Oprah Here's Why I Left WeightWatchers ... It Was a Bad Look!!!

Published | Updated

Oprah Winfrey says she stepped down from the WeightWatchers board after nearly a decade 'cause it was a super bad look ... and she didn't want to come off as unethical.

The talk show legend explained her decision to Jimmy Kimmel Thursday ... sharing that her upcoming special about prescription weight loss drugs played a major factor in her decision to leave the company she's been with for years as an official ambassador.

As Oprah put it ... this weight loss medication TV special she's working on was very important to her -- so she wanted to shed any appearance of impropriety by being involved.

Specifically ... O says she didn't want people to think she was just promoting a special about weight loss meds and assume she was making money off of it by being attached to WW -- which is now in the business of prescribing those same medications, like Ozempic.

News of Oprah's WW exit dropped two weeks ago -- when she announced that she was donating all her shares in the company to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Of course, she's also recently admitted she's on weight loss drugs herself.

Now that she's taken the step of leaving WW behind, she told Kimmel nobody could accuse her of doing all this for profit ... 'cause there's no money to be made at this point. She also says the WeightWatchers crew took the news of her bowing out pretty hard.

In a separate portion of this interview, Oprah shares why she embraced the miracle drugs -- saying her weight struggles over the years were tied to her genetics by a doc, and she went so far as to say that "obesity is a disease." She says she's lost 40 lbs. on the drugs.

Oprah's special 'Shame, Blame and the Weight Loss Revolution' airs Monday.

Olivia Dunne Catches BF's Game From Tiny Laptop ... Roasted By MLB

Published | Updated

Somebody get Olivia Dunne an NIL deal with an electronics company ASAP ... 'cause she watched her boyfriend's baseball game on quite possibly the world's smallest laptop -- and even the MLB's official account trolled her over it!!

The superstar LSU gymnast and influencer was locked in on Pittsburgh Pirates top prospect Paul Skenes' Spring Breakout matchup against the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday ... catching his impressive performance from the comfort of her couch.

But Livvy -- the highest-paid female college athlete thanks to numerous endorsements -- didn't have a baller set up for the occasion ... hunching over a cute little computer screen as she observed every pitch.

In fact, when Livvy shared the scene with her 7.9 million followers on TikTok ... a ton of people flooded the comments to roast her viewing apparatus -- including MLB's own account.

"Your computer is too big how’d you get that thing through the door," the league said.

Livvy took the joke in stride ... replying, "a forklift."

It was a great day for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft -- Skenes put his 100-plus MPH heater on display, striking out against Jackson Holliday, the top selection in 2022 (and ex-MLB star Matt Holliday's son).

Skenes finished the one-inning outing with two total strikeouts ... and the Bucs won the game, 3-1.

Hopefully next game we can get Livvy a TV or something.

Justin Timberlake Celebrates Album with Wife & Pals ... Including *NSYNC!!!

Published
031524-justin-timberlake-kal 3/14/24
SCHMOOZIN' IT UP

Justin Timberlake hosted a star-studded listening party to celebrate the launch of his sixth studio album -- and it's safe to say the singer pulled out all the stops for the event.

Justin closed down West Hollywood hot spot Dan Tana's for the album release party, which kicked off around 8 PM with a dinner for friends, family, and, yes ... members of *NSYNC.

Justin arrived at the Italian eatery alongside his wife Jessica Biel -- with Lance Bass, JC Chasez, Chris Kirkpatrick, Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union, and Babyface spotted as well.

But the fun didn't stop there ... as JT also invited a slew of other celeb friends to swing by after to give a listen to his new album, titled "Everything I Thought It Was." In the video, you can see Dan Tana's packed to the brim with all the notable faces there to celebrate Justin's success.

The celebration came a day after Justin's free, one-night show in L.A. ... where he reunited with his *NSYNC bandmates to debut a new collaboration featured on the new album.

031424_nsync_kal 3/14/24
Boys Are Back In Town

As we reported ... the mini set came together quickly, as sources told us Justin asked his former bandmates on Sunday to participate in the concert. The group only had one day of rehearsal ... as they got together Tuesday to run things through before Wednesday's show.

