Amber Rose Taylor Swift Didn't Overreact to Joke ... ALWAYS Stand Up to Slut-Shaming!!!

TEAM TAYLOR
TMZ.com

Amber Rose is 100 percent behind Taylor Swift for calling out the Netflix show that made a joke about the singer's dating history ... because she says you can never let up on sexism.

We got Amber leaving Sushiya in WeHo late Thursday, and she's totally Team Taylor after Swift blasted the show, "Ginny and Georgia," earlier this week for what she referred to as a dated, lazy, deeply sexist, "horse s**t" joke.

SHOTS AT TAYLOR
Netflix

If ya missed it, the character Ginny yells at her mother ... "What do you care? You go through men faster than Taylor Swift."

Though many supported Taylor's stance on the joke, other folks accused her of overreacting ... but Amber tells us that's BS. She says slut-shaming is a problem that ya can't overreact to ... and Taylor has a right to feel the way she does.

OCTOBER 2017
SLUTTY STEPPIN'
TMZ.com

As you may know ... Amber's a huge proponent of standing up to sexism, and she hosts her annual SlutWalk to protest the double standards women face when it comes to their sexual history.

Meghan Markle I Was Under Total Control Before ... Making My Own Calls Now!!!

THE TIME IS RIGHT
CBS
UPDATE

10:07 AM PT -- Chrissy Teigen has now run to Meghan's defense ... suggesting Meghan's pregnancy could be at risk if the Royal family continues its perceived smear campaign against her.

UPDATE

Meghan Markle's memory of a phone call from Oprah in 2018 makes it sound like the then duchess-to-be was being held captive by the Royal Family.

O just released another clip from her highly anticipated interview with Meghan and Prince Harry ... where Oprah recalls calling Meghan months before her royal wedding to request an interview and being politely turned down. Back then, Meghan said the timing wasn't right, but now she says that was an excuse forced on her.

The reality was, according to Meghan ... "I wasn't even allowed to have that conversation with you personally, right? There had to be people from the comm., sitting there."

Meghan says the timing is right now, though, because she and Harry finally have the ability to make their own choices.

She also suggests that people can't imagine what it was like to leave her independent life and enter the "construct" of the monarchy.

WHAT DO THEY EXPECT?
CBS

As we reported ... the Duke and Duchess' interview with Oprah has promised to be "shocking," and the couple's essentially declared war against Queen Elizabeth and Buckingham Palace by accusing them of spreading "falsehoods" about them.

Get your popcorn ready!

Originally Published -- 6:36 AM PT

Lisa Marie Presley My Ex Won't Let Me Move On ... Make Me Single, Judge!!!

Lisa Marie Presley's been separated from her estranged husband for nearly 5 years and says she's ready to start a new chapter ... so she wants the judge to step in and declare her single.

In new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Lisa Marie says her ex Michael Lockwood refuses to agree to terminate their marriage ... despite the fact she filed for divorce way back in June 2016.

She says there's no chance of ever saving the relationship, so she's requesting a bifurcation -- which means separating marital status from other divorce issues. Basically, let's be single now, and divvy up our stuff later.

One other big issue has already been settled -- LMP scored a big win in 2018 when the judge ruled she doesn't have to pay Lockwood spousal support based on their 2007 post-nuptial agreement.

It remains to be seen if he'll try to challenge or get around any of those rulings going forward, but Presley's asking the judge to settle the marital status issue ASAP ... "so that I can move forward with my life."

'Moonshiners' Star Lance Waldroup Dead at 30 Mom Found Him Unconscious

UPDATE

6:29 AM PT -- Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Lance's mom, Lynn, called 911 and told the dispatcher she found him unconscious and not breathing at 9:45 PM on February 25. We're told Graham County Sheriff's deputies responded to the Robbinsville home and found Lance dead ... lying on top of his bed.

UPDATE

Our sources say Lance's mom had last spoken to Lance four hours earlier. At some point after that conversation, we’re told Lance went into his bedroom and laid down on his bed. We're told there are no signs of foul play and his cause of death is being investigated by the medical examiner.

Lance Waldroup, a famous bootlegger from Discovery's "Moonshiners," has died.

Lance died Feb. 25 in his home state of North Carolina ... according to his father, Jeff, who also appeared on the reality show alongside his son. The cause of death remains unclear.

Discovery tells TMZ ... Lance will be remembered as an adventurous distiller who was always looking to take his flavorful recipes of moonshine to new heights.

