Celebrity Death

Tupac's godmother was a terrorist, and mourning her is a slap in the face to cops all around the country ... so says FBI Director Kash Patel in a fiery new statement.

Director Patel popped off about the late Assata Shakur on X Sunday morning ... calling her by her birth name -- Joanne Chesimard -- and claiming she was never fighting for justice.

Patel says Shakur murdered New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster before fleeing to Cuba to avoid justice ... and she should be remembered by the public as the FBI remembers her -- a "terrorist."

Pro golfer Jake Knapp has spoken out following the death of his girlfriend, Makena White ... calling her death a "tough reality."

The PGA champ remembered Makena as a "thoughtful person whose selflessness toward others is something [he] will always appreciate" in a statement to TMZ.

He continued ... "We shared so many unforgettable memories together and now that she’s no longer with us, it’s a tough reality to comprehend."

Three members of the Putman reality television family have died in a tragic car accident, the family announced Saturday morning.

The devastating news was shared on the family's Instagram page, and they revealed "Papa, Neenee and Aunt Megan" have passed. While they did not say Papa's real name -- the family's patriarch, Bill Putman, was referred to as "Papa." His wife, Barb, was known as "Neenee."

Meanwhile, several family members -- Uncle Blake, Lulu, Alena, Noah, and Gia -- remain hospitalized.

New details have emerged in the death of Kelsey Bateman ... the 'Rock of Love' contestant was found with a bunch of pill bottles near her body.

According to a St. George police report, obtained by TMZ, Bateman was found dead inside a bedroom in her Utah apartment on August 27 with several prescription pill bottles nearby.

Police say Kelsey's boyfriend got worried when he hadn't heard from her in a while and called a friend, who went to her apartment and discovered her corpse. The friend then called 911.

Former WWE Superstar David Otunga is opening up on how he's choosing to remember Hulk Hogan ... explaining the character will always hold a special place in his heart -- but he can't ignore Terry Bollea's past.

The two-time Tag Team Champion made a surprise appearance on Thursday's "TMZ Live" with Harvey and Charles ... and the hosts asked his thoughts on the WWE Hall of Famer's legacy, given his controversial past -- including the racist slurs he uttered during a leaked sex tape.

The 45-year-old explained he absolutely idolized the Hulkster growing up ... and he still remembers the first time they met and how special it was that Hogan already knew of him.

Sophia Hutchins did not have any alcohol or drugs in her bloodstream when she died in a vehicle accident in Los Angeles over the summer, TMZ has learned.

Hutchins was a publicist and longtime friend of Caitlyn Jenner. The L.A. County Coroner performed an autopsy on her after her horrifying crash near Caitlyn's Malibu home in July.

According to the medical examiner's report, obtained by TMZ, Hutchins came up clean for alcohol and drugs, with the exception of her initial test for benzodiazepines, an anti-anxiety drug. But further testing determined benzos were not detected in her system.

Rudi Johnson recorded a video message encouraging kids to "shoot for the stars" and "never give up" ... just days before he died by suicide.

The ex-NFL star delivered the heartfelt note as part of an acceptance speech for his induction into the Chesterfield Sports Hall of Fame's Class of 2025.

Johnson -- who an official said could not make the Sept. 18 ceremony due to previous commitments -- thanked all his former teammates and coaches in a vid that was played at the Chester, Va. festivities ... before he turned his attention toward the youth.

7:21 AM PT -- Cops tell TMZ Sports ... Rudi Johnson died by suicide in Florida just after midnight on Tuesday.

Former Cincinnati Bengals running back Rudi Johnson has died.

A family source for the ex-NFL star tells TMZ Sports ... he passed away this week.

An associate of "Tiger King" star Joe Exotic was mauled by ... you guessed it ... a tiger while performing an animal show in Oklahoma -- and he died a brutal death, TMZ has learned.

Ryan Easley was handling the tiger during the Saturday show at the Growler Pines Tiger Preserve in Hugo, Choctaw County Sheriff Terry Park tells TMZ.

Park says Easley was suddenly set upon by the tiger, which grabbed him around his neck and shoulder area, and sank its teeth into him before violently shaking him.

Priscilla Presley says she still can't move on from losing a child ... recalling her final days with Lisa Marie Presley.

Elvis' widow was on the "Today" show Monday when she was asked what it was like to make the decision to take Lisa Marie off life support.

Priscilla mostly skirts the question ... telling Savannah Guthrie about the last time she saw Lisa Marie before her hospitalization.

When Charlie Kirk crumpled to the ground from a gunshot wound, his team rushed to grab him and rush him to a hospital in an SUV ... and a mentor who was there is recalling that harrowing scene.

Christian radio host Frank Turek got emotional Sunday at the Kirk memorial, telling the crowd what it was like on the ride to the hospital.

Frank says Charlie was so tall, they had one door propped open as they raced to the hospital ... describing how Charlie's body was being held by his team in the back seat.

"Grandma Bev" the fan favorite matriarch from MTV's "Siesta Key" has died ... TMZ has learned.

Her grandson, Pauly Paul tells TMZ ... Beverly Breslyn, known to viewers as Grandma Bev, died Sunday morning in Sarasota, FL-- the town where the hit reality show was filmed. Pauly says she had been living with him for the past two years as she battled dementia.

Pauly, who was raised by Bev from the time he was a baby, says the loss is devastating and admits he’s broken. He tells us this is one of the worst days of his life. Still, he’s finding strength in honoring her legacy by changing his life and going back to church to find peace because that’s what she would want.

The memorial being held to honor Charlie Kirk is being treated like a Super Bowl level occasion and is categorized as a SEAR Level 1 event -- which means it's given the highest level of national security priority.

A DHS Senior Official tells TMZ, "The Department of Homeland Security has designated the upcoming funeral and memorial service as a Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR) Level 1 event. This designation is reserved for events of the highest national significance and enables the federal government to provide the full range of law enforcement and security resources necessary to support local officials in ensuring a safe and successful event."

Thousands have gathered at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona to honor the life and legacy of the founder of Turning Point USA.

Erika Kirk is holding tight to a heartbreaking reminder of her late husband Charlie Kirk -- the blood stained pendant he was wearing when he was gunned down less than two weeks ago.

In an interview with The New York Times, Erika revealed she now wears the small St. Michael icon that was ripped from Charlie's body by medics as they fought to stop the bleeding at the Turning Point USA event in Utah. The tiny cross still carries traces of his blood in its crevice ... a haunting memento of the moment America lost the conservative activist.

An armed man posing as a law enforcement officer at Charlie Kirk's memorial service site was taken into federal custody Friday and charged by the state of Arizona.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety tells TMZ ... 42-year-old Joshua Runkles was taken into custody and booked into the Maricopa County Jail after "exhibiting suspicious behavior" Friday afternoon at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona ... the location of Sunday's memorial service for Kirk.

The Arizona DPS and Secret Service tell TMZ the man informed Secret Service agents he was armed when they approached him, and he falsely claimed to be a member of law enforcement. Officials say he is not affiliated with law enforcement.

Brett James -- a Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter who worked with the likes of Taylor Swift -- has reportedly died in a plane crash.

James -- best known for his collaborative hit with Carrie Underwood, “Jesus, Take the Wheel” -- was reportedly flying aboard a small plane when it went down in a field near a school in Franklin, North Carolina about 3 PM Thursday. Police said none of the students or school staff were injured.

WLOS-TV reports the aircraft took off from John C. Tune Airport in Nashville, Tennessee, with three people on board, and all of them died.