031424_nsync_new_song_kal 3/14/24
*NSYNC'S NEW SOUND

And we're glad they did -- fans have been clamoring for a reunion ever since they appeared together at the MTV VMAs ... where they didn't perform, and simply presented an award to Taylor Swift.

Now fans have their fingers firmly crossed, hoping for a few more onstage *NSYNC reunions!

Boeing 787 Nosedive Report Flight Attendant Bumped Switch On Pilot's Seat

Published | Updated

An innocent flight crew mistake is likely what sent a Boeing 787 Dreamliner into a nosedive that injured dozens of passengers on a LATAM flight this week ... according to a new report.

The Wall Street Journal says the preliminary evidence points to an incident in the cockpit -- while serving a meal, a flight attendant accidentally bumped a switch on the pilot's motorized seat ... pushing it forward and sending the plane into the nosedive.

The switch has a cover that's supposed to prevent this kinda thing from happening while the pilot's seated, according to the WSJ report, but clearly something malfunctioned ... or it's a horrifying case of operator error.

As we reported, the Chile-based airliner was flying from Australia to New Zealand on Monday when it started plummeting, pinning several passengers to the cabin ceiling. The pilot was able to regain control and they landed in Auckland, where 50 people were treated for various non-life-threatening injuries.

Authorities took the black boxes off the plane on Tuesday to begin their investigation.

Here's what's really interesting -- according to passengers, the pilot said the cockpit instrument panel had suddenly gone black for a few moments as he tried to explain what went wrong.

If the WSJ report is accurate, it would appear the pilot didn't exactly share the full story.

Jason Kelce Beloved Dog Dies ... 'Lost Part Of My Soul'

Published | Updated

Jason Kelce's beloved dog, Winnie, has sadly passed away ... and the Kelce family is heartbroken over the loss, with his wife writing in an emotional social media post that she's "lost part of my soul."

It's unclear how the pooch passed ... but Kylie Kelce said on her Instagram page Thursday night the pup "is at peace" now.

Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.

"When I was in high school I had a folder on my desktop labeled 'Gods gift to earth,'" Kylie said in an IG post. "It was images of Irish Wolfhounds that I had collected from Google. I had fallen in love with the breed when I was a young and never let my fascination with them fade. It all lead me to Winnie and holy s*** did she live up to the hype."

"I love you, Winn," she continued. "You will always be my first born child."

Travis Kelce sent out his condolences in the comment section, writing, "You [gave] Winn an amazing life Ky!!" The Chiefs star's ex, Kayla Nicole, sent her support with a comment too.

Winnie played a huge role in the Kelce family ... she was the "flower girl" at Jason and Kylie's 2018 wedding. She was also mentioned on Jason and Travis' "New Heights" podcast often ... in fact, the brothers just brought her up on a recent episode when comparing her to animals Travis had seen on his Australian zoo date with Taylor Swift.

Winnie and the Kelces' other dog even had their own Instagram page.

"She was everything I had hoped for in a wolfie," Kylie said in mourning the dog's passing, "and more."

RIP.

PORN STAR SOPHIA LEONE Death Labeled 'Suspicious,' 'Unique' by Cops

Published | Updated

Porn star Sophia Leone died earlier this month -- but it doesn't sound like cops are sure if foul play is afoot ... even though they're currently describing her death as a "unique situation."

Albuquerque PD tells TMZ ... Leone's body was found March 1 at her home ... and while an official cause of death hasn't been determined, we're told police are investigating her death as suspicious ... although they go out of their way to note there were no signs of trauma.

After word of Sophia's death made the rounds, her modeling agency claimed the circumstances surrounding her death involved a robbery and homicide ... but APD tells us that's not the case.

A rep for the Department tells us they never indicated robbery or homicide was on their radar ... reiterating they were looking at it as a "suspicious death." They also emphasized they wouldn't be able to determine the cause of death until toxicology results were in. We asked if it appeared to be drug-related -- cops wouldn't say one way or another.

