of storage. Also trav the note is an f-sharp if youre interested. June 2000."

Of course, everyone saw these and is losing their minds over the fact that Taylor as a child is cute as hell -- not to mention the fact that this low-key telegraphed her future ... obviously, she went on to become one of the biggest pop stars ever.

Funny enough, Tobin seems to have alluded to this play last year -- and he says it didn't get nearly as much attention at the time. Welp, if he didn't have pics back then, that's probably why.

Anyway, it's cool stuff -- but the obvious question with this is ... who has the video???

Seeing how this "Grease" play went down in the early aughts, ya gotta figure one of the parents from back then had their giant camcorder out and was rolling from inside an auditorium somewhere.

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Taylor has actually addressed the fact she was in "Grease" as a kiddo -- not to mention other musicals/plays -- and now ... here's the proof! Based on what we can see, she was a natural and then some.

The late ONJ probably would've been proud to see the great Taylor Swift doing her best Sandy. Lots of good songs for her to belt out, and we're sure she absolutely crushed.

As it turns out, she was the one everyone wanted!

Michael Bublé Sorry, Everyone ... I'm On Shrooms!!!

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Michael Bublé was seemingly feeling too good during NHL All-Star Weekend festivities on Thursday ... and he's chalking it all up to taking way more mushrooms than he signed up for.

The 48-year-old Canadian musician -- who's a celebrity captain for the All-Star Game -- spoke with the media following the Player Draft at Scotiabank Arena ... and as he fielded questions, he abruptly claimed he was spaced out on psychedelics.

"My buddy told me, this is just a microdose of mushrooms and he was LYING," Bublé said ... adding the drugs made him feel like he was in a Will Ferrell movie.

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"So, I’ll be honest, I thought I was in 'Blades of Glory' for most of the time that I was out there, until it sort of settled down and then I realized, 'Holy s***, I am in the NHL All-Star Game."

Actor Will Arnett -- who was up onstage with Bublé -- took it all in stride ... and the two joked his admission lost him a lot of endorsement money.

Despite the hilarious moment, Bublé later backtracked on his statement at dinner after his All-Star appearance ... saying the whole thing was an attempt to be funny.

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JUST BREAD, HOLD THE MUSHROOMS

"It was a joke," Bublé said alongside YouTuber Steve Dangle. "Of course I wasn’t [on mushrooms]! I'm sitting here at dinner. I do have a problem with bread. When I get anxious, I can’t stop eating it. But no, not mushrooms."

The NHL is pulling out all the stops with the star power this All-Star Weekend ... with Justin Bieber and Tate McRae also joining in on the event.

Mariah Carey Dresses In Hot Lingerie For L.A. Awards Show

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Mariah Carey practically gave everyone a peek at her most private of parts Thursday, showing off her covered-up crotch as she posed for photos at an L.A. music event.

The singer hit the third annual Recording Academy Honors last evening while dressed in a caramel-colored corset with a sheer wrap-around that left her somewhat exposed below the belt. Luckily, Mariah was covered up down there, or it would have turned into an X-rated affair.

Still, the superstar looked stunning in her sexy ensemble, accentuating her breasts, banging bod and toned legs.

Mariah was clearly proud of her appearance, allowing the paparazzi to snap a multitude of shots highlighting her smokin' hot hourglass figure.

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TMZ INVESTIGATES

After she was done with the photogs, Mariah sauntered inside the Fairmont Century Plaza to enjoy the awards show presented by The Black Music Collective. During the ceremony, Mariah snagged a Global Impact Award, along with Lenny Kravitz.

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REAL GRAMMY MOMENT

Other celebs who attended the event included ... Tori Kelly, Charlotte Lawrence, Rhea Ghosh, Andra Day, Candiace Dillard Bassett, Jordan Sparks, Miss Diddy, Babyface, Flavor Flav, Halle Bailey and boyfriend, DDG, and Niecy Nash Betts and wife Jessica Betts.