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"Tiger King" zookeeper Erik Cowie's body was not picked up by Jeff Lowe as planned ... instead, someone claiming to be Erik's relative got the remains from the medical examiner.

Jeff tells TMZ … he and his wife Lauren were notified this week someone claiming to be Erik's family member claimed the remains, and they are scrapping their plans to have him cremated and spread his ashes at their Oklahoma zoo.

As we first told you ... Jeff was under the impression Erik didn't have a family and his remains might go unclaimed, so Jeff was ready to step in so Cowie's body wouldn't be dumped into a mass grave without a proper send-off.

Now, Jeff says he heard Erik had 2 children ... but he says he didn't think either would have come forward because the kids were estranged from their dad.

A spokesperson for the NYC Medical Examiner's Office confirmed to TMZ ... a family member claimed Cowie's remains, although the M.E. did not say who.

As we reported ... Jeff and Lauren were planning to have a big memorial service for Erik, but now they're switching gears to a small get-together with staff at the zoo instead of a public sendoff.

Jeff says he doesn't want to steal any thunder from Erik's family, which might have their own service.

A wild melee broke out at a tailgate party just before the Browns' game Sunday ... with several Cleveland fans rockin' each other in the face with violent punches.

The insanity was all captured on video just before the Browns took on the Texans at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland.

You can see in the footage of the calamity ... the brawl initially began when two fans squared up to fight in the middle of the parking lot.

The scrap was fairly unspectacular -- the dudes connected on only a few punches -- but then when other fans got involved to try to break it all up ... complete chaos ensued.

Video shows about half a dozen people began throwing haymakers at each other ... and eventually, the fracas grew so large, the combatants crashed into a nearby table.

The fight didn't stop there, though ... 'cause they kept scrapping while on the ground, throwing more wild punches.

Eventually, everyone got off each other and dispersed.

It's unclear if any arrests were made over the incident -- we've reached out to police, but so far, no word back yet.

When the Foo Fighters roll outta NYC, Taylor Hawkins' pockets are gonna be a little bit fatter because he's struck a deal -- a not-so lucrative one -- with autograph seekers.

We caught the drummer as the band was leaving their hotel, and witnessed some cold hard capitalism going down as a handful of guys moved in for Taylor's signature. This was no free-for-all, though -- in fact, it kinda sounded like an auction.

You gotta see it ... autograph seekers start shouting out dollar amounts to get Taylor's attention. Someone offered $40, and TH beelined for him, and signed a photo. We know what you're thinking -- why the hell does a rock star need the few extra bucks???

Well, we put that question to Taylor, and he explained ... it's all about avoiding ATMs and keeping his wife happy. Smart man!

He says there's no going rate, BTW ... seems like he'll take whatever they offer, as long as it's legal tender. Taylor jokingly tried to school guitarist Pat Smear on the art of the deal too -- he needs the help.

Jason "Mayhem" Miller has officially been hit with felony domestic violence and resisting arrest charges, TMZ Sports has learned ... stemming from an incident where he allegedly roughed up his GF, and barricaded himself in a bathroom.

We broke the story ... Miller was arrested early in the morning last Friday, when cops received a call from a woman who was screaming for help. They rushed to the scene -- a home in L.A.'s San Fernando Valley -- and ultimately arrested Mayhem after cops say they found the woman with visible marks on her face and neck.

The L.A. County District Attorney filed criminal charges this week -- corporal injury to a spouse -- saying the MMA fighter "willfully inflicted corporal injury resulting in a traumatic condition" on his girlfriend.

Because he has multiple prior convictions for violent crimes, if convicted, Miller could face a lengthier prison sentence.

He was also charged with felony resisting arrest.

And now we're learning more about what allegedly happened during the incident.

Our law enforcement sources tell us Mayhem locked himself in a bathroom and refused to come out ... so cops were forced to knock down the door, in order to contact him.