Lance appeared in several early seasons of the show ... bootlegging out of North Carolina with his father. He was one of the younger and less experienced moonshiners, and would often turn to his dad for guidance. He also distilled absinthe and scotch.

Lance's family set up a GoFundMe to raise money for a memorial fund, and the description says he was a recovering drug addict who had turned his life around after going to rehab.

The Waldroups have really been through it -- the family says Lance had survivor's guilt because his sister died when she was 11, and his brother died when he was 20.

Lance was only 30.

RIP

Elon Musk Starbase City Could Bring Jobs, Tourism County Commish Gives 👍👍

Elon Musk founding his City of Starbase, Texas is getting support from at least one local official ... who says the move could lead to a serious job and tourism boom.

Joey Lopez, one of four elected commissioners for Cameron County, tells TMZ ... Elon's SpaceX has already made an impact -- currently known as the unincorporated area of Boca Chica Village -- by attracting tourists who come watch rocket launches.

Hopefully, the rockets will do better than the one Wednesday ... an unmanned test flight of a SpaceX rocket Elon hoped would go to Mars exploded after trying to stick a clean landing at the South Texas landing facility.

ROUGH LANDING
Space X / NASA

Lopez says SpaceX has also created jobs in the area. He says in June of 2020 there were 600 county residents who worked for SpaceX. That number's swelled to as high as 1,800 ... according to Lopez.

And, if Elon starts his own city ... Lopez sees that number skyrocketing. #PunIntended.

What's more ... Lopez says Elon's already ingrained himself in the community ... like recently helping save sea turtles during Texas' recent deadly winter storm. He also provided generators that helped maintain water pressure in two Cameron County towns.

As we reported ... a county judge has already said Elon must comply with all state laws if he wants to own a piece of Texas. Lopez says Elon has a lot of work to do if he wants Boca Chica Village Starbase to become a self-sufficient city.

At the very least ... Elon's got one powerful man on board.

Gorilla Glue Woman Cancer Scare Over ... Breast Biopsy Benign

It's the best news Tessica Brown's gotten since getting the Gorilla Glue out of her hair -- the masses found in her breasts are not cancerous.

Tessica's manager, Gina Rodriguez, tells TMZ ... test results for the 2 lumps, one in each breast, came back negative, and Tessica is ecstatic. She says doctors say the benign cysts are the result of fibrocystic breast disease which comes with its own complications.

We're told the disease generally makes it tougher for doctors to ID potentially cancerous lumps. As a result, Tessica will now have to get a mammogram every 6 months.

As we first reported, Tessica had gone back to Dr. Michael Obeng -- who defeated the Gorilla Glue -- to get a mommy makeover that included a boob lift/implants and some abdominal lipo. It was during a pre-surgery consultation that he discovered the lumps.

Dr. Obeng removed the cysts during Tessica's other procedures and sent them to the lab for testing.

Tessica remained optimistic -- even while waiting for results -- telling us she felt everything had happened for a reason: the Gorilla Glue ordeal brought her to Dr. Obeng ... who then found the lumps.

That positive thinking paid off.

Wayne Gretzky's Father Walter Gretzky Dead at 82 ... After Parkinson's Battle

Sad news out of Canada ... Wayne Gretzky's father, Walter Gretzky, has died after a battle with Parkinson's disease. He was 82.

"It's with deep sadness that Janet and I share the news of the passing of my dad," Wayne said in a statement late Thursday evening.

"He bravely battled Parkinson's and other health issues these last few years, but he never let it get him down."

"For me, he was the reason I fell in love with the game of hockey. He inspired me to be the best I could be not just in the game of hockey, but in life."

The stories about Walter Gretzky's role in Wayne's career are legendary -- he served as The Great One's personal coach growing up, hammering home the fundamentals of the game.

One of his most famous lessons for Wayne focused on ANTICIPATING the action -- skate to where the puck is going, not where it's been.

Walter loved hockey -- but never played at the pro level. He played junior and senior hockey growing up in Canada but realized he wasn't good enough to make a career out of it.

His son, however ... well, we all know how that turned out.

In fact, Walter basically built a shrine to his son at the family home in Ontario -- which somebody actually burglarized back in 2020.

Family members reported roughly $500,000 worth of Wayne Gretzky memorabilia was stolen from the home .. including game-used sticks, jerseys, gloves, pants and even a Player of the Year award.

But, the story had a happy ending for Walter ... after a 3-month investigation, cops recovered a bunch of the items.