An APD rep also said this ... "We do not know at this time if she is a victim of a crime so this is a unique situation." Police say Sophia Leone was simply her stage name and noted her family was wary about drawing more attention.

While her family might not want to discuss the details of Sophia's death, they have since launched a GoFundMe to cover the costs of her funeral and memorial -- a financial burden the family wasn't prepared to meet. The family has set a goal of $12,000.

In the GFM post, her Stepdad Mike wrote, "As her Stepfather, I want to personally thank you for your kindness and generosity during this difficult time. Sophia will be deeply missed but her memory will live on in the hearts of all who loved her. May she rest in eternal peace."

Sophia made a name for herself in the adult biz, working with several different studios throughout her career ... including Brazzers, Evil Angel and Reality Kings. She was 26.

RIP

Sydney Sweeney, Niecy Nash Make Splash at GLAAD Awards

Published | Updated

Sydney Sweeney, Niecy Nash and Chloe Bailey were real head-turners at the GLAAD Media Awards Thursday night, looking absolutely stunning in their scintillating outfits.

Sydney, Niecy and Chloe hit the red carpet with a long line of other celebs at the Beverly Hilton Hotel for the 35th annual event celebrating journalism that highlights the LGBTQ community.

The three actresses stole the show as they posed for paparazzi photos, combining a mixture of class with a touch of risqué.

As for the event, it was jam packed with bold-faced names. Among them ... Wayne Brady, Shangela, Frankie Grande, Jessica Betts, Allison Williams, Lena Dunham, Billy Harris, Hannah Waddingham, Cristo Fernández, Juno Temple, Jodi Balfour, Jason Sudeikis, Alexandra Shipp, JoJo Siwa, Dylan Mulvaney, Sharon Stone, Katie Maloney and Christine Chiu.

They all looked amazing in their glamorous get-ups. After the paps were finished snapping their pics, the stars went inside the venue to enjoy the awards show hosted by Wayne Brady.

Some of the biggest winners in the 33 categories covering film, TV, music and more were "Ted Lasso," "Yellowjackets" and "RuPaul's Drag Race."

Mauricio Umansky Giving Back With Brand New Homes ... Charity Work w/ the Fam!!!

Published | Updated
031424_mauricio_umansky_h4h_kal
THE JOY OF GIVING BACK

Mauricio Umansky's not just trying to sell homes ... he's also creating them from the ground up for folks who need them most -- and he's putting in the hard work with his own kids.

We caught up with The Agency founder and CEO Thursday at a construction site in South Los Angeles -- where the reality star and his daughters were helping build brand new houses alongside Habitat for Humanity.

Umansky says they're in the middle of one of their many build days -- a partnership with Habitat and Giveback Homes that sees members of The Agency dedicate their own time and money to offer affordable housing for folks in need. Now, there are eligibility qualifications.

In order to live in one of these houses, there's criteria -- like demonstrating a financial need; falling within the average median income between 50%-120%; having good credit; being willing to contribute sweat equity; being able to drop a small down payment, among others.

Anyway, MU made Thursday's work sesh a family affair ... with his daughters helping out at the building site with drills and staple guns in hand. Mauricio couldn't help but give them a hard time -- saying dad's not comin' to the rescue next time they need a lightbulb changed!

In fact, Umansky's daughter Alexia -- whom he shares with Kyle Richards -- even gave us a tour of the soon-to-be-finished house ... including the heartfelt messages she and her dad wrote on one of the kitchen walls

Ultimately, Mauricio noted how great it is to give back to the community ... almost certainly thinking of his own humble beginnings before The Agency took off. And just so you know, Mauricio and co. have built these types of homes for a wide variety of people ... everything from firefighters and teachers to vets and families with disabilities, etc. It's a good cause.

BTW ... Mauricio didn't mention Kyle during our talk Thursday -- instead choosing to focus on the great work The Agency's doing.

House is lookin' great Umansky fam ... but, careful with that staple gun!!! 👷

Meghan King Defends Olivia Rodrigo's Plan B Handouts ... Good For Her!!!