We're also told the alleged female victim hopped out of a window to escape Miller.

For the two felony charges, Miller is facing years in prison.

The former UFC fighter is also currently being investigated for an alleged bar fight where he's been accused of breaking another man's ribs ... an incident that allegedly went down only days before his arrest for domestic violence.

The body believed to be that of Gabby Petito -- a travel blogger who's been unaccounted for, for at least a few weeks now -- has been found.

Authorities announced Sunday they discovered what they believe to be the remains of Petito during a vast search across Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming -- among parts of the country -- which is one of the places she and her boyfriend, Brian Laundrie, had recently visited on a monthslong, cross-country road trip to the west coast ... which they were documenting online.

A rep for the FBI says while forensic tests have not yet been completed, the body they discovered is consistent with Gabby's. Petito's family has also been notified ... but there is not yet a cause of death.

Gabby's family first reported her missing on Sept. 11 -- this after not hearing from her since late August ... and following Brian's return to North Port, FL, sans Gabby. Up until this past Friday, Laundrie and his family had reportedly refused to speak with investigators ... but then his own loved ones reported him missing, saying they'd last seen/heard from him on Tuesday.

The Petito's have claimed that Brian went radio silent on them when they tried to get answers -- namely, why he'd returned by himself in their shared van, where he last saw her, and why he would leave her alone?

It goes without saying ... her fam suspects Brian is mixed up in her disappearance, claiming he isn't missing ... but simply hiding. Police have said he isn't a suspect quite yet, but certainly a person of interest. Now, a search is underway to find Brian as well.

Adding to the speculation is bodycam video from a Utah officer who had a run-in with Gabby and Brian near Arches National Park prior to her vanishing -- and it sounds like there was a squabble between the couple.

You can see Gabby breaking down in tears when the officer asks what was going on after pulling them over on the side of a road, as she explains she has OCD. Brian, for his part, told the cop they were just arguing and that there wasn't anything to be alarmed about.

The case, of course, has become the biggest talked about story for a while ... and has captured national headlines.

For now, it appears only Gabby has been located -- and, sadly, she isn't alive. She was only 22.

The gay couple that was denied a wedding venue in Nashville because of their sexual orientation is getting the last laugh ... they found a new spot, and got a discount for their troubles.

Michael Gill tells TMZ … they're getting married at The Grove at Williamson Family Farm, and the venue reached out and offered a discount after learning they were denied at another place because they're gay.

As we first reported ... Michael and Coty were rejected by their first choice, Barn in the Bend, after ownership changed its tune and told them, "We do not offer same-sex marriage ceremonies."

Michael says several venues reached out looking to help after reading their story, with offers coming in from places elsewhere in Tennessee, plus West Virginia and Louisiana.

We're told the couple received several offers with deep discounts, including one from The Grove, and they settled on the venue in Murfreesboro, TN because it checked a lot of their boxes.

Michael says the couple also got tons of offers from wedding photographers offering discounts as well ... and they're going with Jared Laycock from Wish Well Photography.

With an inclusive venue and photographer locked down, we're told the couple is still on the hunt for a caterer and florist comfortable with working a gay wedding ... so they're still piecing together their big day.

Before this mini makeup mogul was selling out large venues for her popular tours, she was just another lipstick lady getting prepped for the camera in London, England.

This picture-perfect pipsqueak has only been in the music scene for a short time, but she has made quite the impact! She's already topped the music charts, won numerous Grammy Awards -- including Best New Artist back in 2019 and Album of the Year just this year -- and performed with some of the most popular names in music.

She's got new rules for the music industry!

Liam Gallagher is on the mend after taking an apparent tumble from what he says was a helicopter ride -- one that didn't kill him ... but left his face jacked up.