Wayne concluded his tribute to his father by saying the family is at peace knowing Wayne has been reunited with his late wife, Phyllis, who passed away in 2005.

"He was truly the Great One and the proudest Canadian we know. We love you dad."

'Walking Dead' Makeup Guru Zombies Won't Find You at the Dentist ... I Know More Than CDC!!!

ALWAYS BE PREPARED
TMZ.com

'Walking Dead' makeup artist and executive producer Greg Nicotero doesn't need CDC guidelines to prepare for a zombie apocalypse ... he already knows a safe place to hide.

We got the genius behind the show's most epic zombies at LAX and asked him what would be in his zombie preparedness kit, something the CDC is actually advising folks to have just in case Nostradamus is right about his big 2021 prediction.

Greg tells our camera guy he just needs a makeup kit to survive ... because it would allow him to blend in with the rest of the zombie horde.

Of course, Greg's the most skilled zombie makeup artist in the world ... but for the rest of us, he says duct tape could really come in handy and the big key is hiding out in a place no zombie would ever think to look, like the dentist's office.

As we reported ... the CDC updated its website's "Zombie Preparedness" section and the overall theme is "Get a Kit. Make a Plan. Be Prepared."

Greg says he's sat on zombie panels with CDC doctors and he thinks the federal agency just wants Americans to at least think about what they would do in a situation like a zombie apocalypse. In reality, the CDC is just clowning a bit, but with a purpose ... to drive younger people to the site for important medical info.

It's a pretty fun exercise ... and Greg tells us why there's no sense in stocking up on toilet paper again.

NHL's Sean Avery Busts Man's Car Mirror In Heated Altercation But Claims He's The Victim

MARCH 2021
GETTIN' AGGRESSIVE
TMZSports.com

Former NHL star Sean Avery busted a man's car mirror during a heated altercation in L.A. Thursday morning ... but he tells TMZ Sports he's the real victim in the situation.

Here's the deal ... law enforcement tells us cops were called out to the 8300 block of the Yucca Trail near West Hollywood around 10 AM to respond to a call of vandalism.

What happened preceding the call, though seems to boil down to two sides.

On one end, there's Niku. On the other, there's Avery ... and both guys claim the other dude was the aggressor in the incident.

Niku says a couple weeks ago, back in mid-February, he got into a confrontation with Avery in the neighborhood after unintentionally blocking the former hockey player down a two-way, one-lane road.

Niku says when he backed up to let Avery by ... the 40-year-old ex-NY Ranger became aggressive, rolled down his window and yelled "slow down you fat f***" over and over.

Niku says he hadn't had any contact with Avery since ... until Thursday morning, when he drove by the NHL player, who was on a jog.

Niku claims Avery recognized him from their February incident, and became incensed, and chased after him.

In video of the incident, you can see what happened next ... Avery caught up to Niku and opened his door -- before Niku quickly pulled it shut.

Niku then rolled down his window and called Avery a "psychopath."

Avery then stood in front of Niku's car ... until Niku drove slowly towards him while honking his horn.

Avery eventually got out of the way, but elbowed the dude's driver's side mirror as he stepped aside.

Avery, though, claims the whole thing was started because Niku hit him while he was jogging.

Avery says he chased Niku down to try to get him to stop ... saying Niku, "Tried to run me over." Avery added, "My leg's a little hurt."

I WAS HIT
TMZSports.com

Cops wouldn't reveal any more details from their investigation into the incident Thursday ... only telling us that a report was taken. They added no arrests were made.

Avery was known as one of the NHL's toughest dudes during his 13-year playing career ... piling up over 1,500 total penalty minutes before retiring in 2012.

"Kiss Me" Singer Leigh Nash 'Memba Her?!

Texas local Leigh Nash was only 21 when she shot onto the music scene in the late '90s as the frontwoman for the rock band Sixpence None The Richer who released the catchy single "Kiss Me" on their self-titled album ... which became the ballad for a handful of teen classics like "She's All That."

SNTR went on to release three more studio albums with their signature Christian rock vibe ... but never achieved the same success as they did in 1997.

Leigh Nash continues to make music as a solo act and just released a new song called "Good Trouble" featuring Ruby Amanfu.

Guess what Leigh Nash looks like now in her 40s!

Celeb Hot Spot Il Pastaio Woman Shot In Armed Robbery

Celebs might be extra vigilant the next time they go out to eat in Bev Hills ... a woman was shot in the leg outside a super popular eatery in a brazen, daylight armed robbery.