Published | Updated
031424_meghan_king_kal
CONCEALED CONTRACEPTIVES

Meghan King isn't losing sleep after taking her daughter to an Olivia Rodrigo concert where condoms and Plan B were being handed out ... instead, she's applauding the young pop star.

The "Real Housewives of Orange County" alum says she took her 7-year-old daughter Aspen to the St. Louis stop of the "GUTS" world tour, and saw firsthand how Olivia's doling out contraception to her fans.

As Meghan puts it ... the free condoms and Plan B weren't even very noticeable during the event. In fact, she says she only noticed the contraception table because "vote" stickers were being handed out there, too.

Since Aspen is still more than 10 years from being able to vote, Meghan says they walked away without taking a closer look.

However, she realized after the concert more than just stickers were being offered up, but it could've easily flown under the radar for most folks -- Meghan says the Plan B was being handed out under the codename "Julie."

She admits the situation was a little "jarring" for her, mostly because her daughter is so young ... but she also doesn't think parents should be angry over the free contraception.

Meghan even goes as far as calling Olivia's critics ignorant and hypocritical.

She defends that if Justin Bieber was doing something similar with condoms, the singer wouldn't likely face the same backlash -- hinting misogyny might be fueling the pushback against Olivia.

031324-olivia-rodrigo-kal FEBRUARY 2024
SUPPORTING REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS

Meghan understands OR's mission ... calling out how kids are growing up faster than ever and emphasizing the need for sex education.

She does have one recommendation for the singer -- handing out items promoting reproductive health might be more useful for her younger fans.

Still, overall, Meghan applauds Olivia for supporting women's reproductive rights -- and suggests if anyone has a problem with it, they can simply skip the "GUTS" tour.

Callum Walsh, Irish Boxing Star Not Trying Be The Next McGregor ... Making My Own Legacy!

Published | Updated

Callum Walsh may look and sound like Conor McGregor (after all, they're both Irish!), but the undefeated boxer tells TMZ Sports he's NOT trying to be a carbon copy of the UFC star!

Walsh is an up-and-coming super welterweight boxing star with a main event at Madison Square Garden on March 15 against Dauren Yeleussinov, his second fight at the iconic arena in the last four months.

Making the event even more special, it's St. Patrick's Day weekend, and Callum is pumped!

"It's unbelievable," the Irish boxer told us, adding, "I'm very grateful to be able to do this at such a young age."

Because of his Irish nationality and fighting talent, many, including Dana White (who works with CW), see him being the next McGregor ... but it's a comparison he doesn't love.

"I'm trying to make my own path and do my own thing," the 23-year-old said.

"I'm never trying to copy anybody or be like anyone. Everyone always says 'Oh you wanna be like the Conor McGregor of boxing'. I'm just trying to be Callum Walsh."

That's no disrespect to McGregor ... Walsh and Conor have met before, and Callum says McGregor was somewhat of a role model for him when he was younger.

But, he wants to be himself, not another star fighter.

"I'm just trying to do my own thing, try make my own path. Leave my own legacy," Callum said.

030524-callum-walsh-next-fight-kal
DOWN FOR WHATEVER

With a 9-0 record, Walsh is on the way ... and hopes to keep his winning streak alive by knocking out Yeleussinov (11-3, 10 KO) at MSG Friday night.

"I'm always looking for the knockout in every fight," Walsh said.

And, when it comes to his next target, Walsh is down for whoever, whenever ... and that includes McGregor if it comes down to it!

TMZ TV Recap Kyle & Mauricio Headed for Divorce ... *NSYNC Reunion, Mark Coleman

Published | Updated

It's Friday, and there's no better way to head off into the weekend than by looking back at what we covered on TMZ ... and there was a lot, especially when it came to our shows.

TMZ Live

Starting off on 'TMZ Live,' Charles and Harvey discussed the looming divorce between Kyle Richards and Mauricio Umansky -- which we know is all but certain at this point, based on conversations we've had with lots of people in that world. At this point, it's essentially over.