The Oasis frontman posted a photo of his mug covered in bandages and cream ... explaining that he toppled out of a chopper. He writes, "So check this out I fell out the helicopter last night you couldn’t rite it." Liam adds, "all good who said RnR is dead Keith moon eat your drum skin out C’mon you know LG x"

He posted another photo of a beer and wrote, "What doesn't kill ya makes ya TUFF GONG."

There isn't much context to what exactly happened, but one person speculated in his comment section that he hadn't fallen from very high ... otherwise, he'd be way more injured and/or dead. To that, LG says, "100 thousand feet you bumbaclart."

The guy was reportedly performing at Isle of Wight Festival at Seaclose Park in Newport, England before this happened.

Good news ... he's obviously okay enough to get cheeky about the accident -- but it also seems he's trying to make it sound a bit more dramatic than it perhaps was ... on its face, anyway.

Bills fans were at it again this weekend as their team got set to face the Miami Dolphins -- busting out the foldable tables for body slams ... only this time, making it combustible.

Check out this crazy video showing a rowdy bunch from the so-called 'Mafia' raging in the parking lot of Hard Rock Stadium ahead of kickoff ... and carrying on their tailgate tradition of throwing themselves (or each other) into Lifetimes -- cracking it in the middle.

They were doing the same here ... except, it was one dude being hoisted up by a couple others, who then tossed him onto a table that was on fire. Looks like a lighter fluid job.

Sure enough, he hits it -- but the table doesn't really snap like it's supposed to ... and even freakier, the guy seems to get caught in the flames for a quick minute. Luckily, he's able to jump out in time before catching on fire himself and runs to safety. Probably a little toasty, we're sure.

As dangerous as the table stunt already is, this takes it to a whole other level -- and it goes without saying ... don't try this at home, kids.

Olivia Rodrigo's set turned into fight night for a couple fans who just couldn't keep their hands to themselves while others around them continued to enjoy the show.

Rodrigo took the stage at the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Vegas Saturday and for whatever reason, two female fans got into an argument. Things were quick to turn physical after one fan put hands on the other ... and then fists started to fly.

The funniest part of the clip, fans surrounding the brawl continued to sing along as Olivia performed her hit song "Drivers License" on the massive stage in front.

Unclear if security eventually had to step in or if either of the fighting fans was thrown out, but Olivia's set was only 5 songs ... so hopefully everything got sorted out in time to enjoy the whole show. Olivia must not have noticed the scuffle, at one point reportedly telling her audience, "You guys are just like the best crowd ever. This is amazing."

A Texas mom used her time at the podium during a school board meeting to rant about sexually explicit content -- namely anal sex.

The woman, who is being identified online as Kara Bell, attended the meeting -- which was supposed to be about COVID -- to bring up her concerns in a book available to middle school students.

According to Bell, the book, titled "Out of Darkness" by Ashley Hope Pérez features a section about anal sex, which she feels is highly inappropriate.

Bell told the board, “I do not want my children to learn about anal sex in middle school,” Bell said. “I’ve never had anal sex. I don’t want to have anal sex. I don’t want my kids having anal sex. I want you to start focusing on education and not public health!”

The school board reportedly pulled the book from library shelves following Bell's complaint, with a district spokesperson telling KXAN, "A district shall not remove materials from a library for the purpose of denying students access to ideas with which the district disagrees."

The Taliban is apparently taking advantage of abandoned luxuries in Afghanistan, this time pedal boating on the lake of an empty park.

Check out these photos of a group of reported Taliban militants hitting up the waters in swan, flamingo and other bird-themed vessels at the Band-e Amir National Park near the Bamiyan Provience.

The Taliban members pedal while also making sure to carry their arsenal of weapons with them -- including a rifle and what appears to be a rocket launcher.

It's a bizarre scene ... one of many that have surfaced of the Taliban in seemingly out of place situations -- this, of course, after they've taken over Afghanistan and had their run of the place, following a chaotic withdrawal of U.S. and allied forces.