The shooting went down Thursday afternoon outside Il Pastaio restaurant. We're told the shooter and 2 accomplices were after a $500,000 Richard Mille watch a man was wearing, and a woman was struck in the leg by gunfire.

3/4/21
MOMENTS AFTER THE SHOOTING
TMZ.com

An eyewitness told us the shooter fired off 3 or 4 rounds. The woman who was hit was having lunch near the man who was wearing the watch. The shooter made off with the timepiece -- and diners scrambled for safety -- as evidenced in the photos we obtained.

As far as we can tell no one else was shot, although diners were frantically checking themselves for bullet wounds.

Rapper DaniLeigh, who has been dating DaBaby, had just parked in front of the restaurant when the gunfire erupted.

As you can see ... the celeb hot spot is crawling with cops, and there's a ton of police tape wrapped around the restaurant's outdoor seating area, where a huge crowd of curious onlookers is gathering.

3/4/21
JUMPING INTO ACTION
@thetylershields

Celebrity photographer Tyler Shields was on the scene when gunfire erupted ... he said he herded a large group of people into a nearby parking garage when the shots rang out. Thankfully, he says everyone around him was OK ... and shared a message of love.

The Italian restaurant is extremely popular among famous folks ... we've seen lots of celebs dining there over the years, and it's where we get a bunch of them on camera.

Story developing ...

'Step Up' Star Terrence Green In Hot Water for Alleged Gun Gesture ... At Cop's Head On Set!!!

Terrence Green, best known as Rigo on the 'Step Up' TV series, really stepped in it -- production sources say he mimicked pointing a gun at a cop, and now the network's dropping the hammer.

Sources close to production of the Starz show tell TMZ ... they were filming at the Atlanta courthouse this week when Terrence approached a police officer and used his fingers to gesture like he was pointing a gun at the cop's head.

We're told it seemed Green meant it as a joke -- albeit a tasteless one -- but everyone was appalled by it, including the officer.

A spokesperson for Starz and Lionsgate, which produces 'Step Up,' tells TMZ ... a thorough investigation of the incident's been done, and Terrence "will receive strong disciplinary action."

The rep adds ... "We do not condone any on set behavior, even a gesture, that suggests or simulates violence toward another individual."

It's unclear at this time what Green's punishment will be. His rep did not get back to us for comment.

Gov. Cuomo Sued Let Me See Dying Husband in Nursing Home ... We're Both Vaccinated!!!

Gov. Andrew Cuomo's nursing home controversy just added another layer -- a woman claims she can't see her husband, even though they're both vaccinated ... so, now she's suing.

Mary Mauro is desperately trying to see her husband of 60 years, Mario, who is a U.S. veteran with advanced Alzheimer's disease ... according to the new lawsuit, obtained by TMZ.

In the docs, Mary claims Cuomo's statewide COVID-19 policies are prohibiting her from entering the Long Island State Veterans Home nursing facility where Mario's lived since January.

According to the suit, Mario's lost more than 30 pounds because Mary's not able to help feed him, and as a result, his life's in danger. She also says she's unable to make proper medical decisions for him, and adds ... they're being kept "from ever seeing each other again in a meaningful way."

Mary thinks Cuomo's COVID mandates make no sense in her case because both she and Mario are both fully vaccinated -- plus, Mario already had COVID and recovered.

1/29/21
HOW IT COUNTED OUT
New York State

As we've reported ... Gov. Cuomo's been in hot water for weeks after a report came out claiming his administration severely undercounted COVID-related deaths in nursing homes. Cuomo called the claims a political attack.

The Mauros are suing Cuomo, the nursing facility and the NY State Health Commissioner, Dr. Howard Zucker. They are seeking damages and want the rules changed so Mary can visit Mario.

Chris Harrison Rachel Lindsay Accepts Apology ... He Plans to Return to 'Bachelor'

UPDATE

1:54 PM PT -- Chris' mea culpa went over well with Rachel Lindsay, she tells us she accepts his apology.

UPDATE

Rachel tells TMZ ... she accepted the apology because it's what she needs to do to move forward with her life.

UPDATE

She says she and Chris have not spoken directly since his 'GMA' interview, but she watched it. RL tells us they spoke about 3 weeks ago, when the scandal first happened, and he apologized directly then too.