Kyle touched on this during Wednesday night 'RHOBH' ... and got emotional in doing so.

TMZ on TV

Next up, we got 'TMZ on TV,' where the gang talked about Justin Timberlake reuniting with Joey Fatone, Lance Bass, JC Chasez and Chris Kirkpatrick, making it an *NSYNC affair.

They performed together ahead of JT's new album dropping ... and boy, did they sound good.

TMZ Sports

Finally on 'TMZ Sports,' Babcock and Mojo talked the incredible recovery of Mark Coleman.

Check your local listings for when TMZ is on in your area or catch up on past episodes!

Guess Who This Spiffy Kid Turned Into!

Published | Updated

Before this boy in his pastel collared shirt and wide-brimmed bucket hat turned into an actor and stand-up comedian, he was just a spiffy 3-year-old boy looking cool on a park bench, living most of his childhood in Hong Kong before graduating from Beverly Hills High School.

Perhaps he's best known for starring in HBO's comedy series "Silicon Valley," but he also garnered wide attention with his role as Dr. Chan Kaifang on Netflix's "Space Force." And, don't underestimate his list of famous friends ... like his "Crazy Rich Asians" costar Michelle Yeoh.

Can you guess who he is?

Luke Bryan's Nashville Bar Investigated for Allegedly Overserving Still-Missing Riley Strain

Published | Updated

Luke Bryan's Nashville bar is alleged to have overserved a Missouri college student who went missing last week -- and now a state agency has launched an investigation into it.

The Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission -- the licensing authority for manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers of booze beverages in the state -- tells TMZ ... while there's no specific rule that dictates a business escorting out intoxicated patrons, let alone providing assistance to said patrons, there are laws about providing too much alcohol to someone.

We're told Tennessee law prohibits serving alcoholic beverages to someone who is visibly intoxicated -- and any violation of this is considered a class A misdemeanor.

As it pertains to claims that Riley Strain, who's still missing, was overserved ... we're told the TABC has opened an investigation to see if any violations have occurred in this matter.

Remember, it was cops who suggested Riley might've been overserved Friday when he and some friends hit the town and ended up at Luke's 32 Bridge -- where the 22-year-old was reportedly kicked out ... and where he got separated from his party and went off on his own.

Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.

As the story goes ... Riley apparently told his friends he'd meet them back at their hotel -- but he was nowhere to be found when the rest of the guys showed up. As of Thursday, there's still no sign of him ... despite an extensive search effort throughout the city.

Crews have scoured the streets, and the search for Riley has even extended to the riverbank nearby -- as some suspect he may have gotten lost and perhaps fallen into the water.

Remember, surveillance footage of Riley stumbling along the streets of Nashville has surfaced ... and he looks out of sorts, and possibly under the influence too. It's eerie video, no doubt.

Luke himself spoke out on the story, asking for prayers. He also noted his bar was cooperating with law enforcement and providing any surveillance video of their own that could help find him. We reached out to them on this latest update, but they had no comment.

Nashville PD also gave an update Thursday on where they were in the case ... noting they were scouring through tons of tips, and said they might bring in state and/or federal help if they feel they need it. For now, it sounds like it's just them handling things internally.

031424-riley-strain-update-kal
STILL ON THE HUNT

Riley's family has said they're living through a nightmare as they continue to look for him. Riley had apparently FaceTimed his mom earlier in the evening, and she said nothing seemed amiss then, even though they knew he was bar hopping.

Cops are asking anyone with reliable information on Riley's whereabouts to call 615-742-7463.

RJ Barrett Younger Brother Passes Away ... Will Not Play Friday

Published | Updated

The basketball community is rallying around Toronto Raptors player RJ Barrett ... after it was revealed his brother, Nathan, recently passed away.

Nathan's former youth basketball coach, Chris Stewart, confirmed the tragic news on Thursday ... saying the athlete was special to the program.

"Nathan was only with us for a short time in grade 7 before he moved to Florida but whenever he was back in Mississauga the boys connected," Stewart said.