Not too long ago, guys from the Taliban filmed themselves hitting up a gym they found inside the walls of the Presidential Palace in Kabul -- fiddling with the machines and yukking it up with each other in amusement.

Farrah Abraham has her heart set on attending law school, possibly in the Ivy League -- on the heels of her Harvard beef -- and she says Harvard's fiercest rival is interested.

We got the former "Teen Mom" star at Debbie Durkin's EcoLuxe Lounge event at the Beverly Hills Hilton, and asked about her law school prospects. The headline here is Farrah's not soured on Ivy schools after experiencing what she calls "educational abuse" in Cambridge, MA ... and she might get the ultimate revenge at Yale.

Farrah says she's a wanted woman now that she's secured her transcript from Harvard, and she told us -- with a straight face -- Yale and several other law schools are recruiting her.

Laugh if you want, but Farrah does have a Bachelor's degree from the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale which at least makes her eligible to apply at Yale.

While she seems open to giving the Ivy League another chance, it sounds like Farrah's leaning toward staying close to home in California ... because she thinks she would fit in better on a diverse campus. Plus, what Cali girl wants to brave a New England winter?!?

As we first told you ... Farrah trashed Harvard over what she says was a horrible experience with their online program, and even threatened a lawsuit.

Farrah tells us what type of law she would like to practice one day. Here's a hint: Anything goes!

As for her Harvard litigation -- sounds like that's on her back burner for now.

Talk about getting smashed up ... UFC fighter Devin Clark is going to be spending LOTS of time in the dentist's chair this week, because his teeth are a mess after losing a fight.

It's pretty gruesome ... Clark went the full distance against Ion Cutelaba, but it wasn't easy.  Clark was pummeled the first 2 rounds, and that appears to be when the damage was done.  Cutelaba smashed in the bottom row of Clark's teeth.

The fight, at the UFC Apex in Vegas Saturday night, almost ended after round 2. Clark told his corner his teeth were messed up and there was talk about throwing in the towel, but he came out for the third and final round.

Things got even worse in round 3 when Cutelaba bashed Smith's head into the canvas.

The decision was unanimous in favor of Cutelaba.

Wack 100 says he has an unreleased sex tape belonging to Kim Kardashian and her ex, Ray J, that's never been seen before -- and he's weirdly offering it to ... Kanye West.

RJ's former manager spilled the alleged tea to Bootleg Kev on his podcast this week ... saying there was a "part 2" to the infamous sex tape that put Kim on the map in the 2000s. Unclear if it's just a continuation of the tape that's already out there, or a new one entirely.

In any case ... Wack says it's longer and more graphic, and on a laptop somewhere that he has access to. The strangest part is that he wants Kim's estranged husband to have it.

As for why, Wack seems to think it's a sign of respect to Ye to let him take ownership -- as she's the mother of his kids, etc. But, in the same breath, he suggests Kanye turn it into an NFT 😬. Of course, the one person he forgets to extend his offer to is ... Kim herself.

BK asks an important question ... how does Ray J himself feel about all this??? Wack says the guy wouldn't just put it out on his own because he himself is a father now, and wouldn't stoop that low. He also makes clear -- the video won't see the light of day (on their watch).

It's a strange claim -- but who knows ... maybe it's true. Kim and Ray were together for at least a couple years, so it's not beyond the realm of possibility there's other sex tapes.

Amy Schumer hasn't been afraid to keep fans in the loop with her health struggles over the years, now revealing endometriosis has taken such a toll on her body, she's had to have her uterus and appendix removed.

The comedian posted a series of photos and videos Saturday showing herself in the hospital while talking about her surgery. Schumer says doctors found 30 spots of endometriosis on her uterus, and there was a lot of blood inside it as well.

Schumer captioned the post, "If you have really painful periods you may have #endometriosis." Her comment section was filled with well-wishes and those thankful she shared her experience in the hopes of helping someone in the future. The 40-year-old also thanked her doctors.