UPDATE

Chris made it clear he wants to return to 'The Bachelor' next season ... and sources close to Rachel tell us she doesn't feel like it's up to her to know when he's ready to come back, and she feels a final decision rests with him and the franchise.

Chris Harrison says he's sorry for offending Rachel Lindsay and the entire Black community, by excusing historical racism -- but adds he wants to be back hosting the 'Bachelor' franchise.

3/4/21
COMMITTED TO CHANGE
ABC

Harrison spoke out on 'GMA' for the first time since taking a hiatus, and copped to making a mistake while talking to Rachel about the photos that surfaced of current 'Bachelor' contestant Rachael Kirkconnell at a 2018 antebellum south party.

Chris had initially excused Kirkconnell's pics by retorting, "Is it a good look in 2018 or is it not a good look in 2021? Because there's a difference."

He's walking it back now by saying ... "Antebellum parties are not okay. Past, present, future, knowing what that represents is unacceptable."

Chris also said he was "saddened and shocked at how insensitive I was in that interview with Rachel Lindsay." He added, "I didn't speak from my heart -- and that is to say I stand against all forms of racism, and I am deeply sorry."

As you know ... since Chris and Rachel's interview, he's stepped away from his 'Bachelor' host duties and Rachel was forced to leave Instagram following a flood of Bachelor Nation hate. Harrison addressed that too, saying ... "To anyone throwing hate towards Rachel Lindsay. Please stop. It is unacceptable."

As we reported ... FS1 sports broadcaster Emmanuel Acho is replacing Harrison to host the 'After the Final Rose' finale for Matt James' season.

Chris sure makes it sound like he'll back, though, for the next season of the franchise.

Originally Published -- 7:31 AM PT

Kygo Helicopters Piano To Mountaintop ... For Insane Virtual Concert!!!

SUMMIT STUNTS
Johannes Lovund

Kygo is going all out to perform a virtual concert from the top of a snow-capped mountain in Scandinavia -- a helicopter dropped off a piano at the summit!!!

Ya gotta see the video of the unique delivery ... the piano was hanging by straps from the chopper as it came in for a landing Thursday ... next to Kygo, who was surrounded by pyrotechnics while spinning tunes. Talk about production value.

The Norwegian DJ reportedly dropped over six figures of his own money to make this virtual concert happen ... it's not exactly cheap to get a piano flown to the top of Norway’s Sunnmore Alps.

Kygo's fans might recognize the glass piano ... it's the same one he used during his "Kids In Love" tour. You can see it in action (if you bought a ticket) when the online show begins at 6 PM PT.

The mountain's getting a lot of love from Hollywood these days too ... it was a filming location for Tom Cruise's upcoming "Mission: Impossible 7."

Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.

Mother Nature almost didn't play ball ... production says they almost had to cancel the concert when a storm approached.

Chris Harrison Racism Apology Sincere, Not Just for Show ... Michael Eric Dyson Cosigns

Chris Harrison has at least one person in his corner as his racism apology tour begins -- author Michael Eric Dyson tells us Chris is being sincere.

Harrison apologized to Rachel Lindsay Thursday on 'GMA' and we've learned Chris has been meeting with Dyson and other leaders in the Black community recently to educate himself on why his controversial take was so hurtful.

3/4/21
COMMITTED TO CHANGE
ABC

Remember, the firestorm started when the longtime 'Bachelor' host defended current 'Bachelor' contestant Rachael Kirkconnell over a 2018 antebellum south bash ... during an interview with Lindsay.

Sources close to the situation tell TMZ ... Chris has spent a ton of time meeting with Michael and others over Zoom to go over the subject. We're told he's also working with a very reputable race educator who is helping him learn from history and fully recognize the magnitude of his mistake.

Michael, who's authored books about Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr. and Barack Obama, tells TMZ ... Chris took a major step with Thursday's 'GMA' appearance, and it was heartening to see him apologize directly and sincerely to Rachel.

Dyson says Chris was right to own up to his mistake, admit his imperfections, denounce Rachel Lindsay's online trolls and emphasize a need for change. He says his time with Chris convinced him he's sincere.

Dyson tells us, "He also made it plain that he is not the victim here, a crucial point to emphasize as he rightfully refuses to revel in self-pity. At no point was he defensive, which is an important part of showing that he recognized his error."

Michael says he looks forward to educating Chris even more, and they'll probably have time for it ... FS1 sports broadcaster Emmanuel Acho is replacing Chris as the upcoming 'After the Final Rose' finale.

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