"No parent should ever have to bury a child, hug your kids today a little longer. You will be missed Nathan, RIP ❤️🏀🙏🕊️"

Details surrounding his death have not been revealed at this time.

Nathan -- a 6-foot-1 guard -- played at Montverde Academy, just like RJ. He had dreams of becoming a pilot.

"In my family, we’re very competitive," RJ told SLAM in 2018. "Everyone is always trying to beat each other. Everyone is an athlete, so that’s where I get all my competitive drive."

RJ spent one season at Duke University before going 3rd overall in the 2019 NBA Draft. He played for the Knicks until he was traded to the Raptors in December.

Barrett -- who did not play in Wednesday's game against the Detroit Pistons -- has been ruled out of Friday night's contest against the Orlando Magic ... and understandably, it is unclear when he will return to the court.

The Barrett family released a statement on Nathan's death ... saying he passed away surrounded by his loved ones.

"While our family is devastated by this great loss, we will continue to cherish the memories and time spent together. Nathan was a God-fearing young man of strong character. He was thoughtful, kind, loving, compassionate, creative, admirable and driven."

"Though his time with us was brief, he will live forever in our hearts."

RIP

MICHIGAN HIGH SCHOOL SHOOTER FATHER GUILTY OF INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER Weeks After Wife's Verdict

Published | Updated

The father of Michigan high school shooter Ethan Crumbley, has been found guilty on all 4 counts of involuntary manslaughter ... just weeks after his wife Jennifer saw the same verdict.

The jury reached the decision for James Crumbley Thursday after 1 day of deliberations. His sentencing is scheduled for April 9, the same date as his wife.

With this verdict, Crumbley was found to be negligent for disregarding warning signs exhibited by his son that could have potentially prevented the devastating event. Prosecutors said he even purchased a gun for his son just days before he used it to open fire at Oxford High School in the Detroit suburb of Oxford Township, MI, in November 2021, killing 4 students.

The verdict comes a few weeks after his wife Jennifer's conviction -- which marked an historic moment, as it's unprecedented for a parent to be criminally charged in connection with their child's involvement in a mass shooting.

Jennifer's testimony during her trial had shed light on the role she says her husband, James, played in the tragic events ... saying he had purchased the gun their son used in the shooting and was the one responsible for hiding it.

She also testified she was aware her son was struggling but had no inkling he was capable of carrying out a mass shooting ... saying if she had known, she'd done the whole thing differently.

17-year-old Ethan was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole back in December.

120823-ethan-crumbley-sentencing-kal 12/08/23
LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE

Ethan told the court he was "a really bad person" before he was handed his hefty sentence ... adding, "I have done terrible things that no one should ever do."

Tennis Star Carlos Alcaraz Un-BEE-lievable Insect Attack ... Runs Away From Swarm!!!

Published | Updated

Carlos Alcaraz's tennis play is sweet like honey ... and clearly, some bees thought so too -- 'cause a huge swarm forced him off the court!

The second-best men's player in the world took the court Thursday to take on Alexander Zverev during the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, but ended up contending more with a cloud of the dastardly drones when the match was tied 1-1.

Check out the video ... Alcaraz tries to simply swat a few of the irksome creatures away from his face before realizing his bug problem's a whole lot bigger than he thought.

CA keeps his cool for a bit while the sideline official explains the situation to the audience ... but the bees buzzing around his head proves to be too much for the Spanish star.

Carlos starts swinging his racquet around wildly before running toward the tunnel away from the court. He also pulled up his shirt over his face to protect himself -- and let's just say, it was quite a sight ... like something out of "Sleepy Hollow."

In the end, it sounds like Carlos took some damage from all this -- his agent says he got stung on the forehead during the melee, although it's unclear to what extent he was hurt.

Ultimately, it seems like everyone ended up relatively OK ... 'cause play continued just after 5 PM PT with Carlos soldiering through his injury -- after a totally unprotected individual went around and vacuumed up the insect swarm on the camera, all by themselves. Bold!

Talk about a BUZZ-worthy moment at today's match, right?